RISE Academy readers program praised as 'joyful' by students and staff; district considers expansion
November 11, 2025 | Dorchester 02, School Districts, South Carolina
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
At a Nov. 10 School District 2 board meeting, RISE Academy staff and Austin Bailey Elementary representatives presented Rise Readers, a literacy partnership that pairs older students with elementary students to build reading skills and mentorship.
Program lead Tawana Sanders and partners said the goal is to "build literacy, leadership, and community connection" by having RISE students read to elementary students and senior citizens. "We want to promote reading as a pathway to empowerment and strengthen literacy skills, empathy, and purpose," Sanders said during the presentation.
Student Kanea Gathers described her experience: "The experience was great...Reading to the kids, you know, making a bond with them every time they come." Presenters said the program aims to expand to more schools, add a writing‑buddy pen‑pal component and implement tracking to measure literacy impact.
Board members and administrators praised the partnership and thanked staff for the work; no formal board action was required at this meeting.
Program lead Tawana Sanders and partners said the goal is to "build literacy, leadership, and community connection" by having RISE students read to elementary students and senior citizens. "We want to promote reading as a pathway to empowerment and strengthen literacy skills, empathy, and purpose," Sanders said during the presentation.
Student Kanea Gathers described her experience: "The experience was great...Reading to the kids, you know, making a bond with them every time they come." Presenters said the program aims to expand to more schools, add a writing‑buddy pen‑pal component and implement tracking to measure literacy impact.
Board members and administrators praised the partnership and thanked staff for the work; no formal board action was required at this meeting.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
