LRN Founder Wins National Literacy Award
Chris McGilvery, founder of the Leaders Readers Network received the Grand Prize for the 2020 Freedom Through Literacy Award from Judith’s Reading Room, a national literacy nonprofit. Chris is recognized for his unflinching approach to fostering leaders to share a love of reading with students at underfunded schools. Through the Leaders Readers Network Teacher and Student Ambassador projects, students and teachers work together to help solve issues such as illiteracy by hosting literacy events and book projects to ensure children have access to books.
Each school year, the Leaders Readers Network team of teachers and students work together on service projects that empower students to develop leadership skills while sharing a love for reading with their peers at Title 1 schools. Together, teachers and students provide over 15,000 brand new books for students who might not have their own shelves filled at home. Teachers across Texas recognize Chris and The Leaders Readers Network for the transformation that is happening at schools when teachers and students work together to implement service projects that support young readers. This innovative approach sheds light on educational inequality and fosters a lifelong commitment to literacy for all. This award lives on through the legacy of American Librarian Judith Krug and recognizes Chris’ passion for youth leadership and literacy.
About The Freedom Through Literacy Award:
The Freedom Through Literacy Award was established by Judith’s Reading Room in 2015 to identify and honor individual champions of literacy from all disciplines around the world — teachers, librarians, authors, researchers, educators — anyone who has done exemplary work to instill in others a love of reading. Visit www.http://www.judithsreadingroom.org/ to learn more.
In the news:
https://www.wtamu.edu/news/2020/10/jon-mark-beilue-developing-leaders-readers.html