Bridging the Literacy Gap: How Community Volunteers Can Transform Reading Education
Can grassroots efforts and trained volunteers be the missing piece in solving America's literacy crisis? Join us as we sit down with Leah Galeon, founder of Peak Literacy, who shares her innovative approach to tackling reading challenges through community-powered interventions. In this episode, we explore:
- The compelling story behind Peak Literacy's founding, sparked by Florida's largest racial disparity gap in education, and how a small grant for 15 students evolved into a scalable solution for hundreds of young readers
- An eye-opening discussion about the misdiagnosis of reading disabilities, revealing how many students labeled with dyslexia may simply need proper instruction rather than intensive intervention
- The transformative power of evidence-based programs like Great Leaps and UFLY, showing how students can jump multiple grade levels in just 12 weeks when given the right tools and support
- A fresh perspective on volunteer engagement, moving beyond traditional "lunch buddy" programs to implement structured, research-based interventions that produce measurable results
- The innovative approach to training community members - from college students to retirees - demonstrating how anyone with basic reading skills can be equipped to deliver effective literacy intervention
Listen in as we challenge traditional approaches to reading intervention and explore how schools can leverage community resources to create sustainable, large-scale solutions for struggling readers. This conversation is essential for educators, administrators, and anyone passionate about solving the literacy crisis in our schools.
Learn more about Peak Literacy HERE.
*FREE DOWNLOADS*
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
The Principal's Email Detox
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit
*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram
Learn more about Peak Literacy HERE.
*FREE DOWNLOADS*
Decisive Leadership- Free Workshop
The Principal's Email Detox
Principal Checklist to Disconnect From School
*RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS*
Transform Your Time: 60 Day Action Plan for Principals
Leadership by Design: The Principal's Custom Habit System
The Principal's Overwhelm Toolkit
*SOCIAL MEDIA*
Barb Flowers, Ph.D- Linkedin
DrBarbFlowers- Instagram
We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.
If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time.
These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.
