- Washoe County School District
- Communications Department
- News Release
Office of Communications and Community Engagement
Page Navigation
- Home Office of Communications and Community Engagement
- Directory
- Communications Department
- Mail Services
- Print Services Department
- Video Library
- Safety Forum 2023
- Countdown to Graduation
- The Ben Hayes Scholarship for Empowering Students
- Graduation Ceremonies
- Holiday Card Contest 2023
- WCSD News Hub
- 2024 Budget Town Hall
United Readers Program Launches at Three Washoe County Schools
Contact: Ashley Cabrera, UWNNS
New program launched by United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra will support Kindergarten through 3rd grade students to build literacy skills through AmeriCorps mentors
Reno, Nev. (January 11, 2021) – United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra (UWNNS) launches virtual United Readers program at Silver Lake, Peavine, and Katherine Dunn Elementary schools. United Readers is a program focused on improving a student’s reading fluency skills and phonemic awareness, which is the ability to hear and manipulate sounds.
United Readers is facilitated by AmeriCorps mentors who meet virtually with students one-on-one and in small groups with Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students at select schools. Students are assessed before and after participation in the program to track growth across a variety of foundational literacy skills that include rhyming and segmenting words.
“United Readers was developed in collaboration with Washoe County School District, to purposefully support our youngest scholars' literacy achievement,” said Krystal Hoefling, United Readers AmeriCorps Program Director at UWNNS. “We have successfully launched United Readers and I am excited to see where this United Way program will unfold over the school year.”
United Readers will work with students at schools selected in partnership with Washoe County School District. Five AmeriCorps members make up the initial group of mentors who are currently working with students. United Readers plans to expand to additional schools in the future with a goal to reach up to 200 students.
“The United Readers program could not have come at a better time,” said Allison Fannin, principal of Katherine Dunn Elementary School. “With students in Distance Learning, teachers have worked extremely hard meeting the needs of each
student. With this program, our kindergarten and first grade student needs are targeted, and they will be receiving extra support from trained AmeriCorps members. Everyone at UWNNS has been extremely helpful in getting this program started and students assessed. I know this will make a huge difference in the growth of our students’ foundational skills.”
The program has launched virtually due to COVID-19 and hopes to resume with original plans to be offered on-site at schools in the future.
“Our United Readers mentors show up every day virtually, prepared and eager to work with students, and their students are showing such excitement to learn,” added Hoefling.
UWNNS would like to thank the following supporters who made the United Readers program possible: United Federal Credit Union, NV Energy Foundation, Renown, Dollar General Literacy Foundation, Scheels, and TC Energy.
Interview opportunities available and can be coordinated with Ashley Cabrera by phone at (530) 913-6959 or email at ashley.cabrera@uwnns.org.
Visuals: Media is invited to download B Roll for use in coordination with ONLY this press release online by clicking HERE.
About United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra
UWNNS has successfully served northern Nevada for over 78 years by bringing people together to give, advocate, and volunteer. UWNNS believes that when the community comes together and puts our resources to work, we can solve our most pressing issues and create opportunities for a better life for all. For more information, call 775-322-8668 or visit uwnns.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps brings people together to serve communities across America. Every year, more than 250,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations working to tackle the nation's most pressing challenges. With people serving in more than 45,000 locations nationwide, AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.
# # #