FEATURED READ FOR A CAUSE LITERACY CHAMPIONS

---

Name: Cindy Saunders 

Employer: Berne Union Elementary School

Nominator: Jolyn Pugh 

In her 19th year of teaching, Cindy Saunders continues to go above and beyond to ensure her students are supported and prepared for the future.  Whether it is undertaking personal fundraising efforts to provide her students with free books throughout the year, dropping off “learning buckets” to each of her students’ homes during the pandemic, or creating innovative ways to keep kids engaged during virtual learning sessions, Cindy Saunders always finds a way to put her students first and ensure they have the foundation to succeed in the future.  Fostering a life-long love for books, reading, and story-telling is one of the ways in which she does so.

“Books and stories are such a wonderful way to escape reality even just for a moment. They help kids to understand how the world works, how to interact with others and can really help students feel connected to something much bigger than just themselves.” 

Name: Kaitlin and Kevin Johnstone

Hometown: Upstate NY (Ellenville / Pine Bush)

Business: Kind Cotton

In 2017, the Johnstones launched Kind Cotton, an apparel brand aimed at promoting literacy and redefining kindness.  For every clothing item purchased, Kind Cotton donates a children’s book to a deserving child, classroom, or library.  To date, the Johnstones have donated over 42,000 books through their company.  Over the past few years, they have also started initiatives that recognize and reward hard-working teachers and amplify and applaud the voices of emerging authors. Moreover, Kind Cotton, through its apparel and its mission, works to redefine what it means to “be kind”:

“We want to be on the right side of history. We want to inspire others to redefine kindness and cultivate a meaning that is rooted in justice and grounded in action.  We know that the world is divided at this moment and we believe in using our voices and platform to bring about change all the while providing books to children along the way.”

 Name: Dr. Arianna Howard, MS, MED, PHD

Title: Founder & Principal Consultant, Plant-A-Seed Educational Consulting; Creator of Radical Learning Spaces

Hometown: Mansfield, Ohio

Dr. Arianna Howard, MS, MED, PHD, is the founder and principal consultant for Plant-A-Seed Educational Consulting and the creator of Radical Learning Spaces, the curricula from which she teaches. Born and raised in Mansfield, Ohio, Dr. Howard’s profession and practice is a culmination of her experiences as a sister, student, teacher, administrator, trauma coach, and black woman. Drawing on these personal, research-based, and trauma-informed experiences, Dr. Howard has taught, supported, and empowered hundreds of students and educators. And despite the resistance and negativity she sometimes faces, it is the promise of a better future that keeps her motivated. 

“Kids become adults who run the world. It is our responsibility to teach them to be compassionate, critical thinking humans who know to work, learn, and play together. And if we want others to change, we must believe in their capacity to do so.”

Name: Latasha Wilson-Batch

Hometown: Perth Amboy, New Jersey

Organization: Best of the Batch Foundation

Latasha Wilson-Batch is the Executive Director of the Best of the Batch Foundation, a Pittsburgh-based organization that serves nearly 4,000 children over 9 counties through a variety of outreach and educational programs. In her role, Latasha oversees the Foundation’s extensive afterschool programming for school-age youth, which includes mentoring and tutoring programs as well as initiatives like “Girl Talk,” which focuses on building self-esteem in young women. She also helps disseminate thousands of “Batch Packs” (STEAM kits provided to classroom teachers to promote hands-on learning for all students) and “Batch a Toys” (the foundation’s annual holiday toy drive, which serves over 180 local families). 

“I care about these kids. They’re always my priority. Sometimes, me answering the door is the difference between a good decision and a bad decision, or it might be the only hug that child gets all day, so it’s important. They’re more than just names. I know all of those little humans and their stories and families. It’s why I do what I do.”

Name: Cindy Hieber

Hometown: Sugar Grove, Ohio

Role: Library Assistant, Fairfield County

 District Library

Nominator: The Carpico Family

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion: Cindy Hieber has spent her entire life surrounded by books. From earning a college degree in early childhood education, to working in bookstores, to spending the last 9 years as a Library Assistant, Cindy has promoted a love for literacy throughout her career. In her current role at the Fairfield County District Library, she has touched the hearts and minds of countless patrons through her dynamic story times. As Cindy's nominator explained: 

“Ms. Cindy was a big part of our youngest daughter’s love for reading. During Ms. Cindy’s story time they read books, played games, and Ms. Cindy showed how reading can be so much fun. I have no doubt Ms. Cindy was doing more than her job required. She truly put her heart into the stories, the play, but most of all our children.”

Name: The Read to Succeed Foundation

Founder: Emily Spector

Location: New Albany, Ohio

The Read to Succeed Foundation was founded in 2013 by Central Ohio resident Emily Spector (while she was still in high school!) with the mission of providing free books to underprivileged children, thereby helping them build confidence in their reading skills, succeed in school, and ultimately escape the cycle of poverty. The Foundation is built on a simple but powerful motto: “Together we make a difference.” And accordingly to founder Emily Spector, you are never too young to do just that.

“At age 12, I had both a passion for reading and a growing awareness of how many children do not develop literacy. . . . and decided to take the initiative to make a difference in literacy and addressing the cycle of poverty,” she explained. “Slowly and with great commitment we have able to become strong and very impactful with 120 locations and over 115,000 beautiful children’s books donated. . . . With passion and commitment anyone who wants to make a difference can start small and grow beyond their expectations.”

  Name: Jodi Ranegar

Hometown: Lancaster, Ohio

Jodi Ranegar is the Curriculum & Communications Director at Bloom-Carroll Local Schools, the creator of Literally Inspired (an online community for book lovers to share, review, and connect) and the founder of the inspiHER Girls Leadership Foundation, a program designed to inspire young women to dream big, believe in themselves, and to become confident leaders in their communities.

No matter which hat she wears, Jodi is always looking for an opportunity to lift and inspire others. A firm believer that “everyone has the potential to make a difference,” Jodi encourages those around her to let go of fear, live their dreams, and be the change.

“Sometimes we under-estimate the power of one act of kindness, one act of generosity, one smile, or one act of courage. . . . Big or small, the difference you can make in someone’s life can be life-changing to them and you may not even know it. . . . There is someone out there who needs you, depends on you, and whose life is better because of you.”

 Name: Brock Johnson

Hometown: Canal Winchester, Ohio

Despite being born with an unknown autoimmune disease, Brock Johnson changed the world with his infectious energy and smile. He excelled in sports and school and was an avid reader. Heartbreakingly, Brock passed away in 2015 at the age of 14 following complications resulting from a bone marrow transplant. The BrockStrong Foundation continues to keep his legacy alight, however, investing nearly one million dollars back in the community since Brock’s passing. From sponsoring little libraries and book fairs, to spreading random acts of kindness throughout the community, to sponsoring families with children undergoing care at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and funding travel baseball scholarships… the BrockStrong team, led by Brock’s parents Terry and Kristi, work tirelessly to spread hope, love, gratitude, and kindness in the name of their son.

Brock’s motto, “Every day is a gift,” should serve as a reminder to us all. Today is indeed a gift. May we make it a good one, and do our best to light up the world, as Brock continues to do.

Name: S.E.E.D. N Hope

Founders: Candace Paulucci and Annette Dominguez

Mission: Serve. Educate. Empower. Dream. 

Founders Candace Paulucci and Annette Dominguez co-authored and self-published their book “How Mommy Found Her Way Home” in an effort to elevate the voices of the children of incarcerated parents and to empower those parents to maintain relationships with their loved ones while in prison. Drawing on their years of experience as clinicians specializing in therapeutic community groups in prisons across Ohio, Candace and Annette embody the motto “each one, teach one”: they strive to make a difference however they can and whenever they can, one person at a time. 

“It is important to create safe spaces for those impacted by incarceration in order to express and process their feelings. People in our communities are suffering in silence: they deserve to be heard and they deserve to be helped.”

  Name: Finnegan Miller

Hometown: Pickerington, Ohio 

What Makes Him a Literacy Champion: 

As a senior at Pickerington Central High School, Finn Miller runs cross country, volunteers as a homework helper and book buddy at his local library, participates in his school’s theater productions, and serves as one of the most beloved interns and docents at the Thurber House, a Central Ohio literary center whose mission is to celebrate the legacy of the late James Thurber. 

Despite his young age, his commitment to bringing out the best in others—especially in the literacy arena—seems wise beyond his years, as does his motivation for continuing to do what he does.  When asked why he feels compelled to help others, Miller provided a simple yet powerful response: “I believe if you put good into the world, good will come back to help you.”

Name: Dr. Mary Kathryn McVey

Title: Professor of Education at Franciscan University of Steubenville

Nominator: Tricia Saccoccia

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion: 

Over the past 23 years, Dr. McVey has served Fransciscan University of Steubenville as a Professor of Education, using her role to not only teach the next generation of educators, but also improve childhood literacy rates within her community. By partnering with local elementary school administrators, Dr. McVey and her students work individually with first grade students to ensure children have the tools they need to succeed in the areas of reading and literacy.

“Reading and literacy mentoring is important because it is the catalyst to living a satisfying life,” Dr. McVey explained. “If we can mentor our youth in becoming literate; learning to read by grade three, and reading to learn from grades three and beyond, we have made a significant contribution to each child’s life; thus serving humanity.”

Name: S.R.D. Harris

Nominator: Cia English 

What Makes Her a Literacy Champion: 

Ever since she was a child, S.R.D. Harris has had a passion for reading and writing. And as an adult, she is using her time, talent, and energy to instill that passion in others. Whether publishing books to inspire children to dream big, volunteering with literacy-based organizations, adopting elementary school classrooms, or sponsoring book drives, Harris’s heart does as her words encourage: read more, do good.

“I believe literacy is critically important for children of all ages to learn, grow, explore the world, and be exposed to different ideas,” Harris explained. “I believe all children can spark a love of reading if they connect with the right books for them. . . . [which is why] I am so inspired to continue to write and publish books that children can enjoy, relate to and be inspired by.”