Candice Cheshire

Cheshire’s winning program, “READERZ,” consists of a small group of Green Run High School students visiting a local elementary school where they read to students in various grade levels. The books the READERZ present to students are chosen based on collaboration with the elementary school library media specialist and teachers. The books are typically selected to coincide with a unit the elementary school students are currently studying. After each reading, the READERZ engage the elementary students in a learning activity that relates to the story. The objective of the project is to spread not only literacy, but also a love of reading throughout the community. Cheshire hopes to expand the initiative by helping students build their own personal libraries by providing each student with at least one book they can call their own. The READERZ project provides an opportunity for high school students to utilize and strengthen their overall public speaking and reading skills. Cheshire, who lives in Chesapeake, hopes that as literacy develops throughout a community it will cultivate awareness, understanding and a love of literature.