Tausha Reddick

Reddick’s innovative teaching idea, “Creating a Working Library,” focuses on expanding exposure to books of different genres and reading levels for the students at the local juvenile detention center in Orlando, Fla. Reddick has found that immense progress is made on test scores and confidence when students have access to varied reading options. According to Reddick, for some, it proves to them that they can still succeed by attaining a high school diploma or a GED. With the Voya grant, Reddick will replace the current books that were once thrown out when the facility was renovated and will create a library that students can utilize in the future. She also hopes to establish a reading program to encourage collaborative learning and demonstrate strong reading habits to students.