Young Professionals Group Supports Literacy at Treasure Forest Elementary

Earlier this month, 100 Treasure Forest third- graders joined members of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation’s Young Professionals Group (YPG) to celebrate the start of a new partnership designed to support literacy initiatives at the school.

In their introductions to the Treasure Forest students, YPG members spoke about their excitement to work with students inside their classrooms, at school-wide events and in literacy mentoring relationships to help foster a lifelong love of reading.

YPG members delivered an interactive read aloud of the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, encouraging student participation in sound effects that corresponded with the storyline. The YPG culminated the morning by delivering boxes of school supplies and books with individualized bookmarks they had created for each third-grade student.

The YPG is a part of the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for Houstonians of all ages through the power of literacy. The group, formed in 2014 to engage the next generation of Houston’s leaders in the literacy cause, is comprised of a community of individuals who are service-minded and eager to make an impact in our city, especially through youth literacy.

Treasure Forest Principal Aaron Dominguez thanked the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation and the YPG for their commitment to his students, noting the “beginning of what will be a life changing partnership for our community. When we provide an exceptional education to our scholars, it not only impacts their lives but the lives of our scholars’ parents and future children,” Dominguez said.

  

Sarah Miorin, YPG Partnerships Chair, is grateful for the opportunity for their members to become a part of the TFE community. "We are so thankful that Spring Branch ISD and Principal Domginuez have given us the opportunity to join the Treasure Forest Elementary community in supporting their students' literacy endeavors. As a YPG, our mission is to read, lead and serve in the Houston community and we look forward to sharing our passion for literacy with these incredible students who we will get to read and spend time with through this exciting partnership."

In March, the YPG will return to Treasure Forest to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and National Read Aloud month by serving as guest readers in third- grade classrooms. Other planned partnership initiatives include a literacy mentoring program, efforts to build home libraries for students and volunteer support of various campus-wide events, such as the school’s April carnival.