Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) is preparing for their first ADR Read Aloud Program – All VB Reads – that will launch in the Spring of 2023. In August, ADR staff and VBCPS leaders met to form a committee to oversee the program. Cari Hall, VBCPS Elementary Language Arts Coordinator, was appointed as All VB Reads Leader. In early October, ADR provided copies of the 2018 Edition of The Read Aloud Handbook to all one hundred VBCPS literacy leaders/reading specialists. Then on October 11th, the literacy leaders met in person for training. Each literacy leader was given a copy of EllRay Jakes is Magic, the first book chosen for the 33,000 elementary students and their families to read aloud together in their homes. Training was conducted via Zoom by Lead Trainer, Michelle Dimnik. Michelle has lead Read Aloud programs in her hometown of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada for fifteen years. She shared her experience and communicated the impact of the program on the Community. ADR Community Coordinator, Diane Legg attended in person and assisted Michelle with the training. Diane continues to work with Cari Hall and communication among the VB literacy leaders and ADR staff is on-going.
