A Meeting of the Minds on Early Literacy in Lake and Geauga Counties
- What
- A Meeting of the Minds on Early Literacy in Lake and Geauga Counties
- When
- 11/19/2026, 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
The Educational Service Center of the Western Reserve invites you to a breakfast meeting on Thursday, November 19, 2026, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Mentor Public Library, Village Room, 8215 Mentor Ave, Mentor, OH 44060, to discuss a shared goal: bringing high-quality early literacy resources to every family in Lake and Geauga Counties, so more children arrive at kindergarten ready to read.
You will be joined by leaders from local libraries, chambers of commerce, the YMCA, University Hospitals, and the United Way of Lake and Geauga Counties. Together, we will explore how schools and community partners can extend this work to more districts and reach more families before their children start school. As school leaders, you see how early literacy shapes the way children enter your classrooms, and your voice is essential as we plan for growth across the region.
Through Ohio’s Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Birth to Kindergarten grant, the ESCWR launched NEO Ready to Read, which gives families free access to Footsteps2Brilliance, a bilingual early literacy platform that builds strong reading foundations before kindergarten. The program is off to a strong start in several local districts, and we are now looking at how to expand its reach.
During our time together, we will:
- Identify partnerships and funding sources that could bring Footsteps2Brilliance and early literacy work to more districts in Lake and Geauga Counties, drawing on successful models from neighboring communities
- Explore how schools and community organizations can build regional awareness of early literacy and connect more families with these resources
- Share a brief overview of the CLSD grant, including program goals, the curriculum-based learning approach, and what we have learned so far
Penny Reinart, Chief Impact Officer at Footsteps2Brilliance, and the ESCWR Literacy Team will present the program overview and lead the discussion.
Please RSVP via the calendar invitation by November 17, 2026. If you have any questions, contact Beth Walsh-Moorman at [email protected].
Thank you for your commitment to the children and families of our region. I look forward to our conversation.