The Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC), in partnership with the Dallas Education Foundation (DEF), hosted DRC Literacy Day at HS Thompson Elementary School, a special event celebrating the power of collaboration in advancing early literacy for Dallas ISD students.
DRC volunteers stepped into Kindergarten through second-grade classrooms as guest readers, engaging students with read-alouds that sparked joy and curiosity. These classrooms are among those benefiting from the Texas Reading Toolkit (TRT), a high-impact resource funded by a Dallas Regional Chamber grant to the Dallas Education Foundation.
More than just a story time, the volunteers’ presence reinforced to students that their community is invested in their success.
As part of the day’s events, DRC members had the unique opportunity to witness the Texas Reading Toolkit in action. Yuddie Ogwudire, a Manager in the Early Learning department, led a dynamic demonstration showcasing how the toolkit brings the Science of Reading to life through high-quality, multisensory manipulatives. From phoneme-grapheme mapping to sound walls and letter tiles, the resources are designed to make abstract reading concepts tangible, engaging, and effective. Attendees saw how these materials are being used daily to help students build foundational literacy skills.
The Dallas Regional Chamber’s grant to the Dallas Education Foundation made it possible to provide the Texas Reading Toolkit to 102 K-2 General Education classrooms and 2nd Grade Dual Language classrooms across the Lincoln/Madison and Roosevelt/Wilmer Hutchins vertical teams, areas with high concentrations of students reading below grade level.
By equipping educators with resources that align with the Science of Reading, the DRC and DEF are ensuring that students have the support they need to become confident, fluent readers.
The Texas Reading Toolkit represents more than just classroom materials; it’s an investment in evidence-based, equitable instruction for students who need it most.
The smiles, stories, and shared moments from DRC Literacy Day showcased the power of partnership between the corporate and nonprofit sectors. From engaging read-alouds to the dynamic toolkit demonstration, the day was a celebration of collaboration, inspiration, and educational impact.
