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Mondays With Maria - Let's Read OCPS
Posted on 01/27/2025
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Announcer: Welcome to Mondays with Maria, presented by ADDITION Financial Credit Union. Here's OCPS, superintendent, Dr. Maria Vasquez.

Maria Vazquez: Hi everyone. I have a very special guest with me today, School Board Member, Melissa Byrd from District 7. Thank you so much for being with us today.

Melissa Byrd: Of course. My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

Maria Vazquez: So, before we get started on our topic, could you tell our viewers a little bit about your background?

Melissa Byrd: Absolutely. So, when I first started my career, I started out as a reading resource teacher in elementary school. Through Title I and then I became a first-grade classroom teacher, and then I worked at a school for children with learning differences in elementary ages.

Maria Vazquez: So, maybe that’s a little bit of a tie to our topic of discussion, because today, we are kicking off our district-wide initiative “Let’s Read, OCPS,” and you have a lot to do with this initiative. This reading initiative was very successful in District 7. Would you like to share some of those results?

Melissa Byrd: Yes, it was. So, when we kicked it off and spread it amongst the whole district, we ended up reading over two million minutes and we got people logging in from over 6 states I think, across the United States. We had tons of district staff and employees that participated and every school participated. It was a huge success.

Maria Vazquez: I just think it’s incredible that this small group that wanted to be engaged and make a difference in the community has such a tremendous impact on our entire district. Thank you so much for bringing this to us and what a great week to kick this event off. We’re starting today and it is Literacy Week. So, we’ve got lots of great activities across our district. I remember last year visiting some of the schools and they were dressed up like their favorite character, they had pajama parties where they would come and read books and had guest readers from the community. I bet you had of activities.

Melissa Byrd: Yeah, I think you were even one of those guest readers at one of the community events in Apopka, weren’t you?

Maria Vazquez: I was.

Melissa Byrd: They were all in their PJs. It was super cute.

Maria Vazquez: It was great and you know, I think about how this initiative has the ability to bring our entire community, the 8th largest school district in the county focused on reading. And I can’t wait. It’s going to be an incredible event. I think we’re going to surpass our goal, of 20 million minutes. And, we have some very special guests, some very special individuals that have already committed and so I am very happy to share that we have the support of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. Let’s take a look.

Mayor Buddy Dyer: Dr. Vazquez, I am excited to announce that I am all in. I have joined the “Let’s Read” challenge as Mayor of Orlando. I also challenge everyone in our city to take part and join the journey. Let’s help Orange County Public Schools meet this goal, 20 million minutes by April 30th. Let’s Read Orlando!

Mayor Jerry Demings: Dr. Vazquez, Orange County is also joining your journey to reach 20 million minutes by April 30th. There is no better way to help a child reach success than to help them acquire the love of reading. In 2019, the Mayor’s Book Club was launched through the Orange County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. initiative to foster a love for literature by promoting books based on Dr. King’s values. The Mayor’s Book Club is collaborating with the Orange County Library System to enhance reading amongst youths. Orange County, Let’s help OCPS hit this goal of 20 million minutes. I’m logging my minutes right now in Bean Stack. Let’s Read Orange County!

Melissa Byrd: That’s incredible. What a great way to get this all started!

Maria Vazquez: And, we want to make sure that our viewers know that, it’s very important that they log their minutes so they’re able to use the Bean Stack app, to log every one of those minutes so we can reach our goal.

Melissa Byrd: Yes, absolutely. That’s the fun part.

Maria Vazquez: Yes.

Melissa Byrd: That all of us adults also get to read and log our minutes.

Maria Vazquez: I sense there’s going to be a little bit of competition amongst the board members, amongst the various schools. So, I am sure that we’re going to have great excitement about reading, and such an important focus for our board. We know the importance of students being able to read. We are ensuring that we’re using the science reading. Well, it kicks off today! So, we want to make sure that our students, our employees, our community members are engaged in our initiative. And, I think we’re going to surpass our goal.

Melissa Byrd: Oh, I hope so. I hope so. We’re going to have some fun with the board members for sure.

Maria Vazquez: I know we are. And thank you. It’s because of the initiative that started in Apopka that now we’re able to touch all of our students with this initiative. So, so, so, very thankful.

Melissa Byrd: Thank you.

Maria Vazquez: Thank you all for watching. Don't forget to like, follow, and subscribe. We will have more of our conversation on our podcast. Just go to wherever you get your podcast and search for Mondays with Maria. Have a great day, and I will see you next week.

Announcer: For an extended conversation on today's topic. Listen to the Mondays with Maria podcast available wherever you get your podcasts. Mondays with Maria is presented by Addition Financial Credit Union. Count us in for every step of your financial journey. Learn more at Additionfi.com. For more OCPS news and information, visit TheSlice.ocps.net. I'm your announcer. Kaleb Priester, a senior at Jones High School. Thanks for watching and have a great week.