PEABODY — Superintendent Josh Vadala and Principal Jocelyn Sullivan are pleased to share that Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, Secretary of Education Dr. Patrick Tutwiler and Town and State representatives visited South Memorial Elementary School on Monday to celebrate literacy with students as part of the state’s ongoing Literacy Launch program.
In 2024, the Healey-Driscoll administration introduced a multi-million dollar, five-year “Literacy Launch” program to improve literacy education in children from age 3 through Grade 3 by expanding access to high-quality, evidence-based reading instruction.
The program, implemented by the Executive Office of Education in coordination with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), is providing almost $330,000 in funding to 15 school districts. The funding will help ensure that educators and students have access to quality, evidence-based reading instruction through literacy materials, technical support, coaching and professional development for educators.
On Monday, Jan. 27, Lt. Gov. Driscoll and Secretary Tutwiler visited South Memorial Elementary and read to first- and third-grade students to promote the joy of reading.
Secretary Tutwiler read “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats to Julie Tracchia’s first-grade class and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll read “I Promise” by Lebron James to Heidi Mason’s third-grade class.
The visit encouraged students to read, and promoted the books’ positive values of hard work, self-commitment and finding joy. Students received a bookmark and an activity book to take home.
At the end of the visit, Secretary Tutwiler signed a copy of “The Snowy Day” for students.
“We really want to have a partnership with districts to strengthen their early literacy efforts to make sure we’ve got our youngest learners investing in those key literacy skills early, which is only going to help them throughout their entire educational career,” said Lt. Gov. Driscoll.
Peabody Public Schools received a $30,000 multi-year grant through the Literacy Launch program. During the first year of funding, the district will focus on identifying and forming community partnerships to provide professional development opportunities and create a plan using available resources.
“What’s unique about this is that the Healey-Driscoll administration has not only given money to the schools, but we now become partners with child-care facilities within the community, which is groundbreaking,” said Superintendent Vadala. “It’s great for us to be able to work with our childcare facilities within our community and that way it helps all students within the community so when they enter our schools at five years old, they have a level playing field.”
