Read to Grow JoCo Invites Community to Attend 4th Annual Meeting

Johnston County – Read to Grow Johnston County invites you to their 4th Annual Meeting on November 14 from 8:30 to 10:30 am at First Baptist Church in Smithfield. This year’s event will feature Dr. Shadae Harris, a national expert on family engagement and education, as the keynote speaker. Join local leaders and community members as they convene to improve the futures of county children through early literacy. Breakfast will be provided. Registration is $15 and can be done by visiting: bit.ly/RTGMeeting24.

Read to Grow is committed to ensuring that all children in Johnston County read proficiently by the 3rd grade, foster a love for reading, and unlock their full potential for success in school and life. Its action teams—focused on kindergarten readiness, chronic absence, and summer learning—work alongside county libraries, Johnston County Public Schools, and community stakeholders to support children's reading development.

We are honored to have Dr. Shadae Harris, who has earned national recognition for her impactful work in reducing chronic absenteeism by nearly 20% as the Chief Engagement Officer at Richmond Public Schools. Dr. Harris will share her expertise in building robust family engagement systems that support educational success. Her innovative approaches have led her to speak at the White House and lead Groundwork Consulting, where she continues to shape educational practices nationwide. Join us for this enriching event and learn more about the crucial work being done to support early childhood literacy and engagement in our county.

About Read to Grow Johnston County
Read to Grow consists of a wide variety of community members, including business leaders, faith community members, families, Partnership for Children of Johnston County, My Kids Club, Johnston County Public Schools, and their Board of Education. As a collaborative group, Read to Grow is working to connect resources, develop initiatives, and achieve the targets and milestones set to impact the three pillars of the Campaign for Grade-Level Reading (CGLR), kindergarten readiness, chronic absenteeism, and summer learning loss. For more information or to get involved, contact Heather Machia at 919-397-7822.