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Hillborough School Board member Stacy Hahn continues her literacy campaign as learning goes virtual

She’ll record, for now, from her South Tampa home
 
Stacy Hahn, a Hillsborough County School Board member, introducing a children's book on her video read-along show
Stacy Hahn, a Hillsborough County School Board member, introducing a children's book on her video read-along show [ FACEBOOK ]
Published March 20, 2020

TAMPA — Stacy Hahn joined the Hillsborough County School Board in 2018, determined to address the district’s literacy problems.

The former University of South Florida education professor has organized literacy fairs and holiday book drives.

She has read stories for read-along videos, and arranged for local community leaders — including Sheriff Chad Chronister — to read stories as well.

Hahn said this week that she will continue “For the Love of Reading,” as she calls her campaign, by recording the videos inside her home instead of the usual location, the school district’s East Tampa television studio.

She read Too Many Carrots on Friday, telling her young listeners that she had intended to read the book outside, but had to move the show indoors because a neighbor was mowing his lawn. Oh Thursday, she read Bears Make the Best Reading Buddies.

The readings will happen every day at 11 a.m. as Facebook Live broadcast on her School Board Facebook page. They will be archived there, and also on YouTube.

Approximately one in four Hillsborough students reads at the lowest of the state’s five proficiency levels, a rate that is consistently worse than the statewide average. Hillsborough was on the verge of reforming its English language arts programs with the help of a paid consultant, when schools closed for the health crisis and all instruction moved online.

Literacy is one of the issues incoming superintendent Addison Davis expects to tackle when the schools reopen.