Arkansas Teacher Corps fellow LeAndra Grant (ATC ’20) provided powerful opening remarks about the importance of teaching the science of reading at October 11th screening of the documentary film “The Right to Read” at the Ron Robinson Theater in Little Rock, AR.

“What hooked me about teaching was the ability to help kids, and I believe that there’s no more foundational way to help kids than teaching them to learn to read. … One of the biggest misconceptions about literacy is that it’s a magical process, something that just happens as kids grow up. That’s false. It’s a very active process. It happens when teachers and parents take certain actions. You’ll hear more tonight about the science of reading – it’s what I’m doing and what teachers across Arkansas are doing in classrooms every single day.”

LeAndra was a 2020 Arkansas Teacher Corps Fellow and taught 2nd grade at Meadow Park Elementary in North Little Rock, AR. She now teaches 3rd grade at Jacksonville Elementary School in Jacksonville, AR. She is a former dyslexia interventionist and focused on teaching students with dyslexia and other reading difficulties. LeAndra has an MS in Early Childhood Services from Arkansas State University and an ESL credential from the University of Arkansas.

“The Right to Read” shares the stories of an NAACP activist, a teacher, and two American families who fight to provide our youngest generation with the most foundational indicator of life-long success: the ability to read. LeVar Burton, the former host of “Reading Rainbow,” is an executive producer of the film and attended the screening. He was joined by director Jenny Mackenzie, policy expert Dr. Kymyona Burk, and Little Rock superintendent Dr. Jermall Wright for a panel discussion following the screening. Learn more about the film online at therighttoreadfilm.org.