Read Better Be Better: Advancing literacy and fostering leadership
- Jun 9
- 3 min read
By Jude McGee
Read Better Be Better (RBBB) was founded in 2014 in response to a growing literacy crisis in Arizona. Based in Phoenix, the organization supports youth from kindergarten through 12th grade through after-school programs that foster literacy and leadership skills, all at no cost to students or families. The organization now offers programs in schools across the state, serving students in Maricopa, Cochise, Pima and Yavapai counties.
RBBB’s K-8 reading program uses a Tier II, evidence-based curriculum aligned with the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) standards, meaning it provides supplemental support with targeted interventions beyond the classroom. In the weekly after-school program, children in kindergarten through third grade “Readers” receive one-on-one reading instruction from older students. From fourth through eighth grade, youth have the opportunity to be “Leaders,” taking on the responsibility of working with younger students to improve their reading skills.
RBBB’s “Changemaker Continuum” is its full continuum of K-12 programs, which further facilitates leadership development with two career exploration programs for high school students. In the Pathway to Education Professions program, students gain hands-on classroom and curriculum management experience within the kindergarten through eighth-grade reading programs. In the Pathway to Civic Leadership program, students learn the impact of their voice and the processes of civic engagement, encouraging them to make change in their community.
“Readers become Leaders,” said Camille Valenzuela, director of strategic initiatives, “and Leaders become Changemakers.”
A 2024 report by the Arizona Department of Education found that only 39% of more than 80,000 third-graders in Arizona passed the statewide English Language Arts assessment, indicating they were proficient in reading. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, third grade is when students are typically learning to read, and fourth grade is when students read to learn. Students who are not proficient in reading by the end of third grade commonly struggle with reading comprehension throughout high school, leading to behavioral problems, higher rates of grade retention, and a lower likelihood of graduating.
“The Changemaker Continuum works toward bettering Arizona’s education system for all, rather than just addressing one piece of the problem, such as literacy rates,” said Valenzuela. “A program that supports students in learning to read, on its own, does not address the root causes of Arizona’s literacy rates that remain low year after year. Through our continuum of programs, students learn foundational skills, such as literacy and leadership, to set them up for academic, career, and life success.”
An independent study conducted by WestEd in 2025 demonstrated the results of RBBB’s after-school K-8 reading program: third-grade students enrolled in the program scored higher than those not enrolled on the statewide English Language Arts assessment. The organization also notes that in 2024-25 program participant surveys, 74% of Readers said they understand what they read better than before the program, and 93% of Leaders said they have what it takes to be a good leader after completing the program.
Ariana, an eighth-grade student Leader, said of the program: “I loved the kids I was working with and knowing that I was helping them. It helped me to be more responsible.” Another Leader, Rogelio, said, “The program changed me because it helped me to be more patient and taught me how to be a better role model.”
The impact of students’ leadership is evident. “We are already seeing our alumni pursue education majors and community leadership roles,” said Valenzuela. “Just imagine, in a few decades, how much improvement we could see in Arizona’s education system, with empowered students becoming empowered adults and leading empowered communities.”
To learn more about Read Better Be Better, visit https://www.readbetterbebetter.org/
Image courtesy of Read Better Be Better.
