Only 20% of third graders in Kansas City public and charter schools are reading at the appropriate grade level. 

From fourth grade onward, the curriculum is based more and more on reading. As a result, those not reading by fourth grade are four times more likely to drop out of high school. 

While many factors have led to the lag in reading competency — especially the pandemic — Lead to Read KC is working to raise literacy levels by partnering with KC-area schools to bring reading mentors into classrooms. 

Now in its 12th year, Lead to Read KC is in 28 metro-area schools that have requested 2,000 volunteers to read with students from first to third grade. There are 1,200 volunteers and a shortage of 800 volunteers. There is particularly a dearth of Black mentors.  

Reading mentors are expected to spend 30 minutes, once per week, typically over your lunch hour.   

“Being there once a week just helps that child see that there’s someone who is committed to making sure they succeed,” says Angela Pritchett, Lead to Read KC communications manager. 

Don’t Think you Have the Time: Mentoring Reading Buddies

Bonita Gooch, editor-in-chief of The Community Voice, said she always wanted to volunteer as a reading mentor but knew her schedule wasn’t consistent enough to be there every week at the same time.  

Then she heard about Mentoring Buddies. It allows you to partner with a friend, family member or coworker to meet your weekly obligation.  

Gooch and Voice KC reporter Thomas White have signed up for Lead to Read as mentoring buddies. 

“I know there are a lot of other busy people like me that don’t believe they can fit weekly mentoring into their schedule. Mentoring buddies addresses that  concern,” Gooch said. 

Kunle Ferreira from Burns & McDonnell reads with a student at Boone Elementary.

Minority Reading Mentors

While African Americans are 52% of the KCPS enrollment and 26% of KC’s population, just  12% of Lead to Read mentors are African Americans. There’s a particular need for Black male mentors.  

Studies have found that particularly same-race mentor relationships have a positive effect on youth.   

“When youth had the opportunity to choose their own mentors, they preferred mentors from their own racial or ethnic background,” said Lindsey Saint Pha with the mentoring program Big Brothers Big Sisters.   

“Our kids ‘need and want’ to see us show up and care about their success,” said Gooch.  

“Our goal is to help Lead to Read recruit more African-Americans mentors. We’re thinking little steps, not the whole 800. We’d be excited if we can help recruit an additional 50 Black mentors,” said Gooch.

“Cultural differences do influence the expectations for and experience of mentoring relationships. When youth had the opportunity to choose their own mentors, they preferred mentors from their own racial or ethnic background,” said Saint Pha from Big Brothers Big Sisters.   

Our kids need and want to see us show up and care about their success,”  said Gooch.  

How to Become a Reading Mentor

  • Fill out an online application on Lead to Read’s website: LeadToReadKC.org to mentor as either an individual or as mentor buddies.  
  • Complete a background check: A link will be emailed to you, and the background check comes with a small fee. 
  • Review the reading session schedule and give Lead to Read your choice of school. 
  • Attend a brief (30-minute) training session to prepare you for your role as a mentor.
  • Watch your email for a message from Lead to Read’s site coordinator, who will pair you with a student.
  • Attend your first session, making a difference in a kid’s life. 
Tony Van Trece from 100 Black Men of Greater Kansas City reads at Gordon Parks.

Join Us

While the goal is 50 mentors, any increase would be great. Reach out to us on social media and let us know you’re signing up and how the experience is going.  We’ll share as well.  

We know our readers are people who care about our community.  Here’s a way for you to help.  It doesn’t  cost a thing and it impacts our most vulnerable community members.  

Let us know if you sign up so we can track our goal of 50 reader-volunteers. Follow along on our social media as we work to improve literacy levels in KC. It only takes one lunch break a week to make an impact. 

“We have so many people say it is the best hour of their week,” says Pritchett. “Volunteers come back grinning and feeling like they really helped someone.” 

How to Become a Reading Mentor

  • Fill out an online application on Lead to Read’s website: LeadToReadKC.org to mentor as either an individual or as mentor buddies.  
  • Complete a background check: A link will be emailed to you, and the background check comes with a small fee. 
  • Review the reading session schedule and give Lead to Read your choice of school. 
  • Attend a brief (30-minute) training session to prepare you for your role as a mentor.
  • Watch your email for a message from Lead to Read’s site coordinator, who will pair you with a student.
  • Attend your first session, making a difference in a kid’s life.

Prior to joining The Community Voice, he worked as a reporter & calendar editor with The Pitch, writing instructor with The Kansas City Public Library, and as a contributing food writer for Kansas...