Introducing the New Literacy Leaders

by Whitney Chisholm

The School of Library and Information Science held its Annual Literacy Leaders awards ceremony to recognize community members that have made great strides in working to reduce South Carolina’s illiteracy rate. Callee Boulware, Rodney Graves and Ida Thompson were honored for their efforts to improve literacy.

The third annual ceremony was held at the South Carolina State Library on September 5.
Darci Strickland, evening news anchor for WLTX-TV and School of Journalism alumna, was the master of ceremonies. Charles Bierbauer, dean of the College of Mass Communications and Information Studies, presented the awards.

"Each of the honorees has recognized that literacy is key and are making an impact across the state," Strickland said. "Literacy is a symbol of importance and something that can never be taken away."

The awards were created as part of the SLIS’s Children, Libraries and Literacy initiative, a campaign launched in 2005 to eliminate illiteracy across South Carolina.

Boulware, state coordinator of South Carolina Reach Out and Read for the past eight years, is committed to making literacy promotion a standard part of pediatric primary care, so that children grow up with books and love reading. Reaching 95,000 children across South Carolina, her efforts have moved the program from 60 sites in 2001 to the 125 sites it currently serves.

“Reading has been a big part of my life," Boulware said. "I am committed to integrating literacy into standard well-care."

Graves, director of secondary education Spartanburg seven, is a leading advocate for literacy at the high school level. He supported the first summer reading celebration at Spartanburg High School and because of his vision more celebrations are springing up across the state. Graves is a model for engaging students, parents and the community in reading.

Thompson, director of Instructional Services for Richland School District One, brings enthusiasm to literacy. As a school librarian for more than 28 years, Thompson began her work with the Reading is Fundamental program quickly realizing the opportunity the program afforded her students. Thompson brought the program to the forefront of her agenda and her dedication to grow the program has gain recognition from the South Carolina Department of Education. Her efforts have increased local funds for the program and helped strengthen such programs across the state.

Key components of the Children, Libraries and Literacy Initiative include the Augusta Baker Chair in Childhood Literacy, ther first chair at the university named for an African-American woman, the Center for Children’s Books and Literature and outread efforts that include Cocky’s Reading Express™ and a statewide network of literacy groups.