Hop Over to Read: A Poly Teacher’s Initiative for Equity

Indira Jimenez, a teacher at Long Beach Poly High School, was recently awarded the Rotary Club Teacher Literacy Grant for her work in supporting students through the school library.

While the Rotary Club of Long Beach and its charitable foundation typically support creative, teacher-led literacy projects at the elementary level, Jimenez advocated for her program at the secondary level and was selected for the Paul Kennard Grant in recognition of her efforts.

Jimenez implemented a reading initiative, cleverly titled “Hop Over to Read”, a technique to promote the social skills of neurotypical students. Poly’s library serves all students on campus, and Jimenez wanted to ensure that the books were accessible to readers of all levels, fostering inclusivity and equity. “Hop Over to Read” additionally served as a service project for Poly Ambassadors, Garden Club members, Best Buddies, Pathway Ambassadors, and ASB student volunteers, bringing together general education and special education students to promote leadership and enhance social skills.

By creating a cross-curricular approach that culminated in a collection of novels in her classroom, she was able to research award-winning books and generate a wish list for the grant. She additionally paired student “reading buddies” who volunteered to help with the program during unscheduled periods. Collaborating with the school librarian, Karin Wasinger, the library sectioned off an area for students to read and later complete teacher-generated book reviews with visuals.

Jimenez hoped to foster a sense of belonging among her special education students through the initiative and grant support. She was pleased to see students express their excitement about participating and volunteering, and to witness new friendships forming.

Congratulations to Indira Jimenez for her outstanding initiative to help students read new books, expand their vocabulary, and promote literacy!