Moonshot Moment partners, supporters and educators gathered at the Vero Beach Museum of Art last Monday evening for The Learning Alliance’s annual Appreciation Celebration – Inside the Moonshot Moment. It was a pat on the back and a night to spur on future endeavors, and a way to recognize the powerhouse effort of its adherents, who have a drive that will not quit.
Lift-off took place March, 2014 for the Moonshot Moment, which has as its goal to have 90 percent of Indian River County students reading at grade level in third grade by 2018.
The event had the feel of a high-energy pep rally, with dancers from Dance Space and singers from the Charter High School propelling guests into the auditorium, bouncing and clapping along to the sounds of Pharrell Williams’s song Happy.
From the moment Learning Alliance founders Liz Woody, Barbara Hammond and Ray Oglethorpe brought the idea to Superintendent of Schools Fran Adams, the Moonshot rocket has continued its trajectory.
Although Adams will soon retire, with her replacement, Mark Rendell due to begin his term July 1, she says she will not be abandoning the cause and has confidence Rendell will keep it on its course.
“I feel like we are in a great place now,” said Adams. “I am not leaving the community so believe me I will still be out there supporting it.”
Rendell, too, told the audience he plans to support the Moonshot Moment and hopes to add other partners to further the initiative.
The Moonshot Moment has been one of the most sweeping programs of the Indian River School District, and has even garnered attention nationally through a PBS NewsHour Documentary.
Partnerships with non-profit agencies, sports organizations and generous donors have helped with the remarkable progress of the Moonshot Moment, which has produced visible results.
Schools that were previously rated F are now earning A-plus ratings, with students feeling energy from teachers who stay after school to learn new, effective teaching techniques.
At a time when national news discloses failing school systems, crumbling morale and non-stop testing, the Moonshot Moment initiative has prompted the entire community to become excited about education. Everyone is working together to reach the literacy goal so that students can succeed.
The K-Readiness Initiative is concentrating on getting children kindergarten-ready, and summer programs are helping to keep students from hitting the “summer side,” a term used to describe the summertime education gap which can often set back the learning process.
Parents are also being encouraged to read with their children every day. Literacy Services of Indian River County, a Moonshot partner, is helping by teaching illiterate parents how to read so they can assist their children.
“When we grew up we were singing songs, play-acting, taking classes in the arts and all of that helped our education,” said Lucinda Gedeon, Director/CEO of VBMA, another Moonshot partner. “Our parents read to us every night so we were introduced to books and words at a very young age. We are just not doing that anymore so the Moonshot Moment initiative is especially important and will help them with their education, their self-esteem and their ability to absorb.”
Ray Oglethorpe received rousing cheers as he spoke about current successes, encouraging everyone to continue their fight against childhood illiteracy.
“Save Vero, Save the World!” Oglethorpe urged the crowd, echoing the words of Liz Woody in the PBS documentary, which reflected the hope that they would start small but end big, rippling out beyond Indian River County. Fueled by the success, the enthusiastic crowd responded with cheers, applause, determination and pride for programs that have fired up schools, teachers, donors, school partners, administrators and most importantly – students.