Moonshot Sports: Through the Eyes of Adam Faust
 | | Adam Faust, Riley Minix, and Freddie Wolfork at the Moonshot Sports kickoff event at GYAC |
Literacy and sports, how do they mix? As the new Principal at Glendale Elementary, I had pondered that question after a community meeting to discuss literacy. Many local organizations and funders including; the School District, the Indian River Community Foundation, Education Foundation, United Way, and The Learning Alliance gathered to discuss innovative ways to crack the code of having 90% of third grade students on grade level by 2018. Who and what were we missing as a part of this journey? As I drove home that evening, I thought of my experience as an athlete and also a teacher. Coaches had always made a huge impact on me as a young man, the power of those relationships helping to shape me into the man I am today. I realized that I needed to engage the coaches in this important movement.
As a teacher, when I knew one of my students was involved in a sport, I would often reach out to the coaches for the kids that I just couldn't seem to reach. Once the coach was involved, I ALWAYS saw instant results from the student with attitude and commitment. So, I started thinking, high school students need to make the grade to play, so why not start the conversation earlier? Thus, Moonshot Sports was born!
One of the goals of the Moonshot Sports team is to use the power of the coaching relationship to teach children and their families about the importance of being a good reader, using their passion for sports to promote the idea of every child being a scholar athlete. The idea is working, because at the very first Moonshot Sports kick-off event in September, over 250 kids and their families came out to GYAC for sports demonstrations, guest readers, games, book give-aways, raffles, reading assessments, a pizza party and FUN! Please come and join the Moonshot Sports team as we help give every child in Indian River County the skill they need most for a successful life.....literacy!
Thank you to our guest columnist, Glendale Principal Adam Faust. To join the Moonshot Sports Team, contact me at jennifer@moonshotmoment.org or visit:
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