HSE credits Café Read A Latte with high test scores . . . and it’s caffeine free!

Submitted

Southeastern Elementary School in Fishers has pioneered a transformative reading initiative that seamlessly integrates with classroom instruction, fostering unprecedented student achievement in literacy.

Cushman

Under the visionary leadership of librarian Lori Cushman, the Café Read A Latte program has emerged as a cornerstone of academic success, contributing significantly to the school’s exceptional IREAD scores.

Café Read A Latte, in conjunction with the school’s rigorous reading curriculum, has propelled Southeastern Elementary to a remarkable 98 percent pass rate on the IREAD-3 assessment. Hamilton Southeastern Schools continues to see strong literacy growth as a whole with Superintendent Pat Mapes at the helm. To contextualize this achievement, Indiana’s statewide IREAD-3 pass rate for the 2024 academic year stands at 82.5 percent across public and private schools. Despite this, a considerable number of students statewide continue to face challenges in attaining reading proficiency.

Cushman, the architect of Café Read A Latte, is a dedicated educator with three decades of experience in teaching grades 2 through 6. Currently serving as the librarian at Southeastern Elementary, she is deeply committed to cultivating a passion for reading among students. She says she firmly believes that every child can develop a love for literature – it is merely a matter of discovering the right genre.

The Café Read A Latte experience is meticulously designed to engage all five senses, incorporate effective modeling techniques, and maintain a dynamic pace to sustain student interest. This innovative blend of immersive engagement and structured curriculum has orchestrated a resounding success, as evidenced by the school’s outstanding IREAD scores.

Cushman expressed her joy in witnessing students transition from reluctant readers to enthusiastic literary explorers.

“Seeing new emerging readers excitedly share their latest book discoveries with me is incredibly rewarding,” she said.

With Café Read A Latte, Southeastern Elementary is not only enhancing literacy outcomes but also instilling a lifelong love of reading – one book at a time.