54
Diving Into Summer
WORDS: Jessica Schubick
John and Amanda Horne, owners of Anna Maria Oyster Bar,
launched the Dive Into Reading program in the summer of 2017. A
collaboration with the Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading,
the School District of Manatee County, Manatee Public Libraries, and
with the participation of other community partners, the program began
with 74 rising third graders from local Title 1 schools visiting the Anna
Maria Oyster Bar Ellenton location once a week to have breakfast with
volunteer reading mentors. Children practiced reading with their mentors
and were able to then take books home to continue the focus on reading
throughout the summer months.
The Hornes developed Dive Into Reading to align with local and national
efforts to increase the number of students reading on grade-level by third
grade and to reduce the “Summer Slide” (or loss of reading proficiency
experienced by many children over the summer). The program’s aim was
not only helping the children with their reading skills, but also to give them
valuable experience with social skills such as politely meeting strangers
and shaking hands, intergenerational communication, and table manners.
The first year of the program showed tremendous success. Not only did
the students escape the “Summer Slide,” but they actually showed an
increase in reading skills when they returned to school. Following this
achievement, the program has received local and national recognition
and awards from organizations including the School District of Manatee
County, Manatee Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Florida, and the
National Restaurant Association.
In the two summers since Dive Into Reading began, it has only grown
in participation and success. The program expanded to four additional
locations including Anna Maria Oyster Bar Landside on US 41, as well
as partnerships with the Manatee Community Foundation, Early Learning
Coalition of Manatee County, Bishop Museum of Science and Nature,
Pier 22 Restaurant, Gecko’s Grill & Pub, O'Bricks Irish Pub & Martini Bar,
and - as of this summer - Sarasota County Schools.
In the summer of 2019, about 350 rising first, second, and third grade
students from summer programs at Title 1 schools participated - and
the group included students from Brentwood Elementary, the first
Sarasota County School to participate. The program enlisted hundreds
of local volunteers to serve as reading mentors to the students at five
area locations (Anna Maria Oyster Bar Ellenton, Anna Maria Oyster y
Bar
Landside, Gecko’s SR 70, Gecko’s Fruitville, and the Bishop
Museum of Science and Nature).
Amanda Horne explained that the program continues to
grow. She said: “We have been approached by four more
counties within the state that would like to see if they can replicate
this in their communities. With the help of The Patterson Foundation,
we are working on a ‘road map’ for the program that we can give to
communities who wish to take it on.”
In his acceptance address for the Bradenton Kiwanis
Foundation Bert South Philanthropic Award, John
Horne said: “50% of Manatee County kids cannot read at
grade level. That’s a huge percentage and it’s easy to think, ‘I’m
only one person, what can I do?’ But, if a lot of ‘one-persons’ get
together, we can make a dent in it. If we can make a difference in
one life, we’ve been successful.”