Haverhill Promise, the city’s grade level reading campaign, formally joins forces with the Haverhill Public Library next week.
Haverhill Promise Director Jessica Kallin said the move takes effect Monday, Sept. 16.
“This partnership marks a significant step forward in our commitment to enhancing literacy and ensuring all children in our city achieve grade-level reading proficiency. By navigating these new organizational structures, we have fortified our city’s dedication to educational excellence,” Kallin said in a statement.
Haverhill Promise launched during the spring of 2018 to promote school readiness, attendance and summer learning, with $110,000 from the City of Haverhill and the J.F Maddox Foundation. School physician John Maddox, whose foundation fronted much of the overhead costs for Haverhill Promise, said “It’s important to think big.”
“Springfield increased their number of kids reading at grade level by 11%. If we can do that in Haverhill, we’ll be the best gateway city in reading levels. I think we ought to think big and think what’s possible,” Maddox said at the launch.
Kallin thanked Haverhill Public Schools and Superintendent Margaret Marotta for shepherding the partnership from its start. Besides Kallin, the new direction is led by Haverhill Promise’s Steering Committee, Haverhill Public Library Director Sarah Moser, Library trustees and library trustees chair, Mayor Melinda E. Barrett.