ReadyKids! is honored to announce its 2025-26 Volunteers of the Year – five outstanding ReadingPals mentors whose compassion, consistency, and commitment to children have left a meaningful mark on classrooms across Escambia County:
Stephanie Gonzalez, Gloria Heckman, Drucilla James, Michael Moore, and Fred Kacos.
This year, ReadyKids! is also celebrating three volunteers who reached an extraordinary milestone: 10 years of service as ReadingPals mentors in Escambia County. Kathy Decker, Jim Longsworth, and Leigh Mitchell have each spent a decade investing in young learners through weekly mentorship, encouragement, and relationship-building that continues to shape children’s lives long after the school year ends.
Selected from more than 330 volunteers who participated in ReadingPals this year, these honorees exemplify the heart of the program. Through weekly one-to-one mentoring sessions with Pre-K students, they helped strengthen critical early literacy and social-emotional development skills that prepare children for kindergarten success.
What set this year’s Volunteers of the Year apart was not only their reliability, but the intentional care they brought into every interaction. From creating engaging learning experiences to forming meaningful connections that helped children gain confidence, they transformed ordinary moments into lasting memories and meaningful breakthroughs. Their presence became something students could count on – a familiar face, a trusted friend, and a consistent source of encouragement.
The volunteers were recognized during ReadyKids!’ annual Volunteer Celebration, sponsored by Elena Barba with Levin Rinke, which brought together mentors, community supporters, board members, and staff to celebrate the collective impact volunteers are making in local classrooms.
“Our volunteers are changing the trajectory of children’s lives in ways that may not always be visible in a single moment, but become incredibly powerful over time,” said Executive Director, Kristy Craig. “The mentors we are honoring this year represent the very best of what ReadingPals is all about – showing up consistently, building relationships, and helping children believe in themselves.”
During the 2025-26 school year, ReadingPals served 260 children in 16 Pre-K classrooms across eight Escambia County schools, providing more than 5,300 one-to-one mentoring sessions. In addition to individualized support and encouragement, ReadyKids! donated more than 3,800 high-quality books to help students build their home libraries and foster a love of reading beyond the classroom.
Since launching locally in 2011, ReadyKids!’ ReadingPals program has supported more than 2,400 children throughout Escambia County, connecting young learners with caring adults who help them build confidence, strengthen foundational skills, and discover the joy of learning.
To learn more about ReadingPals or to get involved as a volunteer, visit www.ReadyKidsFL.org.
ReadyKids! is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a leader in the early literacy space for prekindergarten students in Escambia County. ReadyKids! focuses on mentoring students in a 1:1 setting, engaging families as their child’s first and best teacher, and supporting educators – all to maximize children’s potential through increased school readiness. Learn more at ReadyKidsFL.org.
