Educators in Chattooga County are turning to creative solutions to improve literacy and encourage a love of reading among students, especially in a rural community with limited access to services.
Superintendent Michelle Helie says the district launched two key initiatives—Vision to Learn and Words on Wheels—to address barriers that can impact learning. Through Vision to Learn, specialists visited local schools to provide free eye exams and glasses to students. More than 800 students were screened, with over 200 receiving eyeglasses, helping improve focus, behavior, and classroom engagement.
The district also created Words on Wheels, a mobile bookstore built by students and staff with the help of grants and community donations. The trailer travels to schools and community events, allowing students to choose books at no cost while expanding access to reading materials beyond the county’s two libraries.
District leaders say the programs support classroom instruction and are helping bring reading back to the forefront for students and families across the county.
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