From Mothers to Mentors: Building a Literacy Legacy

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Reflecting on Our Journey as Mothers and Educators

Three years ago, both Shawna and I found ourselves reflecting on our journey as mothers, educators and child literacy advocates. Our children had successfully navigated the educational landscape, earning places at top-tier universities and securing jobs in their chosen fields. As we looked back on the challenges we faced, we realized how instrumental our 30-year friendship had been. We supported each other through the ups and downs of parenting, particularly when it came to advocating for our children’s education

As experienced educators, we were well equipped to guide our children, but we noticed that many young parents we encountered felt lost and alone in the process. They had questions about how to advocate for their children, especially when issues arose at school. We also realized how fortunate we were to have each other as a support system. This awareness sparked a deep desire in us to give back to the community. We knew it takes a village to raise a child, and we wanted to be part of that village for parents who felt isolated or unsure.

In this Blog you can expect:

Our Journey

The Inspiration behind Our program

Cutting through the Noise and Saving Time

Developing “The Reading Adventures of CeCe and the Super6″

Creating a program that works!

Giving back to the Community

The Inspiration Behind Our program

Our inspiration to act came from our young neighbor, who was facing her own challenges in school. We saw firsthand the struggles her family went through, and it motivated us to create something that could make a real difference in the lives of other families. We believed that with the right tools and support, parents could play a pivotal role in their children’s education, particularly in developing strong reading skills.

Cutting Through the Noise and Saving Time

As we embarked on this journey, we became increasingly aware of the outside noise that often distracts parents from focusing on what truly matters in their children’s education. There is so much information and advice out there, but not all of it is helpful or relevant. We realized that parents often feel overwhelmed by the barrage of opinions, which can lead to wasted time—an invaluable commodity when it comes to a child’s education. Every moment spent sifting through conflicting advice is a moment lost in nurturing a child’s potential. We wanted to cut through that noise and provide clear, effective guidance that parents could trust.

Developing “The Reading Adventures of CeCe and the Super 6”

That’s how “The Reading Adventures of CeCe and the Super 6” came to be— a program born out of a genuine desire to give back and support parents. We designed the program as a 14-volume interactive reading series. Our research led us to focus on children 4 to 9 – a critical period in which they learn to read. We knew that if children could master reading by the age of 9, they would be better equipped for all future learning. On the other hand, if they struggled with reading, the gap between them and their peers would only widen, leading to potential behavioral and social issues and a lifelong struggle with literacy.

Creating a Program That Works!

Once we had developed our program, the next challenge was figuring out how to make it accessible and easy for parents to use. We explored various ideas, from puzzles to interactive games, but nothing seemed to align with our vision. Our goal was to create a program that parents could use independently, without the need for our ongoing involvement or additional tutoring.

We fine-tuned our program by working with children who had been flagged as having reading difficulties. The results were remarkable: within three weeks, these children were reading three-letter words, and their progress was rapid and rewarding. This immediate success reinforced our belief in the program’s effectiveness.

In developing the program, we discovered that 98% of the English language is decodable using phonics, yet many schools were emphasizing sight words instead. This puzzled us but also strengthened our resolve. We wanted to create a program that would help give parents agency over their children’s education and success.

Giving Back to the Parenting Community

Today, we are proud to offer a resource that truly reflects our commitment to helping others. “The Reading Adventures of CeCe and the Super 6” is more than just a program; it’s our way of giving back to parents who, like us, want the best for their children but may not know where to start. We want every caregiver to feel equipped and supported in their role, knowing they can give their children the tools they need to succeed-without relying on expensive external help.