Superintendent Brad Reed plans to share the success of Great Bend’s literacy program, One District, One Book, at a national conference.
“One District One Book went well and we’ll do it again,” Reed said. “Next month I’ll speak at the national superintendents’ conference in Phoenix on this topic.”

ODOB was created by a nonprofit organization in Richmond, Va., called Read to Them.
Great Bend USD 428 was the first school district in Kansas to fully implement the program, which Reed describes as “a shared community experience promoting family literacy.”

Every child in grades K-6 received a copy of  the book “The World According to Humphrey” at the start of the school year, and the entire community was invited to get involved. Reed read the first chapter of the about out loud on a video that was seen in many schools, and parents or other adults were encouraged to read the book with children. Local businesses also got involved.

The district has produced a video for Reed to share at the conference in Phoenix. It was created by USD 428 Public Information Director Jennifer Schartz, Great Bend High School instructor Dan Heath and GBHS videography students.
Soon the video will be seen online. “Read to them is picking it up to stream across the country,” Reed said.

The community  can expect to share another book in 2016. Said Reed, "The program is moving forward."

Watch the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=AqBE3dTY-EA