The El Paso Independent School District (EPISD) has launched Buenas Noches, El Paso, a new literacy initiative featuring videos of notable figures from the district and throughout the region reading a children’s book.
The video series – available at episd.org/buenasnoches – is aimed at fostering a love for literacy and is spurred by El Paso ISD’s recognition that part of success in early learning comes from reading. Buenas Noches, El Paso will feature an El Paso ISD leader or notable El Pasoan reading a children’s book and provide El Paso families with a forum to engage in reading at their convenience.
The inaugural video features El Paso ISD Superintendent Diana Sayavedra reading “Change Sings,” by Amanda Gorman. The book follows the musical story of a young girl as she realizes the power to change the world resides within herself. Other videos feature notable figures including Katya Echazaretta, the first Mexican-born woman to fly to space, who reads “The Astronaut with a Song for the Stars: The Story of Dr. Ellen Ochoa,” by Julia Finley Mosca. More videos will be published on the website in the months ahead.
“We are pleased to offer this outlet for reading to families in our community as part of our commitment to inspire and empower our students to thrive,” Sayavedra said. “We hope El Pasoans will invite us into their homes while they cook dinner with their kids, while on a road trip, or as they tuck their children in at night. Together, we can instill a lifelong love of literacy.”
The video series also aligns with El Paso ISD’s focus on whole child development that is a focal point of its recently adopted Hopes and Dreams Realized 2022-2025 strategic blueprint. One of the essential actions outlined in the document, which was approved by the El Paso ISD Board of Trustees in December 2022, is the use of the Community Schools model to create an integrated system of school supports, extended learning opportunities, and community partnerships.
Through Buenas Noches, El Paso, students will have free and convenient access to books. Research shows that early literacy helps children develop a rich vocabulary, self-expression and reading comprehension — tools they need to become successful readers and lifelong learners. These skills allow a young child to enter kindergarten with a love of books and a readiness to learn.
