A picture book on a classroom shelf does not explain itself. A parent does not know why this one was picked, or who thought the child should hear it. Warrensville Heights built a Read With Me series so the person who chose the book can say so. Dr. Richard Reynolds opens the video. He is director of student wellness for the district, and he says the readings were chosen to be more culturally responsive, books that look like the students.
Then the counselor takes it. Jasmine Finch works with second through fifth grade at Warrensville Heights Elementary. She is reading Grace Byers's *I Am Enough*, and she tells the children why before she starts. What they were born with is already enough. The video is about four minutes. Most of that is the reading. The part a district is buying is the minute around it, a face the school already knows, saying the reason out loud.
Another district hiring Beacon for a series like this is buying a reader a family will recognize. The book can sit in a library. The video can say why it is in the child's hands.
Read transcript Video dialogue and narration
[00:00.000] Hello, I'm Dr. Richard Reynolds, Director of Student Wellness and Innovative Program here at Warrensville Heights City School District.
[00:26.600] Thank you for participating in the Read With Me book series. We designed this program to ensure that we are providing students with the opportunity of reading more books that are reflective of who they are. We were intentional and selective of our readings in our effort to be more culturally responsive. We hope that you enjoy.
[00:46.680] Hi guys, I am Jasmine Finch and I am the school counselor for second through fifth grade at Warrensville Heights Elementary School.
[00:55.360] Today I am reading To and With You, I Am Enough by Grace Byers. I chose this book because it's really important for me and all of the other women in my life, young girls in my life, and especially my scholars that you understand that what you are born with is enough. Everything that you need to have, you already have it inside of you.
[01:17.880] And so without further ado, I Am Enough by Grace Byers.
[01:26.080] She reads the book. That reading runs to about 03:41.
[03:41.480] Thank you for taking the time to read I Am Enough by Grace Byres with me. It is my hope that you will remember that every single thing you have inside of you is available for you to use so that you can be great as is. You are already enough, and you are worthy of good things. Never forget that. Love you.
The close says "Grace Byres." The name on the book is Grace Byers.
Plain text copy, including the reading the model heard: /workspace/beacon-case-studies/media/jasmine-flinch-reading-i-am-enough-1136652923.txt
