The READY Report

October 2025

Meet Robert - Future Teacher and Rochester Trailblazer

Dear Partners and Supporters,

"I am READY. I am ready to become a teacher because I want to give back to my community."

Robert, a student at UPrep, is one of ten students in the READY Teaching Academy at his school. Each week, meeting afterschool Monday through Thursday, Robert and his classmates explore what it takes to become educators through hands-on experiences, college visits, and mentorship.

Through READY, Robert has met college students who share their experiences, sat in on an education class at St. John Fisher University, and will soon take his first early college course. “It's shaped my my future, how I think about my future,” he says. “I may become a Technology teacher—maybe an English teacher like Mr. Sutton—because of the opportunities I’ve had through READY.”

One of Robert's favorite projects was creating a commercial to inspire more young people to consider teaching. “It showed me how powerful it can be to share your story,” he says.

Programs like the READY Teaching Academy make it possible for students like Robert to see themselves as future educators—and future leaders—right here in Rochester.

Supporting READY helps expand the program to more schools, opening doors for the next generation of homegrown teachers ready to give back, just like Robert.

DONATE TODAY

Yours in service,

Shanai Lee, MBA, EdD

Founder and Executive Director

READY, Inc.

READY Joins the ROC the Future Alliance as a Convener

READY is proud to serve as one of many Conveners within the ROC the Future Alliance — a collective of leaders and organizations working together to improve education and life outcomes for Rochester’s children.

From our inception, READY has believed that real transformation requires a sustained, coordinated, and focused effort to make our community’s shared vision for great schools a reality.

Our participation in the ROC the Future Alliance helps further READY’s mission to increase access to quality schools and create the conditions schools need to thrive. Through this collaboration, we join partners who are aligning community voices, data, and resources to build an equitable, high-performing education system that benefits every child in Rochester.

As part of this collective impact effort, READY will continue to champion innovation, elevate parent and student voices, and help build systems that deliver stability and opportunity for generations to come.

We’re READY — and proud — to collaborate alongside fellow Conveners in shaping a stronger, more just future for Rochester’s children.

Save the Date! READY Design Studio Showcase

You’re Invited! The 2nd Annual READY Design Studio Showcase

Get ready for one of our favorite events of the year!

Join us for the READY Design Studio Showcase, where the 2025 Design Studio Fellows will take the stage to share their bold, community-driven school designs — visionary ideas created by Rochester educators, for Rochester families.

This exciting event celebrates local innovation and the power of educators who are reimagining what great schools can be. Each fellow has spent the past several months in the READY School Incubator, refining their ideas, piloting new approaches, and designing school models that put students, families, and equity at the center.

“This second cohort of Design Studio Fellows is proof that Rochester’s future is bright, “ said Dr. Shanai Lee, Executive Director of READY. “These leaders embody what happens when creativity and community come together to reimagine education. Their work represents more than progress — it’s momentum toward a new era of great schools for every child.”

You’ll hear directly from our fellows — like Marchè Levert, founder of Legacy Roots Academy, who is designing a K–8 school model that helps students grow as creative, innovative, and entrepreneurial thinkers.

Come be inspired. Connect with changemakers. Celebrate the future of education in Rochester — one bold idea at a time.

Date: December 2nd at 5-7pm
Location: T he Duke on Main
RSVP: Register here!

We can’t wait to see you there!

READY Reading Room: Fueling Dialogues in Education!

It’s fall– the perfect season for cozying up with a warm drink and the latest research out of the educational world. Below are some articles and reports that have caught the attention of READY’s team:

Stay Connected: Follow READY on Social Media!

Stay connected to the bold ideas and real-time progress reshaping education in Rochester. Follow READY on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube to stay up-to-date on our latest work, hear powerful stories from the field, and learn how you can help create more quality school options for Rochester’s students.

Follow. Share. Donate. Let's build the future together!

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