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The READY Report
September 2025
| | Looking Ahead to a School Year Full of Potential | | |
Dear Partners and Supporters,
It’s READY’s favorite season—back to school!
Over the past few months we have enjoyed connecting with so many of you at events across our community and bringing resources on school quality and choice with our Follow Us, Find Us, Win Big! giveaway series. From Ontario Beach Park to Clarissa Street, families were able to explore the READY School Finder, discover resources, and celebrate the power of making informed school choices. We are eager to keep the momentum going this fall as we work to ensure even more families have access to quality schools.
Back in action with parents, educators, and students who are leading READY initiatives, we are reshaping Rochester’s education systems.
Here’s what you can expect to see from READY this school year:
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The second annual Bowling 4 STARS fundraiser to grant scholarships to high school graduates pursuing careers in teaching
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More investments in Rochester’s high-performing and promising schools to strengthen their impact and provide better options for students currently enrolled in low-performing schools
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Spotlights on high school students in the READY Liberation Teaching Academy—these aspiring educators represent the next generation of leaders and changemakers in our community
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Innovative school models from the dedicated educators in the READY Design Studio fellowship, their learning environment designs will be unveiled to the community at our Design Studio Showcase on December 2, 2025
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Exciting updates to the READY School Finder to add and improve features based on user feedback, giving families more transparent school data at their fingertips
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A new-and-improved program design of the Parent ACTION Academy to train even more parents and caregivers to be informed and activated in education systems change in Rochester
We invite you to learn more below, join the READY family, and be part of a movement that is not only transforming education but also fueling the economic empowerment of Rochester’s families. Every strong school opens the door to greater opportunity—lifting students, strengthening households, and building a more vibrant local economy.
We can’t do this alone—your support and partnership are essential to ensuring that every child has access to the kind of education that helps our entire community thrive.
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Shanai Lee, MBA, EdD
Founder and Executive Director
READY, Inc.
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Your support matters! Help us reach our goal to support
future educators, like Janai
| | Students like Janai, who push through obstacles to graduate and pursue higher education, are the students we need to invest in as the leaders of the future. Many students know the impact that a single teacher can have on a child’s life from their own lived experience, and now they are committed to giving back and pursuing a career as an educator. | | | | |
Janai's story is your dollars in action, she shares:
“This scholarship is more than financial support; it’s an opportunity for me to continue pursuing my education with hope, determination, and the ability to one day give back the same way others have poured into me."
| On Friday, April 24, 2026, we’ll host our second annual Bowling 4 STARS fundraiser at Radio Social. This event celebrates community while raising essential funds for the READY STARS Scholarship Fund, which supports | | | |
graduating seniors pursuing teaching careers. Last year, we raised $25,000. This year, we’re aiming for $50,000—and every sponsorship helps get us closer.
How you can help:
- Gather a team of 4-6 to bowl for $500
- Become a sponsor, starting at $1,000
- Encourage your company or network to support
- Spread the word and join us for a night of celebration
Together, we can support our youth to enter a strong, sustainable career where they can inspire and cultivate future generations. To sponsor, form a team, or learn more, contact Christina Schermerhorn at Christina@READY4schools.org.
Let’s grow the next generation of educators—together.
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The READY Liberation Teaching Academy kicks off its second year!
It’s no ordinary school year for students in the READY Liberation Teaching Academy (RLTA) at UPrep Charter School for Young Men. This group of students have signed on for another year of RLTA, preparing them to serve as the next generation of educators in Rochester, rooted in identity, purpose, and community leadership. RLTA scholars participate in a year-round program with paid internships, mentorship, and early college experiences designed to spark interest in teaching careers.
Hear the impact directly from students:
"...RTLA has helped me be able to express myself and learn to start speaking up and telling people how I feel. Before, I wasn't able to express myself and I was extremely silent, but when I was able to see and interact with people who looked and acted like me, I was able to open up and relate to my peers."
We’ll keep you updated on their accomplishments throughout the year!
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READY Design Studio Fellows
Visit Inspiring, Innovative Schools in Denver, CO
In addition to supporting the teachers of tomorrow, we’re investing in current educators with bold ideas for new school models through the READY Design Studio - phase 1 of the READY School Incubator. The second cohort just returned from an Inspiration Visit to Denver, CO- the homebase of our partner Moonshot edVentures. Fellows visited schools with a range of pedagogical models, helping to inform and inspire their own visions for bold new schools that reflect what Rochester families want for their children.
Phase 2 of the School Incubator - the Launch Phase - is also underway with phenomenal educators in the planning phase for two new school models. Over the next year, they will receive executive coaching, tailored support, and dedicated planning time as they work toward launching schools that respond to the needs of our community.
Stay tuned for opportunities to experience the Design Studio and Launch Phase school models in action!
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Get READY Rochester! The next generation of the School Finder is coming soon
At READY, we believe families deserve tools that are accessible, transparent, and aligned to the holistic needs of their child. Since launching READY School Finder in 2023, we have consistently gathered feedback from you - the over 4,000 families who have used the tool to make informed decisions with trusted, easy-to-understand information about where to send your child to school. Rochester families: when you speak, we don’t just listen- we act.
In response to your feedback, we are excited to announce that the next generation of the School Finder will be out this fall, and will include pre-K offerings.
We commit to meeting you where you are - out in the community at recreation centers, churches, schools, and businesses - to help you navigate the new features of School Finder so you can make the most of the tool. Contact Christina Schermerhorn at Christina@READY4schools.org if you are interested in having READY come to your business or community center to host a Lunch & Learn on School Finder (lunch is on us!).
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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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