PSJA ISD Celebrates Literacy at Annual Summer Reads Awards Ceremony

SAN JUAN– Pharr-San Juan-Alamo Independent School District (PSJA ISD) recognized hundreds of student readers at its annual Summer Reads Award Ceremony, hosted by the district’s Library Services Department. The celebration highlighted the accomplishments of students from Pre-K through 12th grade who logged the highest number of minutes reading at their schools during summer break.

“Summer reading is about more than turning pages; it’s about opening doors,” said PSJA Library Services Director Amy Marquez. “Each book offers our students a chance to imagine, to grow, and to strengthen the skills that will carry them into bright futures. We are so proud of the dedication our students showed this summer.”

This year’s event saw nearly a thousand more student participants than ever before. As part of the district’s “Game On: Level Up Your Reading” theme, students were creatively encouraged to read books during the summer. As part of the theme, students dressed up as their favorite video game characters during the awards ceremony.

Campus and district leaders honored the readers by presenting each with a commemorative plaque recognizing their achievement. Collectively, this summer PSJA ISD students logged more than 959,000 minutes of reading through Beanstack, the district’s reading software.

For Paula Martinez, a junior at PSJA Collegiate School of Health Professions, reading is a life-changing experience.

“I like to read because it is a way for us to learn new things. You can expand your vocabulary, you can expand a lot of things by reading; it is a privilege,” explained Martinez.

The annual event was supported by the PSJA Education Foundation through a $15,000 literacy grant.

Marquez expressed gratitude to students for their dedication, families for their support, the hardworking PSJA ISD librarians, and the PSJA Education Foundation for making the celebration possible.

For more information on PSJA ISD’s literacy programs and initiatives, visit: https://www.psjaisd.us/departments/library-services-department.