Project R.E.A.D. – STEM and Literacy Programs Impact Hundreds of Victor Valley Students

At  Assistance League® of Victor Valley, we believe that investing in education opens doors to a brighter future. Through our Project R.E.A.D. programs—STEM Awards and Literacy—we equip local students and teachers with the tools, resources, and inspiration they need to thrive. Whether it’s providing a classroom with hands-on science materials or putting brand-new books into the hands of young readers, our members are committed to making a lasting impact in every Victor Valley school district we serve.

2024-2025 Assistance League of Victor Valley STEM Awards

STEM Awards

This year, ten teachers from Victor Valley schools each received a $900 STEM Award to purchase Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) materials for their classrooms. These resources—already ordered and being delivered—will provide hands-on learning opportunities that spark curiosity and build critical skills for years to come.

The 2025 STEM Award Recipients:

• Elizabeth Bell – 3rd Grade, Lime Street Elementary, Hesperia USD
• Champion Brown – Special Education (Grades 4–6), Lime Street Elementary, Hesperia USD
• Kristine Cammack – 6th Grade, Riverside Prep Middle School, Oro Grande School District
• Stephanie Carretero – 2nd Grade, Discovery School of the Arts, Victor Elementary School District
• Mary Sue Cox – Special Education (4th Grade), Lime Street Elementary, Hesperia USD
• Leigh Hannon – TK/K, Lucerne Valley Elementary, Lucerne Valley USD
• Theresa Moore – TK/K, Theodore Vick School, Adelanto Elementary School District
• Adriana Morton – 4th Grade, Discovery School of the Arts, Victor Elementary School District
• Gilbert Ochoa – 3rd Grade, Westside Park Elementary, Adelanto Elementary School District
• Channa Wickramanayake – Career Technical Education (Grades 9–12), Silverado High School, Victor Valley Union High School District

In total, these awards—valued at $9,000—will benefit approximately 1,000 students.

2024-2025 Assistance League of Victor Valley Literacy Award

In partnership with district administration, Assistance League of Victor Valley provided every third-grade student in the selected schools with two new chapter books. Additional books were donated to each school’s library so that the joy of reading can be shared for years to come.

Participating Schools:

Adelanto Elementary School District – Bradach Elementary, Eagle Ranch, West Creek
Apple Valley Unified School District – Desert Knolls, Mariana, Rancho Verde
Helendale School District – Helendale Elementary
Hesperia Unified School District – Kingston, Lime Street, Maple
Lucerne Valley USD – Lucerne Valley Elementary
Oro Grande School District – Riverside Prep Elementary
Snowline Joint Unified School District – Baldy Mesa, Heritage, Wrightwood Elementary
Victor Elementary School District – Challenger, Liberty, Dr. Ralph Baker

Students Served by District:

• Adelanto ESD – 323
• Apple Valley USD – 289
• Helendale SD – 174
• Hesperia USD – 419
• Lucerne Valley USD – 185
• Oro Grande SD – 141
• Snowline JUSD – 298
• Victor ESD – 348

In total, 2,177 students received two books each—4,354 books in all. We ordered 4,350 books from Scholastic for $9,015 and received 600 additional books at no cost, which were donated to school libraries.

Our dedicated volunteers worked together to unpack, label, sort, organize, repack, and deliver the books to every participating school—ensuring each child’s face lit up when they held their very own books.