Big-League Readers: Lakeview Academy Students Celebrate Literacy Goals at Atlanta Braves Game

Seventy-nine 4th grade Lakeview Academy students celebrated 2025–2026 meeting their on-grade level reading goals with an Atlanta Braves game sponsored by Fouts Bros. through the Baldwin Reads program.

There are a lot of ways to celebrate a good book.

Some celebrations involve a new bookmark. Some involve a quiet corner and one more chapter. For 79 Lakeview Academy 4th grade students who met their I-Ready on-grade level literacy  goals during the 2025–2026 school year, the celebration included hot dogs, stadium seats, and a trip to see the Atlanta Braves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWZBl3mL9VY

Just before the end of the school year, students who met the on-grade level literacy  goals set at the beginning of the year were treated to a Braves game through Baldwin Reads, a literacy initiative sponsored by Fouts Bros., a local family owned commercial and emergency vehicle manufacturing company. 

Students earned the trip by showing growth from their beginning-of-year to end-of-year i-Ready assessments by  reaching grade-level Lexile reading status on the nationally normed measure of reading performance as compared to fourth grade students nationwide.

“This is what we mean when we talk about building a premier community of academics, arts, and athletics: creating opportunities that connect achievement with unforgettable experiences,” said Superintendent Dr. Kristina Brooks. “We are incredibly grateful to Fouts Bros. and Baldwin Reads for investing in our students and helping them see that reading opens doors, builds confidence, and can take them anywhere!"

A Goal Worth Reading For

“We wanted something that was going to be a really huge, fun incentive. Something students could look forward to all school year long,” said Kaycie Jacobs, Program Director for Baldwin Reads. “Small rewards and incentives throughout the year can be meaningful, but we wanted something that was going to be that long-term goal. We wanted them to know it was going to come down to those final reading results, and that it was going to take effort month after month, doing the quizzes, reading the books, putting in the effort, and falling in love with reading.”

By the end of the year, 79 4th grade students had done exactly that.

They read. They tested. They stuck with it and met and exceeded grade-level reading levels in 4th grade. And then they packed up for Atlanta.

From “Do I Have To?” to “When Can I Pick My Next Book?”

“The biggest improvement was seeing students go from, ‘Do I have to do this?’ to ‘When is the next time I can pick a book?’” Jacobs said. “By giving them a choice to choose a book every month, they found the characters, storylines, and topics they liked. They would ask when the next book distribution was, tell us they had already finished their book, and ask what was available next.”

For many students, reading confidence grows one successful choice at a time. A student who finds the right book is more likely to read the next one. A student who finishes one story begins to imagine finishing another. A student who starts the year unsure may end the year asking for the next title.

Weekly Support, Real Growth

Lakeview Academy teacher Luein Reeves said the program gave students consistent exposure to reading and something positive to anticipate each week. “The Baldwin Reads program has helped increase our students’ interest by exposing them to reading week after week,” Reeves said.

For Reeves, the impact was especially meaningful for one of his students who met the goal and earned the trip.

“One of my academically at-risk students made it, and he did a tremendous job,” Reeves said. “He actually jumped grade levels. He went from a second-grade reading level to on grade level, so we’re super proud of him.”

That growth is exactly why literacy partnerships matter. Behind every number is a student building skills, confidence, and belief in what they can accomplish. For Jacobs, that local business and school district partnership is essential to the program’s success. “We wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for Fouts Bros.,” Jacobs said. “As we continue to expand, it is going to require more of that community approach local businesses helping with incentives, bringing people in for one-on-one mentorship and volunteering, and helping with the purchasing of books for home. It’s the only way we can exist.”

And yes, the Braves game itself was also a hit.

“They definitely enjoyed coming to Atlanta for the Braves game,” Reeves said. “They’re having a good time. The snacks, the hot dogs, the hamburgers, the drinks. The whole experience.”

Because sometimes the reward for hard work should feel like a reward. And a day at the ballpark? That’ll do it.