A Message From Our Executive Director

It is hard to believe that Project Impact’s six-year tenure is almost complete. Having served more than 8,000 students, families and educators in Forsyth County, June 2022 will mark the official closure of our initiative.

Although my role as Executive Director began July 1, 2021, I was an earlier believer in Project Impact during my five years as principal of Cook Literacy Model School. Designated one of the state’s lowest performing schools, Cook demonstrated significant progress after receiving programs and services funded by Project Impact including a PreK classroom, summer learning opportunities, an after school program, behavior management coaching and a reading interventionist. Our school’s progress and the difference it made to our students would not have been possible without Project Impact.

Success stories like those at Cook will certainly continue. This spring, our team along with the Project Impact Advisory board, WS/FCS Superintendent Tricia McManus and other key stakeholders are coming together to assess our contributions and key learnings over these past six years and develop recommendations for the critical work going forward. In doing so, we’ll be able to position our community to realize our vision that every child, no matter their zip code, has access to the tools and support they need to learn to read.

Thank you for being part of Project Impact’s journey these past six years—it has truly made a difference to so many in our community.

Project Impact Executive Director,
Paula B. Wilkins, Ed. D