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\u201cLiteracy is foundational to everything,\u201d Hannah explained. \u201cIt affects every academic subject, but it also shapes how children communicate, understand the world around them, and develop confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a background in writing, teaching, and linguistics, Hannah emphasized that language is central to human identity and development. \u201cChildren naturally crave language,\u201d she said. \u201cOur responsibility is to give them the tools to use it well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This philosophy guided SARA\u2019s earliest outreach efforts, including free summer literacy camps hosted in partnership with the Franklin County Public Library. The camps introduced families to SARA\u2019s instructional approach while prioritizing accessibility for children who may not otherwise have access to structured academic support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs a nonprofit, it was important for us to serve children who might be overlooked,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cOffering the camps for free aligned directly with our mission.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
‘The camps also served another important purpose: building trust within the community. \u201cParents are entrusting us not only with their children\u2019s care, but with their educational foundation,\u201d she added. \u201cTransparency and community connection were essential as we worked toward opening our preschool.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In August 2025, SARA opened its first early learning center with an inaugural class of five preschool students. With Heather Dunn serving as the preschool teacher, the center operates as a full-time, structured preschool rather than a traditional daycare, where learning is intentionally woven into every part of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe are very clear with parents that learning happens all day,\u201d Hannah explained. \u201cFrom our schedule to the materials we use, everything is intentional.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The preschool is a screen-free environment designed to support focus, social interaction, and language development. Small class sizes allow for individualized instruction, while ongoing observation ensures that students continue to grow both academically and developmentally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As the lead teacher, Dunn plays a central role in the classroom\u2019s success. Working closely with students across subject areas, she maintains predictable routines that help establish comfort, accountability, and a genuine love for learning. Her consistent presence and intentional instruction allow students to thrive in an environment that feels both structured and nurturing. SARA\u2019s mission centers on educating the mind, body, and spirit. While the organization is currently exploring opportunities to expand faith-based programming, its daily practice focuses on character development through values such as honesty, integrity, empathy, and respect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAt this age, education is about more than academics,\u201d Hannah noted. \u201cChildren are learning how to interact with others, regulate their emotions, and understand responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the most significant challenges SARA seeks to address is the impact of excessive screen time on early literacy and child development. Hannah observed that many children struggle with attention, communication, and motivation to read due to constant digital stimulation \u2014 patterns that often continue into adolescence and adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SARA\u2019s confidence in its approach comes from what they see daily in the classroom. Students are read to multiple times a day, practice phonics and handwriting, engage in syllable work, and even learn basic sign language to strengthen communication skills. Just as importantly, they are given space to develop a genuine relationship with books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur students choose books during free time,\u201d Hannah said. \u201cThey ask to practice letters. That tells us the environment is working.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Looking ahead, SARA recently secured state certification for its preschool and plans to pursue state funding to expand enrollment, with a particular focus on serving low-income families. The organization also hopes to hire additional teachers to offer enrichment opportunities such as music and language instruction. Long-term goals include developing tutoring services for school-age children who need extra literacy support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Community members can support SARA through upcoming fundraisers, events planned for the spring and summer, and by visiting Saraelc.org. Through continued growth, collaboration, and a commitment to intentional education, Garrett and Hannah Davis, through SARA, aim to strengthen literacy access and improve educational outcomes throughout the region \u2014 one student at a time. GN<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IN WINCHESTER, the Southern Association for Reading Advancement (SARA) Early Learning Center is addressing one of the most critical \u2014 and often overlooked \u2014 needs in early childhood education: literacy. Founded to support children at the earliest stages of learning, SARA operates on a clear conviction that strong reading and language skills are essential not […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":194,"featured_media":24832,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-24830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/goodnewsmags.com\/franklin-county\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2026\/02\/4-1-1024x683.jpg\")
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