As a teacher, scholar, mother, wife, church member and—oh yeah, there’s that other thing—executive director of a growing non-profit organization, Tracy Bailey wears many hats. The amazing part is that she manages to blend the purest elements of each role and apply them to all her endeavors. At her core, Bailey wants to see every individual, regardless of his or her background, experience life to its very highest potential.

It was this desire that led Bailey to the South Carolina Governor’s School for Academics as a rising high school senior in 1990; it drove her to earn bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teaching; it shaped her into an exceptional high school classroom teacher; it motivates her daily as she and her husband raise two children; it prompted her to enroll in a PhD program in language and literacy; and, finally, it spurred her to establish Freedom Readers, an area program devoted to enhancing literacy and learning among children in low wealth communities.

Freedom Readers pairs area youth one-on-one with local volunteers to participate in reading and literacy activities. The three locations—Huckabee Heights in Conway, Darden Terrace in Socastee, and the Boys and Girls Club of the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach—each offer 20 spots for children in levels kindergarten through fifth grade. The program is very structured and focuses not only on reading comprehension skills, but on other major areas of literacy emphasized in state curriculum standards: writing, speaking and listening. The weekly 90-minute classes run for two 12-week sessions during the school year and one six-week session in the summer.

Though it’s an educational experience, Bailey explains, the program doesn’t feel like homework; instead, the overall environment is kept light and engaging. “We want it to be school and not be school—make it fun enough, keep the energy high enough that the learning is taking place but it doesn’t feel restrictive,” Bailey says.

While literacy is the focus of the program, Bailey has designed Freedom Readers to deliver corresponding lessons in confidence, self-respect and a broadened sense of educational potential. “The only standard I have is excellence. I take pride in my work, pride in my community, pride in my family, pride in myself, whether I am a carpenter, a teacher, a businessman, an athlete or a senator.”

Before individualized reading time, students participate in activities including a full-group choral reading, in which students read and consider the lyrics to particular songs, such as a recent choice, “I Believe I Can Fly” by R. Kelly.  “We incorporate music because we’re trying to find approaches that are more culturally responsive,” Bailey explains. The next group activity involves a presentation of some sort—the focus might be an overview of a particular college with photos of the campus and a discussion about what collegiate life is like. “We’re trying to get them plugged in to the whole college mindset,” notes Bailey.

Now in its second year of operation, Freedom Readers was initially conceived decades ago, when Bailey was at the Governor’s School in Charleston, where she met her husband, Issac. The summer academic enrichment experience was transformative for the 16-year-old girl as well as her beau. “Issac and I made a commitment to each other,” Bailey says. “The Governor’s School experience took us out of our communities and exposed us to things intellectually that we would not have been exposed to otherwise. We both knew that when the opportunity presented itself, we would step in and do the same for others. Freedom Readers has allowed me to do that.”

For Bailey, the ultimate goal of the program is simple: “The thing we’re trying to offer is options—the freedom to be whatever you want to be.”    

Tracy Bailey
Executive Director, Freedom Readers
Age: 38
Community involvement: Freedom Readers, Christ Community Church, First Book-Horry County, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Horry County
Proudest accomplishment: Birth of my children, Kyle, 10, and Lyric, 7, and helping them to develop into who they’re going to be.