Sonnesyn Elementary Showcases Bridge2Read Success During Commissioner Visit

On Dec. 11, Sonnesyn Elementary School welcomed Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett, ServeMinnesota CEO Julia Quanrud, and Bridge2Read advocates Archie and Jane Black and Phil Soren for a special visit to highlight the transformative impact of the Bridge2Read literacy program. (Check out the photo gallery.)

The visit included a classroom observation of a 2nd-grade Bridge2Read lesson led by veteran teacher Leslie Stokka, who has more than 25 years of experience in the classroom. Supporting the lesson was Anny Vega Chimil, a Reading Corps Total Learning Classroom Scholar Coach who once attended Sonnesyn as a student and had Ms. Stokka as her teacher. Vega Chimil, now studying at North Hennepin Community College with plans to become a licensed elementary educator, is working in the same classroom where she was once a student—a full-circle moment that resonated with the guests. 

According to Sonnesyn Principal Mary Jane Adams, alongside Lakeview Elementary School, this marks the third year the program has been in use. For the other schools in the district, this is the first year using Bridge2Read. 

"It’s working," Adams said, sharing a striking example from a recent support team meeting. During the meeting, the team reviewed classroom proficiency data and discovered that one 2nd-grade class had reached a proficiency rate of 70%. "This can’t be right, we thought," Adams recalled. "We double-checked the data. Normally, classes and the district are closer to 40%. But it was correct—a remarkable success story that reflects the power of Bridge2Read,” she said.

Bridge2Read, developed by ServeMinnesota, is a literacy initiative based on the science of reading. The program’s structured, 30-minute lessons target foundational skills such as phonemic awareness and word study, aligning seamlessly with schools' existing literacy blocks. As an extension of the successful Reading Corps initiative, Bridge2Read equips teachers with free resources, ongoing coaching, and systematic instruction strategies to ensure all students have the opportunity to succeed in reading.

Commissioner Jett observed the innovative approach in action during Ms. Stokka’s 2nd-grade class, where students engaged enthusiastically with the lesson. The visit concluded with a team debrief led by ServeMinnesota CEO Julia Quanrud, featuring reflections from district leadership and Commissioner Jett himself. 

Principal Adams noted the program’s alignment with Sonnesyn’s commitment to equity and academic achievement, emphasizing the diverse makeup of the student body.