There is a serious need for literacy advancement in this country. It always pained my heart to watch a child struggle to read or complete schoolwork on their own. I always imagined how they must feel. Reading is about 75% of the school day. If children cannot read, they cannot spell. If they cannot spell, then they cannot write. They are already set up for failure.

What does that look like at school? Well, they are refusing to read, refusing to do classwork or homework, and thinking up excuses to leave the classroom. All of these behaviors make the job of teaching more challenging. Also, while working as a mental health specialist for the University of Behavioral Healthcare, at UMDNJ in Newark NJ, I saw a direct link between illiteracy and behavior problems. I wondered if helping kids become successful at school would become the catalyst for other positive and healthy changes needed in their lives.

Also, I’ve worked with many parents who weren’t as involved as they...