Celebrating Literacy, Leadership, and Legacy

Queens Who Read at Roseville Community Charter School

At Roseville Community Charter School, royalty isn’t inherited, it’s earned through leadership, compassion, wisdom, and service. On Friday, March 21st, the school celebrated its 4th annual “Queens Who Read—Women’s History Month Literacy Event,” welcoming an extraordinary circle of women to inspire the next generation of readers and thinkers.

The event brought together a diverse group of “Queens”—not of royal bloodlines, but of strength, purpose, and influence. These women included mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and mentors from the school’s own community, alongside leaders from across New Jersey in law, education, civil service, business, the arts, and philanthropy. Together, they stepped into classrooms to share stories, spark imagination, and reinforce the message that reading is a gateway to empowerment.

Among the honored guest readers were Newark Councilwoman Louise Scott-Rountree; Dr. Charity Dacey, RCCS trustee and Dean at Touro School of Education; Dania Martinez, RCCS trustee; Officer Z. Smith of the Newark Police Department; and celebrated female children’s book authors. But the true magic came from the voices of everyday heroines—mothers and caregivers—who reminded scholars that queens walk among them every day.

“The heart of this initiative is about connection— between children and stories, between families and schools, and between generations of women who lead not with a crown, but with courage and care,” said Dr. Dionne Ledford, executive director and superintendent of RCCS. “Through programs like this and our companion event, ‘Kings Who Read’ in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we emphasize that literacy and love begin at home.”

Now in its sixth year of promoting family engagement through storytelling, Roseville’s literacy events continue to grow in impact and participation. The goal is simple but powerful: to foster a culture of reading that equips scholars with the tools they need for academic and lifelong success.

Serving scholars in grades K-5 from Newark and surrounding communities, Roseville Community Charter School lives up to its motto: “A Community of Excellence.” And with events like “Queens Who Read,” it’s clear that excellence here is led by women whose royalty shines from within.