Reading is a skill that goes beyond tests and grades–it’s a habit that shapes how young people think, imagine, and grow. At St. Anthony Village High School, English teacher and St. Anthony Village Education Association (SAVEA) Union President Joan Nelson is tackling one of the biggest challenges facing schools across the country: helping students build stamina and enthusiasm for reading.

Her efforts come at a critical time. According to a 2024 report from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the average reading score for 12th graders in the U.S. has reached its lowest level in decades. This means fewer seniors nationwide are reading at proficiency levels, and the need to restore focus and comprehension is urgent. 

“I had a couple of English teachers that were just amazing, and I try to emulate them in my teaching in different ways,” said Ms. Nelson. She tries to channel the enthusiasm her teachers had for the small things, like how to use a comma properly, to the big things like literary analysis. Today, she meets the challenge of making reading materials and assignments relevant, rigorous, and grounded in relationships, by including classics like Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare in the curriculum.

“Romeo and Juliet is not a love story,” Nelson said. “Romeo and Juliet is a story about stupid teenagers who don't listen to their parents. And ninth graders can relate to that, because it's not about them (of course), it's about their stupid friends.” 

She uses humor and honesty to help students see themselves in literature while also connecting the lessons to research on adolescent development. “You're supposed to be making mistakes right now,” she explained. “It's okay … that stress and tension that they're going through with their family, and the idea that their friends are just making really silly choices … that’s normal.” 

Nelson also brings this student relationship perspective to her role as SAVEA’s new union president. “This job wouldn’t exist without the students,” she said. “I try to put faces of specific students in my head when I'm collaborating with teachers and the district, asking myself how do these decisions impact them? I see that balancing aspect as a big part of my role.”

So how can families help their student focus and learn to love reading in a fast-paced world where there is so much competition for their attention? “Simply have reading materials in your home, – newspapers, magazines, things that your kids are interested in,” advises Nelson. “If they love sports, get them a subscription to a sports magazine. If you can get print in their hands, as opposed to having them read online, that’s even more beneficial.” 

She also recommends parents keep building their reading stamina, “talk to your kids about what you’re reading. Go to the library and check out books. It doesn't have to always be serious. Reading can be fun about fun topics.”

At a time when distractions are everywhere and national data show an urgent need, Joan Nelson’s approach to reading and learning offers both hope and a roadmap. By blending rigor with humor, honesty with empathy, and classroom practice with professional leadership, she reminds us that reading is not just an academic skill. It’s a lifelong habit that shapes how students see themselves and the world. Whether it’s through a Shakespeare play, a sports magazine, or a new book checked out from the library, every page turned is a step toward stronger focus, deeper connection, and a brighter future for our students.