Albuquerque Reads is the chief program of the Career Guidance Institute (CGI), a 501(c)(3) non-profit foundation. CGI was established in 1984 by the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce (GACC) in response to the business community’s desire to help shape education reform in the city and state. CGI’s mission is to work alongside the Albuquerque Public School (APS) system in creating programs that serve our children where the need is greatest. GACC believes that a sound education system is the key to a community’s economic vitality.

Through the vision of GACC President and CEO, Terri Cole, and the late Lead APS Superintendent, Joseph M. Vigil, a dynamic partnership was struck between the GACC and APS. Modeled after a program in Ohio called Ohio Reads, the design team at Bel-Air Elementary School customized a program that fit the children’s needs while aligning with New Mexico educational standards. The creation of the ABQ Reads curriculum was led by Sally Giannini, a 30-year teacher, and Lynda Idle, former Bel-Air Principal and a 17-year educator. In 2003 the first class of kindergartners experienced the ABQ Reads program.

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