Superintendent’s Summer Reading Challenge Winners Announced
Students read more than 11 million words during the summer of 2025 using Footsteps2Brilliance interactive reading program
MORENO VALLEY – Like many students her age, Belinda Aguilar’s reading skills fell behind as a second-grade student during the learning interruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“She wanted to read, but she didn’t know how,” said Belinda’s mother, Esmeralda.
Now, as a fifth-grade student at Moreno Elementary School in the Moreno Valley Unified School District, Belinda credits her second-grade teacher, Martha Gonzalez, for encouraging her to begin reading with the Footsteps2Brilliance interactive reading program, which is free to all students in Riverside County.
During the summer of 2025, Belinda took Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez’s Summer Reading Challenge. In support of the Literacy by 5th Grade Initiative, the goal for all students in the county was to collectively read 7 million words. That figure was far surpassed by students who read more than 11 million words in 17,926 books, wrote 13,000 of their own books, and played more than 78,000 literacy games.
By logging into the Footsteps2Brilliance program every day on her Chromebook over the summer, Belinda read more than any student in Riverside County, totaling nearly 250,000 words and more than 594 books. Her favorite part of the program was completing more than 1,800 literacy games.
On Wednesday, November 19, Dr. Edwin Gomez presented Belinda with a certificate of recognition and a $75 gift card for her commitment to literacy over the summer.
“Reading is the key to unlocking possibilities and the future,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, as he spoke to the students gathered for an assembly at Moreno Elementary School before inviting Belinda Aguilar to the stage.
Winners from the 2025 Superintendent’s Summer Reading Challenge who also received a certificate of recognition and $75 gift card include:
Belinda Aguilar
Grade 5
Moreno Elementary School
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Marco Alvarado
Don F. Kenny Regional Learning Center
Riverside County Office of Education
Yzabelle McGregor
Grade 4
North Ridge Elementary School
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Moises Garcia
Grade 4
Box Springs Elementary School
Moreno Valley Unified School District
Now, Belinda considers reading to be one of her hobbies, just like drawing. She enjoys the Warrior Cat book series and has plans to finish the rest of the series. Belinda still makes the Footsteps2Brilliance program part of her weekly routine, just as she did in the summer. However, her involvement has decreased to a couple of days each week due to her own schoolwork, during which she occasionally writes her own books as her favorite subject in school is English language arts.
Since 2022, more than 242,000 Riverside County students have read 1.3 billion words through access to the interactive early literacy programs from Footsteps2Brilliance in support of the Literacy by 5th Grade Initiative launched in 2020 by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. Free access to the bilingual program remains available for all TK-5th grade students in Riverside County by visiting www.myf2b.com/riverside.
About Footsteps2Brilliance
Footsteps2Brilliance, Inc. is the breakthrough educational platform that accelerates student achievement from birth through 8th grade by uniting the power of mobile technology with the latest in cognitive research. Through its comprehensive bilingual programs in early literacy and financial literacy, Footsteps2Brilliance delivers enticing, interactive, 24/7 learning experiences that digitally connect school and home. By strengthening foundational reading, writing, math, and life skills, including the financial decision-making students need for future success, Footsteps2Brilliance gives every student the tools to thrive in school today and lead meaningful, prosperous lives tomorrow. For further information contact: info@footsteps2brilliance.com.
About the Riverside County Office of Education (RCOE)
RCOE is a service agency supporting the county’s 23 school districts and 500+ schools that serve nearly 430,000 students—more than the student population of 17 states. RCOE services include administrative support to districts and charter schools, programs for preschool, special education, pregnant minor, correctional, migrant, and vocational students. In addition, the organization provides professional training, support, and resources for more than 18,000 teachers, administrators, and staff, throughout the 7,000 square miles of Riverside County. Learn more about the Financial Literacy Initiative and the Literacy by 5th Grade Initiative at www.rcoe.us/initiatives.