Atlanta, October 12, 2025— Monica Sharma, a veteran educator with 26 years of teaching experience and a passion for making reading “fun, not a chore,” has been recognized with the prestigious 2025 Preface Legacy Award for her extraordinary dedication to early childhood literacy and student mentorship.
The Legacy Award, presented at Preface's sixth annual Childhood Literacy Gala, honors educators who go above and beyond in shaping lives and fostering a love of learning. Sharma, who currently teaches in North Carolina after spending two decades in Gwinnett County, Georgia, expressed both shock and humility upon receiving the honor.
“It's such a great honor to receive this award because I feel like it reflects my passion for my students,” Sharma said. “This means more for my students than me. This is what the students deserve.”
A Mission-Driven Partnership
Sharma first learned about Preface in 2020 or 2021, when her principal introduced the innovative nonprofit during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic period. The timing, she recalled, felt providential.
“It was exciting to hear that there is help we can provide without spending money,” Sharma said. “At that time, my second and third grade classes were huge—29, 30 students in their classrooms—and teachers were asking, ‘What can we do to fill those gaps?' Preface came as a lifesaver.”
The organization's model pairs high school student ambassadors with elementary school students to foster literacy through peer mentorship—an approach that resonated deeply with Sharma's teaching philosophy.
“Learning doesn't have to be academic, it's just fun, and when it's fun, it makes more sense,” Sharma explained. “My students not only saw [ambassadors] as tutors, but they saw the opportunity of their big brothers and big sisters. So it was perfect.”
Building Connections That Transform Lives
The impact on Sharma's students has been remarkable. Children regularly ask when their favorite ambassadors will visit, forming bonds that extend beyond literacy lessons.
“Oh my gosh, every day they just asked me, ‘When is Brenda coming?'” Sharma recalled, referring to one particularly beloved ambassador who continued volunteering even after the formal program ended. “It's just so awesome to see those connections.”
One ambassador, Sharma, who had taught years earlier, returned to her classroom as a mentor—a full-circle moment that exemplified the program's multigenerational impact.
“She was one of my first-grade students, and I taught her,” Sharma said. “I was like, ‘Look how much she's grown now.' She not only came when the program sessions were scheduled, she ended up coming after school, too. She just wanted to come because she enjoyed it.”
A Growing National Movement
Sharma's recognition comes as Preface expands its reach across the United States and internationally. Founded by J.T. Wu in Georgia, the organization now operates in 15 states and recently launched its first global partnership in the United Kingdom.
“What began here in Georgia is continuing to reach communities across the nation,” said David Via, Preface's Co-President and Chief Operating Officer. “This year marks a major milestone—we launched our first global partnership in the United Kingdom.”
The organization's growth has garnered support from elected officials at every level. Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp praised Preface's mission in a video message at the gala.
“There is no greater gift we can give our children than the power to read, unlocking a lifetime of opportunity,” Governor Kemp said. “Organizations like this are why Georgia is charting a strong path forward for education.”
The Literacy Crisis and Preface's Solution
The urgency of Preface's mission cannot be overstated. According to founder J.T. Wu, more than half of Georgia's children still struggle to read English proficiently by third grade—a critical benchmark for future success.
“If we can get them there, they are set up to have far greater outcomes later in life—four times less likely to drop out of high school and 60 times less likely to spend time in prison,” Wu said during the gala.
State Senator Nabilah Islam Parks, the gala's guest of honor, shared her own literacy journey to underscore the program's importance.
“At the age of five, I did not know how to read,” Senator Islam Parks revealed. “But I had a teacher who was very motivated to help me… That personal story went a long way for me, and it gave me the confidence to continue to read. Literacy isn't just about books. It's about unlocking potential, fostering innovation, and building stronger communities.”
Gwinnett County Chairwoman Nicole Hendrickson echoed this sentiment in her video message: “Reading skills are the foundation for lifelong education… Thank you for this incredible nonprofit dedicated to supporting and impacting childhood development.”
An Inclusive, Bilingual Approach
What makes Preface particularly unique is its innovative model of pairing ambassadors with students who share the same linguistic and cultural backgrounds—a feature that has proven especially effective in diverse communities.
Dr. Wendy Taylor, a Preface board member and retired Gwinnett County principal, recalled the program's origins.
“J.T. came to me with this interesting idea about pairing high school students who spoke the same language as elementary students that were learning to read,” Dr. Taylor said. “What made it all so special was that the younger students saw the high schoolers as their buddies… Because when a child learns to read, it opens doors that can change the entire direction of their future.”
The relational approach creates meaningful, bilingual connections that bridge generations and cultures while using a 10-week curriculum crafted by expert educators—all provided absolutely free to schools.
A Personal Mission
For Natalie McGaw, Preface's UK liaison, the mission is deeply personal. “As a mom, this mission means so much more to me,” McGaw said via video from the United Kingdom. “I've also lived with dyslexia, so I know how challenging learning can be sometimes and how transformative it is when someone believes in you. Preface meets children where they are and helps them unlock their potential.”
Advocating for Expansion
Sharma continues to advocate passionately for expanding the program to reach more schools and districts. Her school currently hosts six ambassadors, though she's had as many as 14 in previous years.
“It's helping both sides,” she explained. “It's helping the ambassadors, those high school students, to be role models for the elementary students. And it's helping the elementary students to see how they can be in that space one day.”
However, district policies limiting participation to local students have created challenges in smaller districts. Sharma hopes these barriers will eventually be removed to maximize the program's impact.
Reading as Joy, Not Assignment
The most significant improvement Sharma has observed is students' enthusiasm for reading when it's presented as an enjoyable activity rather than a chore.
“If you see anything as a chore, you're not going to enjoy it,” she noted. “But if you see reading as a fun activity, you're going to enjoy it, and that's going to help.”
She contrasts the informal mentorship sessions with traditional classroom assignments, explaining that students appreciate the relaxed atmosphere where they feel like they're talking with older siblings rather than completing teacher-assigned work.
“I love seeing these students being mentored by the elementary students and those elementary students seeing that, ‘Oh, one day I can also be in that place and be a mentor to someone else,'” Sharma said. “Providing that role model to our elementary students and providing the leadership to our high schoolers—that's just great.”
A Career of Global Impact
Sharma's 26-year career includes teaching experience internationally in India, bringing a diverse, global perspective to her approach to literacy education. This international experience has informed her understanding of how cultural connections enhance learning outcomes.
Looking Forward
As Preface continues its expansion—recently receiving requests from Minneapolis Public Schools to double the number of ambassadors serving their district—educators like Monica Sharma remain at the heart of the organization's success.
“I cannot thank you all enough for doing the good work you are doing,” Sharma said in her acceptance speech. “I thank all the partners, all the companies that are investing in Preface—please continue doing that because we need it. It's really helping us to build a strong future for our students because they will be leading us one day, and we want to be in good hands.”
The Preface Legacy Award comes with recognition and celebration, but for Sharma, the true reward remains in the classroom—in every child who asks when their ambassador is coming, in every young reader who discovers that books can be friends, and in every connection that transforms learning from obligation into joy.
“It takes a village,” Sharma concluded. “We cannot do it alone, and when we have partners like Preface, it makes it easier. All of us can work together until we get our students ready for the future because they are future leaders, and we want to make sure that we are doing our jobs.”
The Preface Legacy Award is presented annually to educators who demonstrate exceptional leadership, dedication, and impact in advancing early childhood literacy. Each recipient receives recognition and becomes part of a growing family of changemakers committed to ensuring every child has access to the transformative power of reading.
