2025 Annual Report
“WITS is ready to do big things. 2025 was our launching pad for what comes next. Join me in taking a look at what we've done and where we're heading.”
Tena Latona, Chief Executive OfficerWITS is the largest provider of literacy enrichment programming and volunteer partnerships in Chicago Public Schools, delivering no-cost programs that support both students and teachers.
We empower Chicago elementary students to discover themselves through reading while developing foundational literacy skills. We do this by creating community through literacy-based mentorship, enabling teachers to curate diverse classroom libraries, and promoting book ownership at home.
WITS strives to create opportunities for every student in Chicago to be literate.
WITS By The Numbers
Our Programs
WITS Kindergarten
WITS Kindergarten pairs kindergarten students with community mentors for weekly reading sessions, encouraging a love of reading and learning.
Mid-Day Mentoring
Mid-Day Mentoring pairs 2nd—4th grade students with mentors for weekly one-on-one reading sessions focused on building foundational reading skills and a love of reading.
Workplace Mentoring
Workplace Mentoring brings 4th through 6th grade students to offices in the loop for weekly after-school mentorship sessions, building strong relationships through facilitated activities, reading out loud, and working on students’ homework.
The Rochelle Lee Teacher Award
The Rochelle Lee Teacher Award is a $500 book grant. This award helps teachers further curate their classroom libraries to meet the needs and interests of their students.
Our Values
Community
WITS creates community through literacy-based mentorship, enabling teachers to further curate their classroom libraries, and by promoting book ownership at home.
At the end of the 2024-25 school year, 94% of WITS students reported feeling good or very good about spending time with their mentors.​
Empowerment
WITS empowers Chicago elementary students to discover themselves through reading while developing foundational literacy skills.
91% of WITS students reported having positive attitudes towards reading at the end of the 2024-25 school year, up from 73% at the beginning of the year.
Consistency
In a world where many systems fall short, the consistent relationships that WITS provides matter more than ever.
By year’s end, 62% of WITS students read at or above grade-level, nearly double the rate of 37% for all students at WITS schools.
Our Strategic Plan
2020-2021
We narrowed our program portfolio to focus on whole-school impact. We realigned our structure, processes, and training to maximize staff talent and efficiency.
2022-2023
We worked with an external evaluation partner to identify impact, adaptations, and training to improve outcomes.
2024-2025
We scaled multiple programs at single schools and identified expansion opportunities with new schools to reach more students.
2025 Highlights
Board Leadership
Jennifer Alter Warden wrapped up her term as board chair of WITS as VP Patrick Hatton assumes the Board Chair role.
Associates Board Events
The Associates Board expanded, adding 26 new members and hosting 3 separate fundraising events for WITS.
Invest For Kids
Invest For Kids Chicago selected WITS as one of its 2025 Grant Recipients, for which we received $200k.
NASCAR x WITS
The NASCAR Chicago Street Race and Race Winner Shane van Gisbergen visited students at John B. Drake Elementary a part of a new partnership between the NASCAR Chicago Street Race and WITS.
2026 And Beyond
x2
Double the number of students we serve in our student mentorship programs, driving grade-level reading attainment for more students.
x3
Increase the number of classroom libraries we grant teachers across CPS from 100 to 300.
x5
Give 50,000 books to substantially increase the number of students who have access to books at home.
