Davis\u2019 work helping kids to read led to her nomination for 52 Faces of Community<\/a>, the Fort Worth Report\u2019s weekly series spotlighting unsung heroes in Tarrant County.<\/p>\n She currently works with a first grader. Davis acknowledged that students assigned a Reading Buddy typically aren\u2019t inclined to read on their own.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI hope that I\u2019ve impacted her in a way that she actually enjoys reading and looks forward to it and finds it more fun,\u201d Davis said.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udfd8\ufe0f Support journalism rooted in community<\/strong><\/p>\n Your donation helps us tell the full story of Tarrant County by uplifting every voice and connecting neighbors through shared understanding. With your help, we can reach our $400,000 goal and ensure community-focused reporting thrives into 2026.<\/p>\n Welcome to 52 Faces<\/strong><\/p>\n 52 Faces of Community<\/a> is a Fort Worth Report weekly series spotlighting local unsung heroes. It is sponsored by Central Market<\/a>, H-E-B<\/a> and JPS Health Network<\/a>.<\/p>\n At the end of the year, these rarely recognized heroes will gather for a luncheon where the Report will announce one honoree to represent Tarrant County at the Jefferson Awards in Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n That\u2019s especially important in FWISD where 2 in 3 children aren\u2019t reading proficiently<\/a>.<\/p>\n Davis\u2019 Reading Buddy greets her by the front office when it\u2019s time for them to meet. Davis signs in, sticks her visitor tag on her shirt and allows her first grader to lead the way to the library where they will pick out two or three books.<\/p>\n Then they find a place to sit and dig into the books.<\/p>\n \u201cMost of it is me reading to her, but recently she\u2019s been reading to me some, which has been amazing,\u201d Davis said. \u201cWe work on her pronunciation, and she tells me about the lessons she\u2019s learning in her English class and applies it to the book, which is so cool and really special.\u201d<\/p>\n After 45 minutes, the pair read the stack of books cover to cover and do an activity. Sometimes it\u2019s a game. Other times they draw pictures for each other. Then it\u2019s off to lunch where Davis walks her Reading Buddy to the cafeteria.<\/p>\n \u201cThen we repeat the next Wednesday,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she\u2019s so patient and encouraging, I\u2019ve seen the students\u2019 confidence increase.\u201d<\/p>\n Laurie Malott, Sagamore Hill\u2019s librarian<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Laurie Malott, Sagamore Hill\u2019s librarian, works closely with Davis and other Reading Buddies. Working with Davis is joyful, Malott said.<\/p>\n \u201cShe just brightens our day. She always has a beautiful smile, and she is just so positive,\u201d Malott said.<\/p>\n Malott has watched Davis get to know her students and connect with them.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause she\u2019s so patient and encouraging, I\u2019ve seen the students\u2019 confidence increase,\u201d the librarian said.<\/p>\n At 20, Davis is among the youngest volunteers at the school. That\u2019s an advantage for her, Malott said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen students look at Jacobe, they don\u2019t see an adult. They think of her more like a teenager,\u201d Malott said. \u201cIt\u2019s easier for her to build connections and for the students to feel more at ease with and relate more with her.\u201d<\/p>\n That isn\u2019t lost on Davis. She said kids see her more like an older student, not an adult. Her Reading Buddy thought Davis was 16.\u00a0<\/p>\n Know an unsung hero in Tarrant County?<\/p>\n Tell us about them by filling out the form below. <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a sibling feel,\u201d Davis said. \u201cSiblings are near and dear to my heart because I have two sisters and they\u2019re my best friends in the whole wide world.\u201d<\/p>\n Volunteering at Sagamore Hill was one way for Davis to connect and become familiar with Fort Worth. She grew up in Austin. Moving three hours north meant finding a way to become part of the community, she said.<\/p>\n More than that, reading at the school is a way for Davis to practice her teaching skills. She\u2019s a double major in Spanish and Hispanic studies as well as education studies. Though she plans to attend law school after graduating from TCU, she knows exactly where she wants her career to take her: back to school.<\/p>\n \u201cBecoming a teacher seems like the perfect profession,\u201d Davis said. \u201cBeing in the classroom has never felt like work ever. I\u2019m impacted by students. The hope is that I\u2019m impacting students as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Jacob Sanchez is education editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at jacob.sanchez@fortworthreport.org<\/a> or @_jacob_sanchez<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The latest on your school district and more<\/p>\n Your free weekly guide to Fort Worth-area K-12 school news and calendars. Sent to your inbox every Tuesday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1764533595_800_4.png\")
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