The Bermuda Reading Association has a new President with a new vision to promote literacy education and provide more reading support.

Darnell Wynn, Reading Officer for the Ministry of Education has been tasked with heading the association.

She is responsible for literacy training for teachers in the Ministry and comes with 29 years of experience.

Ms Wynn explained the new vision and goals for the upcoming year.

"The Bermuda Reading Association will represent a viable support network of professional educators, parents, community and business leaders who will promote literacy education and advocate literacy proficiency for all Bermuda residents."

The Bermuda Reading Association has been in existence for 26 years and was started by passionate educators, she said.

"They have been very instrumental in providing a conference for parents and educators in addition to the reading in the park and a number of other projects.

"I was asked to become the President because they want to move the Bermuda Reading Association into a different path to move us along a bit further as to where literacy education is going.

"There is a need for professional development in literacy, educational awareness for parents as to how they can provide literacy education for their children before they go to school."

Ms Wynn said the association supports schools Island-wide and is a support system for students with literacy issues.

"We want to lift media coverage about literacy education. We hear a lot about the business world but not a lot about the teachers that are out there."

She also spoke of some of the new projects the association will undertake for the year.

"There will be a parent hot line called Bermuda Reads. A lot of parents want to know what does it mean when my child is looking at the pictures and not the words. I want to establish a hot line.

"We will be talking to our telecommunication persons. Often times parents are afraid to ask questions because they feel like they are putting schools and teachers on the spot."

She continued: "Something that's dear to me is to have reading professionals to provide reading tutoring for free or a small fee. Not persons who have done a one off course.

"If a child is struggling, it's something very serious, they need the person who is the very best.

"We want to set up something where not everyone but certainly persons who need the help can get it from those who are qualified and are involved in continuous professional development. Literacy is very complex. It's not just about learning letters and numbers. It's going to keep a focus on what we do to grow professionally."

Other projects include World Literacy Day on September 8 with a telethon fund-raiser, the association's annual conference in February, a tag day and more.