Every FCPS Middle School Joins 'One School, One Book' — From Students to Bus Drivers

Every middle school in Fayette County Public Schools is participating in a literacy initiative this school year with an unusual rule: the book goes to everyone. Not just students — every grade level, teacher, bus driver, and janitor in each building will spend the next month reading and discussing the same novel, according to officials with the school system.

The program is called 'One School, One Book.' Each middle school selects its own title, but every choice is anchored to the same themes: belonging, community, or safety. The goal, educators say, is to give every person under one roof a shared conversation — and a shared stake in it.

Crawford Middle School Leadership Academy built anticipation for its book reveal over eight days, giving students daily clues — references to New York City, a mountain, and letters, along with a prompt asking where they'd want to write if they had a pen pal. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton attended the reveal assembly, according to LEX 18.

The goal of the program is first, for our kids to get engaged with literacy, to get them excited about literacy. Not only reading but other literacies, civic literacy, financial literacy is very important to us.— Sara Green, civics teacher, Crawford Middle School Leadership Academy

Green said the decision to put the book in the hands of every adult in the building — not just students — is intentional and carries a specific message.

It's important that students see that other people who may not look like them, or may not be from the same area as them, can see that we have shared experiences. It's important, especially in middle school, that students are able to see that, so they feel like they belong. If they come to school and they feel like they belong, they know their teachers care.— Sara Green, civics teacher, Crawford Middle School Leadership Academy

For students who struggle with reading, Crawford has built in a daily support structure: every morning begins with a leadership class where teachers and students can discuss the book together and identify where extra help is needed.

You know the first step in getting students engaged is to have them interested. If they're interested in the book, then they're going to want to absorb it. Also, if other kids and teachers are talking about it, then they're going to want to be part of the conversation.— Sara Green, civics teacher, Crawford Middle School Leadership Academy

We are very big on a sense of belonging here at Crawford Middle School Leadership Academy, because when you come to school you should feel like you belong. This is their community. They're part of a community here at our school; they're part of our community in our city. So just bringing people around common themes that every human experiences no matter where you're from.— Sara Green, civics teacher, Crawford Middle School Leadership Academy

The initiative runs for approximately one month across all FCPS middle schools.

Why it matters — The initiative puts every adult in each middle school building — not just teachers — into the same conversation as students, making belonging a school-wide practice rather than a classroom lesson.

Reported by fcps.net, lex18.com, fcps.edu