Savannah educator earns national honor after helping students double reading growth

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - A Savannah-Chatham County Public School System leader is receiving national recognition for helping young students strengthen their reading skills.Shraddha Nunziata, SCCPSS Senior Director of Special Projects and Initiatives, has been named the recipient of the 2026 Torchbearer Award, presented annually by Ignite Reading.The national award recognizes educators who are making a difference in early literacy and inspiring others to improve reading outcomes for students.A new approach to reading successNunziata joined SCCPSS in 2024 after working as a science teacher in the Bronx and spending six years leading high school enrichment programs across the Uncommon Schools network.When she returned to Savannah, where she attended high school, she began examining how the district supported students struggling with reading.At the time, much of the district’s literacy intervention focused on third graders, when state testing begins.However, conversations with teachers revea