Education Grant WinnerLeslie Soria

Leslie Soria works with Pre Kindergarten students in Edgewood ISD, where she is deeply committed to building the earliest foundations for literacy and confidence. Teaching young learners who often come from language limited homes, Leslie sees firsthand how access to simple materials—paper, letters, writing tools—can shape a child’s relationship with learning. Her passion lies in giving her students meaningful, hands on opportunities to explore words, sounds, and self expression using their “little hands” and growing imaginations.

That vision came to life through Write to Learn: Building Foundational Writing Skills in Pre K, a Firstmark Foundation funded writing center designed to transform a once quiet classroom area into a hub of exploration. With grant support, Leslie created a rich, rotating writing environment filled with magnetic letters, tracing boards, easels, journals, stencils, sensory tools, and themed prompts aligned to Texas Pre K Guidelines. Students now label drawings, practice name writing, experiment with letter formation, and communicate ideas through inventive spelling—developing fine motor skills, print awareness, vocabulary, and confidence along the way.

The impact has been immediate and joyful. Students are eager to choose the writing center, collaborate with classmates, and proudly share their work. What was once a plain space is now one of the most sought after areas in the room, helping students build readiness for kindergarten while discovering that their thoughts and words matter. For Leslie, the greatest success is seeing children light up as they realize they are already writers—just at the very beginning of their story.