Gold Award Girl Scout Claire
July 16, 2025
FARMINGTON, N.M. – June 23, 2025 – Claire McDaniel, a graduating senior and recipient of the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, has launched “Love is Literacy,” a comprehensive project aimed at combating New Mexico’s pervasive literacy challenges. With the state consistently ranking 50th in education and only 17% of students proficient in reading in 2022, McDaniel’s initiative provides accessible phonics education to empower young learners and their families.
McDaniel’s centerpiece for “Love is Literacy” is a YouTube channel featuring 75 engaging videos designed for both younger children and parents. The videos teach fundamental phonics skills and their practical application, enabling parents to effectively support their children’s reading development at home. To ensure efficacy, McDaniel meticulously tested her video content with test audiences across 17 different reading levels in kindergarten through second grade. Her success was measured by observing improvements in reading difficult blends, such as “TR” and “DW,” after viewers watched her instructional videos.
“I learned that I have the ability to create a large impact by learning new skills that I might not have wanted to know,” McDaniel said about her experience.
Beyond the digital platform, McDaniel partnered with the Farmington Public Library to host a successful book drive and community event. At the event, she distributed children’s books, shared information about her educational resources through pamphlets, and provided bookmarks directing families to her YouTube channel, which currently boasts 11,260 views.
The sustainability of “Love is Literacy” is secured through a partnership with Mesa Verde Elementary School, which will continue updating the YouTube channel, sharing resources with parents, and integrating the videos into classroom instruction.
“Claire’s amazing work is being sustained by Mesa Verde Elementary School, who will be updating her YouTube channel, sharing her resources with parents, and utilizing her videos in the classroom,” shared Katrina Danielle, a representative involved with the project.
McDaniel plans to continue her dedication to public service through higher education. She will attend the University of New Mexico in Fall 2025 to pursue a degree in Political Science, having received both the Presidential Scholarship and the Jack Beaty Education Foundation Scholarship. Post-graduation, she aims to earn a graduate degree in Public Policy, with a long-term vision for her project.
“One day, I hope to turn Love is Literacy into a nonprofit and expand its reach to more learning and reading groups like adult learners, ESL, and more!” McDaniel added.
The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, earned by girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership through projects that have a measurable and lasting impact on their communities.
