Bonner Elementary partners with Christus Health for literacy healthcare connection
Published 5:40 am Saturday, October 3, 2026
Bonner Elementary School students are learning how literacy connects directly to careers in healthcare through the school’s new partnership with Christus Health.
Christus Health medical professionals visited the campus during the last week of September during specialty timeslots to read with students and share their experiences working in the medical field and helping other people feel better. The visits gave students an opportunity to learn about different healthcare careers, the education and training required to enter the profession and how reading skills are used every day in their work.
The first two days of the partnership featured bilingual medical professionals reading to students in Spanish, creating a connection between the school’s literacy focus and Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated nationally every September.
Principal of Bonner Elementary School Steven Ladd said students are also learning how language skills and cultural experiences can be valuable strengths in healthcare and other professional settings when they grow up.
During the visits, students had time to ask questions about the professionals’ careers and educational journeys. Discussions also highlighted the important role reading plays from learning and communicating to understanding complex information and serving patients.
“This partnership allows our students to see that reading is not just something we do in school; it is a skill that follows us throughout our lives and into our careers,” Ladd said. “This week, in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, our students are hearing from Hispanic medical professionals, some of whom share cultural roots and life experiences with the families we serve.”
Ladd said the new partnership provides Bonner students with a real-world look at how classroom skills can translate into future careers. By bringing healthcare professionals directly into the school, students are seeing firsthand how education, literacy and communication can open doors to a wide range of possibilities.
“By bringing healthcare professionals directly into the school, students are seeing firsthand how education, literacy and communication can open doors to a wide range of possibilities,” Ladd said.
For more information about Bonner Elementary School and their partnership with Christus Health, visit tylerisd.org/o/bonneres.
For more information about Christus Health, visit christushealth.org.
