- December 25, 2025
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Danielle Sobolewski proudly stood under the pavilion at the heart of Southside Elementary School's courtyard. She raised her voice so that all students could hear.
"One, two, three, eyes on me," the teacher called.
"One, two, eyes on you," the kindergartners responded.
Her speech was brief. After all, the promise of pizza sat on tables behind her. Eighteen years in teaching have shown Sobolewski how to handle a hungry crowd of children.
With her words, she shared gratitude and appreciation, applauding everyone for their months of hard work. She also made a declaration.
"You're their superheroes," Sobolewski said.
She spoke directly to the Riverview High baseball team, 39 of whom served as mentors for the Riverview Readers program this year. They had gathered with their kindergarten mentees on Dec. 9 for the final session of the 2025-26 academic year.
The past three months were full of fun-based learning and no shortage of smiles. But this last get-together was more of a celebration — instead full of pizza and Italian ice.
Smiles, though, still spread. They showed on the faces of high schoolers and kindergartners alike.
Joining Sobolewski under the pavilion was Riverview baseball coach Mark Sobolewski, her husband. He too had glowing remarks to share.
His own history with the program dates back to its inception. When it was first organized in 2003, it was run out of Sarasota High, where he was a freshman at the time. He joined as a sophomore and cherished the experience even after graduation.
These days, the 39-year-old has passed down that passion to his student-athletes.
"It's not really hard to convince them, because they get such good feedback from guys who have participated," Sobolewski said. "We've got several kids who do it all four years."
The program was founded with the intent of better preparing students for the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. It's since grown into something greater.
Riverview Readers, run annually since 2022, meets weekly during the fall semester at Southside every Tuesday afternoon. Each month, there are three weeks of academic skills and one week of physical activity — something to get everyone up and moving.
Math, science, social studies and reading are at the heart of their activities. But there's plenty of creativity in the curriculum.
On one afternoon, there might be moon phases crafted with Oreos. On the next, there could be a Kahoot! featuring math and reading challenges.
Danielle Sobolewski has spent the last 11 years fine-tuning the program to encourage learning through play in all the best ways.
"I've tried to make it into a program that can be mimicked by other schools," Sobolewski said. "I have had other schools reach out. It's a very intriguing program to a lot of people, in involving the community and getting schools together."
Seniors Luca Meehan and Nick Gibson — a shortstop and pitcher, respectively — have participated in Riverview Readers for all four years of their high school careers.
They got in on the fun as freshmen and stayed on, recognizing the value of their presence. Kindergartners, after all, look up to them as the "big kids."
Although he wasn't entirely sure what he was getting into, Gibson did have a vague idea at first. The experience has come full-circle for him.
He was in Sobolewski's kindergarten class way back when. His memories from those days are few and far between, but he does remember having a mentor himself.
"It's really getting a connection with the kids and inspiring them to be as great as they can. And inspiring us, truly," Gibson said. "It's really just an awesome experience."
Since 2022, the number of mentors in the program has grown from 15 to 39 — more than doubling in size. They served three kindergarten classes this past semester taught by Heidi Jones, Kelly Holt and Sobolewski.
This year's mentorship sessions have indeed reached an end, but the bonds they've built often endure.
Southside kindergartners sometimes attend their mentors' baseball games when Riverview's season is underway. The Rams are happy to return the favor, going out to support their mentees' extracurricular activities as well.
By embodying responsibility, positivity and kindness, the high schoolers create an impact that transcends the time constraints of Tuesday afternoons.
"Year to year, kids' personalities are different, but as it goes on, their personality shows through and you see who they really are," Meehan said. "It's awesome to hang out with them and build a really good connection with them."
Kindergartners come and go. So do the high schoolers.
In time, both sides eventually have to move on, graduating to the next stage in their respective educational journeys.
Riverview Readers remains — happy to welcome new faces. More mentors, more mentees are more growth is to come.
