We recently connected with Jessica Payne and have shared our conversation below.
Jessica, appreciate you joining us today. Crazy stuff happening is almost as certain as death and taxes – it’s technically “unexpected” but something unexpected happening is to be expected and so can you share a crazy story with our readers
We organize our services into 3 programs. Within our programs, we have different initiatives, one of which is Storybook Adventures —an interactive storytime that brings fun to reading. One of my Storybook Adventure characters is named Cactus Rose. She is a spirited cowgirl who brings a splash of Western adventure to story time! Decked out in a cactus shirt, a wig reminiscent of a country music star, and a trusty (not quite 10-gallon) pink cowgirl hat, she’s a lively presence, throwing herself into the tales with gusto, often leading to some unforgettable moments.
During a visit to the San Gabriel schools, as Cactus Rose, I was engrossed in reading: “THERE WAS AN OLD LADY WHO SWALLOWED A CACTUS” by Lucille Collandro. As the story reached its peak—a giant sneeze—excitement and drama won. In my fervor, my wig went one way while my hat went another.
Now, normally, as Cactus Rose, I keep my hair slicked back in a tight bun to ensure that the wig stays in place. However, on this particular day, with a much-needed haircut pending, my wig didn’t quite fit as snugly as usual. So, when the hat went flying, so did the wig.
To the children, it seemed as though Cactus Rose had lost her hair! It wasn’t until I scooped up my hat and a teacher returned the wig that I even realized what had happened. Cactus Rose continued on with story time and afterwards distributed books and Reading Buddies to each child.
In the end, several children told me with a lot of concern that I had “lost my hair”. A quick peek under my hat reassured each, and I got big smiles and a “thank you” as each child received their book and buddy. Their smiles and gratitude filled the room, making it clear that even unexpected mishaps couldn’t dampen the joy of story time with Cactus Rose.
The TLDR of this story is that when the wig went flying, I had a split-second decision: break character to chase it down, or carry on as if it were all part of the show. I chose the show. Kids can forgive a fallen wig, but not a broken story. If I’d stopped, the presentation would’ve unraveled faster than my costume. Instead, they left remembering a great storytime—not a storyteller with bad wig luck.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
Kids Need to Read (KNTR) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving children’s literacy and inspiring a love of reading among underserved youth. The organization believes that every child—no matter their circumstances—deserves access to quality books and the opportunity to discover the joy and empowerment that reading provides.
KNTR accomplishes this mission by providing books and literacy resources to schools, libraries, and community organizations that serve low-income or vulnerable children. These donations not only increase access to books but also strengthen the programs and literacy initiatives of the recipient organizations.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I joined Kids Need to Read in 2019 after a career in teaching. Like many educators, I was used to funding my own classroom, but entering the nonprofit world introduced an entirely new challenge—grant writing. I quickly discovered that it’s one of the most difficult aspects of my job. Every grant asks different questions, uses unfamiliar vocabulary, and requires a balance between business professionalism and heartfelt storytelling. It’s a unique blend of logic and emotion—almost like writing a business proposal and a thank-you note to your grandmother at the same time.
When the pandemic hit, demand for our programs surged while many foundations shifted their funding priorities. I had to learn quickly and adapt to keep our organization moving forward. During that time, our local Chamber of Commerce proved to be an invaluable support system. Fellow nonprofit members met with me over coffee to share advice and connections, while business members offered opportunities to practice networking and refine my elevator pitch.
I truly believe that the Chamber played a key role in helping Kids Need to Read successfully navigate a leadership transition, the challenges of the pandemic, and significant organizational change. Their support not only strengthened our organization but also helped me grow into a more confident and resourceful leader.
Any advice for managing a team?
Managing a classroom and managing an office are two very different experiences. In the classroom, effective management means helping students think critically and make their own decisions—learning from both the good and the bad outcomes. That process builds responsibility and independence.
In the office, however, the challenges are entirely different. The biggest one I’ve faced is communication. My team even has a running joke that I sometimes “give instructions in my head” and forget to actually say them out loud!
If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Instead of ignoring the issue, my team and I worked together to create systems that strengthen communication and keep everyone aligned. For example, when preparing a book grant, I log all the details in our Google Calendar—what needs to be pulled, how the books should be packed, and any special considerations for the grant. These small, consistent processes have made a big difference in how smoothly our operations run and how effectively we work as a team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kidsneedtoread.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kidsneedtoread/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidsneedtoread/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kids-need-to-read
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kidsneedtoread/
