NYSUT President Andrew Pallotta will be a guest reader at Carroll Hill School in Troy as students and educators in schools across the nation celebrate Read Across America Day Friday, March 1, at 12 p.m.
Guest readers Patrick Madden, mayor of Troy, and school principal Roy Stile will also be taking part in the celebration at Carroll Hill; Troy City School District will also celebrate at School 16 at beginning at 9 a.m. with guest readers Mary Pat Donnelly, Rensselaer County District Attorney, NYS Assemblymember John McDonald, Troy Police Chief Brian Owens and Rensselaer County Sheriff Pat Russo.
When asked about his favorite childhood book for last year's Read Across America celebration, Pallotta didn’t hesitate: The Little Engine That Could, written by Watty Piper, a pen name of publisher Arnold Munk. As an elementary teacher in the Bronx, it was one of the many books Pallotta read to his young students. In a 2007 NEA online poll, it was listed in the Teachers Top 100 Books for Children. Pallotta called The Little Engine That Could “the real story of encouragement.”
Carroll Hill School students will participate in a school-wide reading chain; School 16 students will also enjoy a breakfast of green eggs and ham with their parents and teachers. Both schools will experience an inspirational morning program with a Dr. Seuss theme including Dr. Seuss cartoons, book reading, and songs, and a 35-minute DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) session to end the day. Carroll Hill School is at 112 Delaware Ave in Troy; School 16 is at 40 Collins Avenue.
About 'Read Across America'
The National Education Association’s Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading through the theme "Celebrating a Nation of Diverse Readers". Many schools and libraries celebrate with an annual event on or around the March 2 birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss, but NEA’s Read Across America also provides NEA members, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year.
The NEA is one of NYSUT's national affiliates.