NEA’s Read Across America Kicks Off in South Texas
By Brenda Álvarez
Life in the Rio Grande Valley in south Texas is relatively quiet. It’s a family-oriented area, where much of the excitement surrounds local football or basketball games. On Monday, Feb. 24, however, students from two elementary schools in Hidalgo County received a special treat from local, state and national guests, who read books from the beloved author Dr. Seuss. The event was part of the 17th anniversary of the National Education Association’s award-winning Read Across America literacy program.
The first stop on the tour was to M. Rivas Elementary School in Donna, Tex., which serves more than 600 students. One look down the school halls would give anyone a clear indication that students and school staff are serious about reading. Walls are plastered with posters promoting super star readers who are turning pages and have a goal of reading one million words for the school year.
Guest readers at Rivas were NEA Executive Committee Member Princess Moss, who read The Cat in the Hat, as well as State Board of Education representative Ruben Cortez and Texas State Rep. Armando Martinez who tagged team to read Green Eggs and Ham. Other special guests included Texas State Teachers Association (TSTA) President Rita Haecker, TSTA Vice President Noel Candelaria, and several Donna Independent School District school board members.
Principal Gregorio Arrellano says, “We need to get students excited about learning, and it all starts with reading,” emphasizing that programs like NEA’s Read Across America add energy to existing reading initiatives and show students they have the support of outside groups.
NEA Executive Committee member Princess Moss reads to students on the first top of the 2014 Read Across America tour.
Brissia Quintanilla, a kindergarten student, shared, “I like to read because it’s fun and my favorite book is The Cat in the Hat,” which worked out well because she, along with over 200 other students who participated in the
