Gov. Joe Lombardo and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert, center back row, take a photo with Seeliger Elementary School Vice Principal Kari Pryor, far left back row, kindergartner teacher Lori Sewell, far right back row, and Sewell’s kindergarten class for Reading Week.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Each year, National Read Across America Day is observed March 2, the birthday of children’s book author Ted Geisel, also known as Dr. Seuss. In celebration, many schools often dedicate the following week as “Reading Week.” In Carson City, grade-schoolers at several schools celebrated with community partners and local dignitaries.
The goal of Reading Week was to promote literacy, highlight the importance of reading in academic and personal development and nurture a culture of lifelong learning and literacy.
Nationally, an estimated 45 million educators, parents and students across the U.S. will participate in the observed reading week. Since 1997, the National Education Association has called on every community to enjoy the benefits of reading.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jhone Ebert, who attended Seeliger Elementary School on Wednesday and read to Lori Sewell’s kindergarten class with Gov. Joe Lombardo, said there are many aspects about reading to foster children’s love of learning every day.
“To have them invite us back into the classroom and to engage with a book, it was nice that this book, they hadn’t seen before,” Ebert said.
Ebert read to Sewell’s kindergartners “Little Pea” and enjoyed their level of engagement, she said.
“It’s the best part of my job to get out into the classroom,” she said. “It’s awesome. And it’s nice we get to celebrate Nevada Reading Week every year, but every day we get to celebrate reading. Reading gives us access, even though my love really is math. … So everyone needs to learn how to read to pursue their dreams.”