Leaders are Readers

Leaders are Readers was in effect last week at Thirkill elementary, which means that throughout the week students at the school were visited by a number of local community leaders.  February is Literacy Month at the school, and this week is Kindness Week, so it was a natural pairing.

Principal Rod Worthington explained that for the Leaders program in the past, has chosen “business owners, city council members, a lot of people.”  Those groups were all represented again (and more besides!), with the specific distinction that they were all women this year.  

Paige Byram with Wistisen's 1st graders

“How many think that our leaders, in the world, our nation, our cities, could be a little more kind?”  Worthington asked.  “Well, all of our leaders and readers today are kind women, as well as leaders.  As we were going through who to ask--Mrs. Steele and Golightly and myself--it was so easy to find women in our community who are leaders, because there are so many!”  

Kindness Week at the school will continue through Thursday, with the following lineup planned: Sally Jensen, Myra Leatherman, Erika Dannelly, Emily Welker, Tamra Henesh, Clara Whitney, Paige Byram, Heidi Walker, Camille Peterson, Jeri Selos, Samantha Daniels, Shari Moulton, Cherysh Stock, Jill Stoor, Camille Monk, Jessica Henderson.

Myra Leatherman is no stranger to the school, as she spent a number of years at the school as a teacher and on the school board.  It was hard for her to get much of a word in, because the students were all so excited to see her again, make sure she remembered them, and tell her about what they had been up to.  

Emily Welker and Erika Dannelly with Walker's 2nd graders

Throughout the day, every speaker had an enthusiastic group of listeners who had a lot to say about all the places they worked.  Many students told Erika Dannelly and Emily Welker that their parents worked at CMC, or that they had been there as patients.  The outstanding quality of the food at the Main Street Diner was conveyed strongly to Tamra Henesh and Shannon Whitney (joined by nurse Clara Whitney).  One student even told Councilwoman Paige Byram that her parents go to Point S Tire all the time “because their car breaks down.”

The readers all took their time reading through one of the day’s book selections with the students, asking and answering questions, and giving the students a positive afternoon with great examples of leadership and kindness.

Myra Leatherman with Mrs. Teuscher's 3rd graders

Shannon Whitney, Clara Whitney, and Tamra Henesh with Herron's 4th graders