TROY, N.Y. March 1, 2019 — New York State United Teachers is encouraging children and their parents to celebrate reading as part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America initiative. On Friday, NYSUT President Andy Pallotta took part in Read Across America Day at the Carroll Hill Elementary School in Troy to help raise awareness of the initiative and inspire children to pick up their favorite books.
Pallotta, who visited Troy Teachers Association member Tenika Wilcox’s fourth-grade class, said reading is not only fundamental for early childhood development, it is essential for students of all ages.
“Whether it’s ‘The Little Engine that Could’ or ‘Harry Potter,’ books are invaluable resources that help our children hone their language skills, learn about different cultures and explore new worlds,” Pallotta said. “As a parent, reading with my children was more than just a learning experience — it was a chance to make lasting memories. I encourage all parents to pick up a book with their kids and help further their education.”
Read Across America is an annual reading motivation and awareness program conducted by the NEA, of which NYSUT is an affiliate. Schools and libraries across the country hold annual Read Across America Day events to celebrate the March 2 birthday of Dr. Seuss.
As part of Read Across America this year, NYSUT is providing 21 local unions with books and other materials for classrooms in their school districts to help encourage students to read. The books were purchased as part of NYSUT’s partnership with First Book Inc., which is dedicated to providing books and educational resources to children in need.
“Promoting access to literature for children from all backgrounds is an important part of our commitment to improving the quality of education for our students across New York,” said J. Philippe Abraham, NYSUT secretary-treasurer. “Our partnership with First Book helps encourage children to read, which helps them explore our diverse world and better understand our many cultures.”
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.