Annual Black History Month Read-In at Littleton Elementary includes President Obama event
The 2nd Annual Black History Month Read-In – this year titled “It Takes a Village” – was held at Dr. Carrie D. Robinson Littleton Elementary Wednesday, Feb 18. The event not only included many community leaders visiting the school to read to the children, it also included a new event launched by President Barack Obama.
“We’ve added another element to our event,” said Littleton Guidance Counselor Nancy Beatty, who was the volunteer coordinator for the activities. “We joined with President Obama in his Renew America Community Service Event. That’s to bring communities together to help one another to live together and for everyone to feel like they belong to the community.”
The community leaders that volunteered to read were asked to sign a special poster from the president’s office to mark the occasion.
Principal Monica Broughton talked about the overall event.
“‘It Takes A Village’ means it takes everyone to look after the well being of children, to help teach a child right from wrong,” she said. “It is to help him or her be the best he or she can be,” Broughton said.
Assistant Principal Matt Bruner said he felt it was an important day for the students.
“For me, this is a great opportunity for our students to see community leaders and they get to share what they are doing in the classroom,” he said. “Then the leaders get to share what they are doing in their careers.”
Melody Allen visited Cathy Crawford’s third grade class. She is a teacher at High Tech North, usually working with older students, but said she enjoyed being with a younger group for the day.
“It was wonderful,” she said of her experience. “I enjoyed this because I think the most important thing in children’s lives is reading. I also enjoy Black History Month, and I believe this may be the only opportunity for some of these kids to learn about black history, and a different culture.”
In John Sheller’s second grade class, the guest reader was Samuel Craft, a retired state attorney for New Jersey and a former Marine.
“My students really enjoyed the cultural experience,” said teacher Sheller. Student Hallie Slutter said she enjoyed the book he read.
Ami Desamours, director of budget, Lee County School District, was also one of the readers.
“I’m absolutely enjoying the event,” Desamours said.
Her student escort for the day, fourth-grader Autumn Starr, said she enjoyed the celebration, too.
Guests included a variety of professionals, from school principals to attorneys to Realtors – even a retired railroad employee.
Anne Chisolm, a retired educator, and attorney Esmond Lewis, along with J. Colin English Principal Joe Williams III, were also leaders that participated in the event.
Other guest reader from the education arena included Cape Elementary Principal Toni Sindler and secretary Shirley Lison; ALC Principal Derrick Donnell; North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts Assistant Principal Scott Lemaster; Chief Academic Officer, Lee County School District, Connie Jones; North Fort Myers High School Assistant Principal Ken Burns; retired teacher Edna Barnes; Harns Marsh Elementary Assistant Principal Winston Bishop and Fort Myers High School Guidance Counselor Debra Burgess.
Other guests included retired director of the Department of Community Development Shirley Burns; Regional Coordinator for Reading First’s Carol Cron and director of Professional Standards & Equity Ranice Monroe.
From Collier County, Cynthia Battle, the human resources director for the district, also participated in the event.
Other community leaders from other occupations included Jeanne Craft, Realtor, and Jeannette Moorman, a retired railroad employee.
Their diverse backgrounds and sharing of different books brought many perspectives to the event, shared by all the students.