Students across the CSRA participated in Read Across America Day March 2.
Seven community leaders volunteered to share stories with Richmond County School System students.
Richmond County School System shared the videos on its Facebook page and its Media YouTube channel. The program ran began at 8 a.m. with Superintendent Kenneth Bradshaw reading “Speak Up” by Miranda Paul. The book celebrates diversity and encourages children to speak up when they see something wrong, according to the author’s website. The reading event concluded at 8:45 p.m. with Bradshaw reading the same book.
Other community leaders who read books included Judge LeJoi Williamson, Mayor Hardie Davis, Jr., Author Kristie Robin Johnson, Meteorologist Jay Jeffries, Board President Charlie Hannah and Pastor Angel Maestre.
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Columbia County School District did not sponsor a district-wide program, but many of the schools celebrated individually with different events and activities, according to Abbigail Remkus, director of communications.
Read Across America Day is held annually on March 2 or on the closest school day, traditionally commemorating the birthday of children’s book author Dr. Seuss.
The event was founded by the National Education Association in 1997 in partnership with Seuss, and celebrated nationally since 1998. Recently, the NEA shifted its focus from Seuss to diverse children’s literature.
President Joe Biden officially proclaimed March 2 as Read Across America Day, according to a March 1 briefing posted on whitehouse.gov. Biden did not mention Seuss in his announcement, unlike his predecessors Barack Obama and Donald Trump.
Shellie Smitley is a staff writer for The Augusta Press. Reach her at shellie@theaugustapress.com
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