BURLINGAME – Joining a nationwide celebration of literacy Friday, public school teachers, parents, community and elected leaders, and many others, will take part in lively reading events across the state to mark the 10th anniversary of the California Teachers Association’s and the National Education Association’s “Read Across America,” involving millions of students nationwide.
CTA’s top officers will be in different parts of the state to take part in the fun. President Barbara E. Kerr will join California’s honorary co-chair for the event, actress Raven Symone, star of the hit children’s TV show “That’s So Raven,” at a celebrity event in Compton. Vice President David A. Sanchez will read in San Diego with artist and event co-chair Rafael Lopez, while Secretary-Treasurer Dean E. Vogel will be in the Bay Area for an event with Lt. Gov. John Garamendi.
The reading motivation program calls on every child in every community to celebrate reading on or around the March 2 birthday of children’s author Dr. Seuss. This year’s CTA state theme is “Get Jazzed About Books.”
Media events in many California cities can be found on the NEA website. Media should verify all events on this website in advance. For media planning purposes, here is a sampling of verified Read Across America events on Friday:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Compton: CTA President Barbara E. Kerr and Honorary Read Across America Co-Chair Raven Symone will join 1,000 students from across the district at Compton’s annual celebrity-studded reading event. Time: 9:00 a.m. (additional guest readers participating throughout the day). Location: Compton District Board Room, 501 S. Santa Fe Ave. Contact Frank Wells: (562) 708-5425.
San Diego: CTA Vice President David A. Sanchez and Read Across America Honorary Co-Chair Rafael Lopez will visit Penn Elementary School to distribute books. Lopez, whose art is featured in this year’s CTA campaign, will lead an interactive drawing lesson. Time: 11 a.m. Location: Penn Elementary School, 2797 Utica Drive, San Diego. Contact Frank Caso: (858) 442-2366.
Encino: Actor/Producer Robert Guillaume and NFL star Keyshawn Johnson will visit Encino Elementary School in recognition of students having surpassed their goal of reading 5,000 books for a total of 9,000. Time: 1-2:30 p.m. Location: Encino Elementary School, 16941 Addison Street, Encino. Contact Quynh Nguyen: (213) 910-4095.
Ontario: Actor-comedian Smalls (Rick Strickland) will come back to his former school to entertain students, teachers and parents, and read to them at two assemblies. Time: 8:30 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. Location: Mountain View Elementary, 2825 Walnut St., 91761. Contact Karen Mooney: (951) 640-2308.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Burlingame: CTA Secretary/Treasurer Dean Vogel will be joined by Lt. Gov. John Garamendi in reading to 2nd graders. Time: 10:30-11 a.m. Location: Franklin Elementary School, 2385 Trousdale Drive, Burlingame, 94010. Contact Mike Myslinski: (408) 921-5769.
Sacramento: At 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 1, the California State Assembly will present a resolution honoring Read Across America to CTA Board member and Sacramento Unified teacher Paula Caplinger. It will be presented by Assemblymember Tony Mendoza, D-Norwalk. Location: State Capitol. Contact Sandra Jackson: (916) 801-4776.
Antioch: Schoolwide event, two assemblies, with students participating in readers’ theater and choral reading activities. Parents will be reading to students in various languages. Time: 11:40 a.m. Location: Grant Elementary, 4325 Spaulding Street, 94531. Contact Jeri Aratani: (925) 706-5271, ext. 209.
Fairfield: Actor Anthony Ghannon will return to his former elementary school to read and share the the day’s message about the importance of reading. Location: Nelda Mundy School, 570 Vintage Valley Drive, Fairfield, 94534. Contact teacher Kristen Rosso: (707) 696-9882.
San Jose: Teachers will be reading to kids at Galarza Elementary in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose. Time: 11 a.m. Location: Galarza Elementary, 1610 Bird Ave., 95125. Contact: San Jose Teachers Association President Janice Allen: (408) 504-7708.
CENTRAL VALLEY
Stockton: First graders will be reading and cooking up some fun using the Dr. Seuss Cookbook. Location: El Dorado School, 1540 N. Lincoln St., Stockton, 95204. Contact teacher Deborah Rojas: (209) 933-7175.
Bakersfield: Preschool teachers who are members of the Bakersfield Elementary Teachers Association will be reading to youngsters from a variety of books, then doing activities such as making “Cat In The Hat” hats. Time: 3:30-5:30 p.m. Location: Police Activities League Center on East Fourth Street. Contact BETA President Carol Reichert: (661) 327-4567.
Fresno County: Teacher Debra Amaro at Grant Middle School in Reedley will read to her sixth-grade students amid other special activities that include other volunteers also reading their favorite Dr. Seuss books to kids. Time: 7:45-8:35 a.m. Location: Grant Middle School, 360 N. East Ave., Reedley, 93654. Contact teacher Debra Amaro: (559) 637-1266.