Mayor, Police Chief Visit Stripling for Read Across America

Read Across America was last Friday, March 2, and had the priviledge of Norcross Mayor Bucky Johnson and Police Chief Warren Summers reading books to three classrooms.

"It's just a wonderful way for [the students] to realize that reading is important to adults," said Mary Beth Duty, the media specialist at Stripling who organized the school's event.

For the holiday that also doubles as Dr. Seuss' birthday, Johnson and Summers were among the 25 volunteers at Stripling who visited classrooms and encouraged reading to kids. Summers read "Cat in the Hat" to a second grade class and also brought some kids' activities from the police department, while the mayor read "Horton Hears a Hoo" to two fourth-grade classrooms.

"Johnson is a joy to have as a community leader because he's truly
passionate about children," said Principal Priscilla McHam. "He is a regular guest reader in our building and has been doing so for a number of years at Stripling."

The other volunteers included Anne Webb of the Norcross Women's Club, Annie Rogers of the Cherokee Rose Women's Club, baseball players from the Gwinnett Braves and the new area superintendent Kelli McCain.

Six staff members of Corus360, the Peachtree Corners company that has been heavily involved in supporting Stripling (most recently with ), were also there to read to students.

Similar to the mayor and the police chief, almost all of the volunteers read Dr. Seuss books in honor of the literary icon.

"It connects reading with something really happy in the classroom," said Duty, "and that's having a guest come in and taking the time out their day because they feel like reading is vital to personal success and academic success."