By Karen Puckett

Dear Neighbor,

It’s true — “You’re never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child.” Dr. Seuss not only knew how to help children read, he knew that adults can be that secret ingredient to growing readers.

As the former media specialist at Isenberg Elementary School, I saw reading magic happen as community members and students formed a reading club.

On a typical school day from 9 a.m. until 9:45 a.m., the visitor’s parking spaces fill up at Isenberg.

These visitors are individuals from the community who read one-on-one with a group of delightful third graders. Through the friendship created, the adult and the child have the mutual goal to make sure the student is reading on grade level by using vocabulary instructional material and grade level appropriate children’s books to increase vocabulary, reading comprehension and fluency.

The name of this group, the Gator Reading Club, has been in existence since 2015. Beginning as a partnership between St. John’s Lutheran Church and Isenberg, and facilitated by Communities in Schools, the Gator Reading Club is now a combination of dozens of volunteers recruited from St. John’s, the Rowan County Literacy Council and the Communities in Schools volunteer base.

St. John’s chose to ignite this partnership nine years ago in order to align with the church congregation’s desire to live in community, to partner with entities such as public schools that are focused on reducing poverty and to work alongside communities of color to promote educational equality. In the wake of public funds being used to move children to other school environments, this reading initiative also serves as a model for other faith based and community groups as well as individuals who would like to strengthen and support our essential public schools.

Over 200 children have benefited from the Gator Reading Club since its inception. In addition, St. John’s has supported the school in other ways by funding books for classrooms and the school library. Also, Gator Reading Club volunteers have helped with after school clubs and have provided household necessities for newly arrived international teachers as well as Isenberg families in need.

There are many children in all of our public schools who need some extra support. I ask that you not only believe the words of a retired public school librarian, I implore my community to listen to your public school professionals and help them meet their goals in all possible ways.

Want to find out how you or your community group can make a difference in the life of a child? Call the principal of your neighborhood school, the district office or Communities in Schools of Rowan County and ask how you can help.

In a time when many politicians are turning budgets away from public schools and toward private education, you can make this difference in our community in a way that lifts us all up for future generations.

Believe Dr. Seuss — “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”

“Dear Neighbor” authors are united in a belief that civility and passion can coexist. We believe curiosity and conversation make us a better community.