New Library: Education Foundation Grant Funds New Chapter in Reading Program at Community School
Pasadena ISD school officials proudly unveil the new Community School library. In this photo (from left): Elizabeth Lindberg, director of the Pasadena ISD Education Foundation; Nelda Sullivan, board member, Tom Swan, executive director of special projects; Cindy Parmer, director of community relations and Alyta Harrell, associate superintendent of campus development.
Education Foundation Grant Funds New
Chapter in Reading Program at Community School
Students at the Community School had been eager to get their hands on Victoria Roth’s popular book series, Divergent. With the unveiling of their brand-new library, chockfull of contemporary young adult literature, the wait is over. Local leaders, school officials and staff held a grand-opening ceremony April 16 to welcome the new library and begin a new chapter in the reading program at the school.
“Literacy breeds success,” Tom Swan, Pasadena ISD executive director of special projects, said. “We hope that the library will get students excited about reading because we want all of our students to be successful.”
The library was part of a generous $2,600 grant from the Pasadena Education Foundation, funded by John O. Harris Interests, LP. His daughter, Elizabeth Lindberg, director of the Education Foundation, said she is confident that the new books will help ignite a love of reading among students.
“One of the fundamental truths about today’s educational environment is that it is a monumental task to help students develop a passion for reading,” Lindberg said. “Our goal is to fuel their love of reading by providing them with contemporary literature in both the classroom and as part of a reading rewards program for students.”
The effort supports one of the new reading initiatives at the Community School.
“When we added high-level young adult literature to the curriculum, we noticed an increase in the amount of books being read by students,” Jennifer Berry, the assistant principal, said. “Students realized that reading can be fun.”
When the doors opened to the new library, Alex Mitke was one of the first students in line eyeing a book he wanted to check out.
“I’ve been wanting to read Insurgent [of the Divergent series] for quite some time now,” he said. “I am really happy that we access to books we enjoy reading.”
