For More Information:
NEA Communications: 202 822-7200

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2001

News Release

Garth Brooks to Chair National Literacy Event

Top Selling Recording Artist To Lead NEA's Read Across America

Washington, D.C. - When mega-star Garth Brooks meets mega-Cat (as in the infamous Cat in the Hat), more than fur is expected to fly. The two will team up to lead the National Education Association's (NEA) Read Across America 2002, the year-round reading extravaganza that culminates annually on the birthday of the late Dr. Seuss.

For the past five years on March 2, the event has been celebrated coast-to-coast by millions of children, teenagers, and adults who carve out time from their school and work schedules to make room for reading. NEA's Read Across America '01 attracted more than 35 million readers.

NEA President Bob Chase says, "With Garth Brooks at the helm of the 2002 celebration, we expect more participants than ever. And the message he will help us to spread is an important one: Kids who read - and who are read to - outside of school do better in school.

"To have an entertainer at the peak of his career willing to take the time and make the effort to tell young people how important reading and books are to their futures sends a powerful signal. NEA is extremely proud to have Garth Brooks' involvement."

Reading with kids isn't something new for Brooks. Long before he became a household name, or the recipient of every accolade the recording industry can bestow, he was an annual fixture in a Tennessee classroom.

A decade ago, first grade teacher Judy Cummings, who was moonlighting in a Nashville clothing store to supplement her teaching salary, says "a tall, lanky young guy walked in to buy a shirt. Like many others, he wanted to make a name for himself in 'Music City,' but wasn't there yet. He was kind of down, so we struck up a conversation, and I invited him to come read to my class. Back then, he had lots of time."

That was 1991 and Garth Brooks has been visiting Ms. Cummings' class ever since. Brooks says that reading with a room full of first graders "is a real treat. There's nothing better than watching a kid's eyes light up over a good story."

Brooks says his reading time with Judy Cummings' classes was good preparation for story time with his own kids, Taylor, August, and Allie. "I read to them every night ... and it's the highlight of my day."

As Honorary Chairman of NEA's Read Across America '02, Brooks will be featured in radio, television, and print public service announcements and will act as official spokesman for the event.

On March 2, the man who has sold out concert venues across the country, sung the National Anthem at the Super Bowl, been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and graced the covers of Rolling Stone, Forbes, and Time, says he will be "reading with kids - either in Tennessee with Judy's class, or maybe we'll bring the kids to Washington and we'll read there."

Wherever Garth Brooks is for NEA's Read Across America, he'll be trading his trademark black Stetson for a red-and-white stovepipe hat. This much we know: The Cats in the Hats - both of them - will be looking good ... for a cause that's worth singing about.

For more information about NEA's Read Across America, visit www.nea.org/readacross.

# # #
The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.