NEA's Read Across America

Gulf Coast Tour

March 3

Final Day for 2006 Reading Tour

On the last day of NEA's Read Across America reading tour, the Cat-A-Van visited two FEMA villages in Baton Rouge – schools where 100% of the students were displaced by the hurricanes.

Miami Dolphins safety Norman LeJeune told the students of Scotlandville Elementary and Middle School how important reading is, even if you want to grow up to be a football player. Executive Committee member Becky Pringle then engaged the students in an interactive reading of "Green Eggs and Ham." Afterwards, LeJeune, LAE's Executive Director Bruce Hunt, Becky Pringle and the Louisiana governor's chief of staff read to the students in the classrooms. And, of course, the Cat in the Hat made his appearance!

The last stop on the tour was Mayfair Elementary School.  The 150 students, all in their Cat in the Hat striped hats, had an opportunity to ask the Cat questions. When one student asked, "Where is your catmobile?" the Cat, through a translator, answered, "In the shop getting fixed. Thing One and Thing Two broke it!"

Cpl. Antonya Coleman-Crump, DARE instructor for the city of Baton Rouge,  was a guest reader at several of the schools. "I really enjoyed the Cat in the Hat and the Read Across America program because it is an example of communities working together to improve children's reading skills in schools and at home," said Coleman-Crump.

March 2

"Cat-a-Vans" Culminate in New Orleans Area on Read Across America Day 

Over 700 students at Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School in LaPlace, Louisiana, were  visited by the Cat in the Hat and NEA President Reg Weaver on Thursday morning. 

Children listen attentively. Photo by John Balance.

Looking out over hundreds of red and white striped hats in the audience, President Weaver hosted the "A-Cat-Emy" Awards Show. The host had three surprises for the students and Principal Triche: (1) Each student at the school would receive a book to take home; (2) NEA donated $1,000 to the school; and (3) the award for best actor at the "A-Cat-Emy" Awards – the Cat in the Hat!

President Weaver and the awards show then traveled to St. Bernard Unified School in Chalmette, Louisiana.  The wrath of the hurricanes was evident in the utter destruction in the school's surrounding neighborhoods. However, the shrieks and ear-to-ear smiles from the 500 students during the program resonated with hope.

Executive Committee member Marsha Smith, whiskers and all, started the program by getting the students into the act!

Michelle Williams cheers during a visit to a school in need of books and support during NEA's Read Across America. Photo by John Balance.

Before the Cat in the Hat made its appearance, Michelle led the students in the reading pledge...

I promise to read
Each day and each night.
I know it's the key
To growing up right.

With books in hand, the students left the program with smiles, autographs, and hopefully, a little hope.

March 1

Visiting Schools in Need

Check presentations continued to schools in need. Photo by John Balance.

LAE President Carol Davis joined the tour at Hammond and spoke to the students about the importance of reading.

Becky Pringle, NEA Executive Committee member, told the students at Hammond that once they learn to read, a whole new world will open up to them. "Whatever you do in life all starts with learning how to read well," she said.

After giving the Cat in the Hat high five and saying goodbye, the students returned to their classrooms where members of the Southeastern Louisiana University women’s basketball team read to them.

NEA Executive Committee member Carolyn Crowder sings with a child at Belfair Elementary. Photo by John Balance.

After the program, the 450 K-5 students couldn't decide if they wanted the Cat in the Hat or an LSU football player's autograph! LSU football players, track and field athletes, and gymnasts volunteered their time to read to the students after the program.

NEA President Reg Weaver joined the tour on a visit to Park Forest Elementary School in Baton Rouge.  Wearing the Cat in the Hat's signature red and white striped hat, President Weaver, alongside Becky Pringle, entertained the students and faculty alike with a reading of Dr. Seuss’s "Green Eggs and Ham." He also asked all of the teachers and ESPs to stand and recognized them for their hard, and important, work.

President Weaver, State Senator Westin Broom, State Respresentative Regina Barrow and volunteers from The Heart of America Foundation read to the students in small groups after the program.

Cameron Parish, Louisiana

South Cameron High School was wiped out by Hurricane Rita in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. Photo by Jim Hristakos, NEA.

"We just want our schools back." Janice Dupont's answer is simple when asked what people in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, need  most.

The school district only had seven schools. Hurricane Rita's wrath reduced them to just three. Janice is a teacher at Cameron Elementary, one of the schools that was destroyed. Her seven-year-old daughter, Marissa, is enrolled at the school. They have been forced to learn and teach at one of the remaining schools in the parish on a part-time basis.

First Book provides each student in Cameron Parish schools with a new book. Photo by James Chance.

Children are doing what is referred to as "platooning" at Grand Lake High School. Three additional schools share Grand Lake' s facilities. Students from Cameron Elementary, South Cameron Elementary and South Cameron High attend extended-hour classes on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Grand Lake offers elongated classes for its students (Pre-K through 12) on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The days away from school are spent looking for permanent housing, filing insurance claims and working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Children taking the "Readers Oath" with the Cat in the Hat. Photo by James Chance.

It is a tough reality brightened, at least for a day, by NEA. The The Association, along with leaders from the Louisiana Education Association, visited Grand Lake High on day three of the Read Across America Gulf Coast Tour. Besides that facility, the tour made stops at Fairview and Dolby Elementary schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Hundreds  of children listened attentively to readers and gasped aloud when they heard about the books and money they were receiving. They smiled from ear to ear when introduced to the Cat in the Hat and asked questions like, "How does it feel to be in a book?" Keeping the mood light, the cat's handler jokingly responded, "Squished."

February 28

"Cat-a-Van" Continues Through Texas, Visiting Beaumont, Port Arthur and Langham

A check is presented to Bessie Johnson, Principal of Travis Elementary (3rd from left). Others in photo are Anne Heuberger, VP of TSTA (far left); with Marsha Smith and Mark Cebulski, NEA Executive Committee members. Photo by Jim Hristakos, NEA.

Tattered roofs covered with blue tarps keep the elements out and remind Southeast Texas  residents of the devastation Mother Nature left behind. If you talk to people here, they will tell you they sometimes feel like the forgotten ones. Hurricane Katrina and its effects are covered constantly on the news, but here Hurricane Rita’s name is spray painted on boarded up buildings. "God bless Rita," covered one side of a church. One business wrote, "The only good Rita is a margarita."

Despite the slow rebuilding process, there is humor. There is hope. It is seen in the eyes of hundreds of children. Their faces illuminate when the Cat in the Hat enters the room.

Day two of the Read Across America Gulf Coast Tour that originated in Texas  took NEA, the Texas State Teachers Association and local members to four schools:  Martin Elementary in Beaumont; Lee Elementary and Travis Elementary in Port Arthur; and  Langham Elementary in Nederland. NEA Executive Committee member Marsha Smith and TSTA Vice President Anne Heuberger joined the tour. They were able to see damage to the schools and libraries firsthand.

Teachers and education support professionals were overwhelmed by the monetary and book donations. NEA certainly has not forgotten Southeast Texas.

Get more information on NEA's Read Across America and how you can help with the Gulf Coast Reading Tour.

February 27

"Cat-a-Van" Tour Arrives in Texas!

Children greet the Cat in the Hat in Pearland while NEA Executive Committee member Mark Cebulski and TSTA President Donna New Haschke look on. Photo credit—Sam Pierson

"Cat in the hat! Cat in the hat!" The children chanted in unison, eagerly awaiting the cat of the hour. With his hat in tact and red bow tie perfectly straight, the famed character leaped out of his "cat-a-van" to cheering fans. The children, now jumping and wildly waiving their arms, yelled "We love you." "Do you eat green eggs and ham?" "Tell Dr. Seuss we said Happy Birthday! The visit to Mary Burks Marek Elementary School was a smashing success.

Day one of the Texas tour took NEA, the Texas State Teachers Association and local leaders to three schools: Austin Middle School in Galveston; Marek in Pearland and Southmore Intermediate School in Pasadena. We delivered donations and hundreds of books.

Children love the Cat in the Hat! Photo by Sam Pierson

The excitement did not end with the children. Principals beamed and imagined what they could do to boost literacy and book supplies with the $1,000 donation they received. NEA Executive Committee member Mark Cebulski chuckled at TSTA President Donna Haschke's animated, edge-of-your-seat version of "Horton Hears a Who."

Oh the places we will go on the Read Across America Gulf Coast Tour ... from Beaumont, Texas, to Lafayette, Louisiana, and cities in between. We are sure everyone will be equally enthused and welcoming.