Everyone Reads
While teachers and paraeducators work to instill an appreciation for books with students every day, all the other educators and support staff are also dedicated to helping students develop a love of reading.
Custodians, nutrition service workers, security specialists, bus drivers, office staff — everyone reads. The National Education Association kicked off Read Across America more than 20 years ago. What was a one-day celebration coinciding with the birthday of Dr. Seuss has become a day for everyone to kick back and enjoy reading a book that sparks joy.
Some schols give everyone, including all staff members, 20 minutes of "free-reading" while others invite everyone to wear pajamas. Some will have guest readers; teachers and other educators might show up dressed as Thing One or Thing Two, but everyone reads.
For the last two months Washington Education Association ESP members have been reading and sharing the joy of reading through Everyone Reads.
Shannon Allen is a custodian at Mercer Island High School.
Kristina Arnold works with students at Express Childcare in Spokane.
Jen Ben is Renton's aquatics supervisor.
Brandy Brewster is bus driver in the Clover Park School District.
Davina Diaz is a preschool special education assistant in Seattle.
Moore is a lead accounting technician in Finance for Tacoma Public Schools.
Kim O'Neill is the office manager at Shelton View Elementary School in the Northshore School District.
Mike Sodergren is a horticulturist/arborist in Mead.
Laurie Whitmore is a food services worker in Shelton.
Lynette Wisebarth works in school security in Bremerton.
