Rasco From RIF

Meet the 2010 RIF Ambassadors

March 9th, 2010

What a week it has been since our ambassador introductions last Tuesday. RIF ambassadors were busy reading all across America last week! It has been so exciting to see all the great photos and videos from the many RIF distributions that celebrated Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day. Read on to learn about some great events in Arkansas and Pennsylvania.

Arkansas RIF Ambassador, Airl Cheek, has served as RIF coordinator at Cotter Elementary for 10 years and K-6 principal for 14 years. In that time, Principal Cheek has motivated his students to read with all kinds of silly stunts! Dressed as Tarzan, he swung from a rope into the ice cold water of the Cotter Spring, performed as William Hung in an American Idol spoof, donned 70’s garb while disco dancing, dressed up as Peter Pan (complete with green tights) to walk 3.2 miles from the town library to the school with Tinker Bell (the school librarian), and has been a part of numerous other motivational stunts with Cotter Elementary staff to honor students for achieving their school-wide reading goal. Cotter Elementary students’ love of reading has been a large factor in the school’s achievement on high stakes tests and surpassing Accelerated Reading goals. Last Tuesday, the students at Cotter Elementary celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday in style by dressing up as their favorite Seuss characters and reading with Principal Cheek. Check out this great article about the event in The Baxter Bulletin!

Arkansas RIF Ambassador Airl Cheek reads “Oh the Things You Can Think” to a variety of Dr. Seuss “characters” as part of the Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration RIF Distribution at Cotter Elementary School.

Pennsylvania RIF Ambassador, Renee Novello, is currently the Regional Business Specialist for the School District of Philadelphia. This region-based position includes monitoring the schools’ fiscal operations while providing guidance, support, and technical assistance to school administrators and support staff. For the past 12 years, Renee has also led the RIF program while managing and writing all grant proposals and distribution reports for 30 participating schools. The schools distribute $80,000 of children books to over 10,000 underprivileged children. Renee’s hope is to touch children through reading, by providing books that demonstrate the values that help mold well-rounded, responsible, and successful adults. Renee also celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday last Tuesday with the students at John Taggart Elementary and some very special guest readers, including Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia. See videos of Mayor Nutter, who got everyone giggling at John Taggart during his reading of The Sneetches.

(From left to right.) Mayor Michael Nutter reads “The Sneetches” to children at Taggart Elementary during their celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Special guest Readers at Taggart Elementary included: Director of Philadelphia Reads, Dr. Adrienne Jacoby; Mayor of Philadelphia, Michael Nutter; School District of Philadelphia's Superintendent for the South Region, Dr. Ralph Burnley; Pennsylvania RIF Ambassador, Renee Novello; Principal, Margaret Chin; State Representative, William Keller; 76ers Mascot, Hip-Hop.

Happy Reading!

Carol

Twitter: @RascofromRIF

Filed under: RIF Ambassadors

Tags: Airl Cheek, Renee Novello, RIF Ambassadors