Indiana’s Secretary of Education, Dr. Katie Jenner, kicked off Read Across America Week on Monday morning with a visit to Shona Kelly's first-grade classroom at McCordsville Elementary School. Dr. Jenner brought her personal copy of Ada Twist, Scientist, a 2016 book that features a curious little girl who loves to ask questions and explore the world around her. Despite her packed schedule, Dr. Jenner said reading to the students in McCordsville would be the highlight of her week.

Principal Stephanie Miller praised the visit as a valuable opportunity for the students to interact with such a high-ranking education official and learn about the importance of reading. She also shared how the school makes many efforts to make Read Across America Week both fun and engaging, with different themes each day. 

“Many of them have participated in this event for years,” she said, pointing out that Kelly is a longtime advocate for literacy in her first-grade classroom, which features a wall of shelves lined with turquoise green bins of books. Miller said it’s teachers like her who made it possible for half of the school’s second-graders to pass the IREAD-3 test early last year, referring to the state standardized assessment given to third-graders to measure foundational reading skills.

One of Kelly’s students, Asher Braun, was all smiles after Jenner’s visit. The first-grader said he loves reading at both home and school, as well as when his parents read to him at bedtime. His favorite book right now is “The Last Firehawk,” an animal-based fantasy adventure, “I (also) like to read nonfiction because I learn a lot,” he said. “I think reading really helps me learn more and lets my imagination come alive.”

Jenner said, “We know the incredible value of making sure all of our students can read, and we have teachers and schools all over our state who are working as hard as possible to help get kids there, and today’s the day to celebrate reading and what is happening in our schools.”

Dr. Katie Jenner’s visit to McCordsville Elementary School served as a powerful reminder of the importance of fostering a love for reading in young students. By participating in Read Across America Week, she highlighted the value of literacy not only as a fundamental skill but also as a source of curiosity and imagination. Through the dedication of teachers like Shona Kelly and other Mt. Vernon teachers, as well as having support from school leaders, students are given the tools they need to succeed in reading—and in life. With efforts like these, Indiana continues to make significant strides in building a bright future for its young learners.