If you are reading this then you must understand how important it is to read. With the help of Principal Mrs. Ajluni and Assistant Principal Mrs. Everson, Communities in School’s site coordinator at Lake Forest Elementary (Stephanie Donelan) has put together the annual “Real Men Read of 2012”.

Every year, men from all over Jacksonville gather at Lake Forest elementary to show how important reading is to the students of Lake Forest by…that’s right! Reading! Real Men Read works on the notion of “leading by example”. Mr. Leon Baxton, COO of CIS, and Mr. Bill Hodges, Director of CIS’s Student Enrichment Program were among the many men that showed up. There really is no better way to stay true to the mission of CIS then to work on the other notion of “practicing what you preach”.

Mr. Baxton and Mr. Hodges along with other male volunteer selected a book to read to a class. By reading to the class, the male volunteers show how important and exciting reading can be. The students talked about what they learned from the stories and are given the opportunity to connect to their lives. These men shared stories from their personal lives and encouraged the children to talk about their own experiences. Needless to say, connections were built, and by the time the volunteers were leaving…the children were more eager to grab a book.

From the suspense of “Where the wild things are”, to the moral values taught by “The Giving Tree”, reading is educational and it is vital to let the children know just how important it is now. When the opportunity arises, read to a child in your life; give them a tool to build a better future for themselves and our community.