On Tuesday, March 11, Griffin-Spalding County Schools (GSCS) hosted its fourth annual district-wide Real Men Read event. Approximately 120 men, representing over 40 businesses, organizations and churches, from the community, read at all 11 GSCS elementary school students between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Between eight and 18 men reported to each elementary school and volunteered to read to three or four classrooms.
Board of Education Chair R. Syntel Brown developed this event as a district one initiative and it has grown into a district-wide event. This district-wide literacy event furthers the district’s instructional vision for student success which states that students will Read, Write, Speak and Solve grade-level texts and tasks every day.
GSCS hosts two annual literacy events that enlist stakeholders to model their love of reading. Real Men Read is held in the Spring and Pearls, Pumps and Books, where women from the community read to students, takes place in the Fall.
GSCS Executive Director of Communication and Partnerships Adam Pugh said, “Real Men Read strives to model the importance of literacy encouraging students to grow up into adults who are well educated and enjoy reading. We are so thankful for our Partners in Education who took time away from their businesses, churches and organizations to invest in our students and have a positive influence on education in Griffin-Spalding.”
Those in the community interested in being a mentor for a student may contact Kathy Rhodes with the Spalding Collaborative at 404-316-2704 or at kathy@spaldingcollaborative.com.