Co-op teams up with community icons to inspire area students
Pedernales Electric Cooperative is committed to supporting education and opportunity for Central Texas youth. Each year, PEC employees look forward to visiting schools on National Read Across America Day to read aloud for classrooms and promote a love for literacy among the co-op’s youngest members. The event, March 2, 2023, is the nation’s largest celebration of reading, founded by the National Education Association.
PEC knows it takes many positive role models to help just one student learn and grow. That’s why for this year’s festivities, the co-op also teamed up with recognizable community figures, inviting local icons to read their favorite book on camera.
“We’re proud to partner with familiar faces who kids across the Texas Hill Country may recognize from their hometowns, neighborhoods, and even TV,” said Celeste Mikeska, PEC senior community outreach specialist. “Together we can continue to enrich our communities by inspiring young students and helping them to learn the power of reading.”
PEC will post one read-aloud video on its YouTube and social media channels every day this week. The videos, which will also be shared with members, educators, after-school programs, and libraries, include the following “celebrity” readers:
- Kristen Currie, KXAN Meteorologist, reading, “The Wonder of Thunder” by Sharon Purtill;
- Christine Delisle, City of Leander mayor, reading, “The Little House” by Virginia Lee Burton;
- Coleman Peavy, Lake Travis Fire Rescue firefighter, reading, “Fire! Fuego! Brave Bomberos” by Susan Middleton Elya;
- Vanessa Roeder, local children’s book author, reading her book, “The Box Turtle”;
- Julie C. Parsley, PEC CEO, reading, “The Most Magnificent Thing” by Ashley Spires.
PEC’s involvement in National Read Across America Day is just one example of the cooperative difference at work. For more ways PEC cares for its communities, visit pec.coop/community.
