Inspiration to Read written by Ryan Eckart

I wasn’t always a reader.  In fact, I wasn’t a reader until I became an elementary principal and a special person entered my life.  Growing up, I hated reading. In 7th grade, I remember my parents meeting with my teacher to figure out why I couldn’t remember anything I was reading.  From what I can remember, no solution was found and I continued to struggle into my high school years.

I became a teacher and then Reading Intervention Coordinator, which one would think means that I was a reader.  I was able to motivate kids to read and to learn, no matter what they entry point happened to be. But did I model what I was saying to kids by reading and having titles to recommend? Nope, not the case.

Enter Mrs. Vuckovich.  In my first few days as a principal at an urban elementary school just south of Chicago…