City officials, first responders join classrooms to promote literacy and a lifelong love of reading
Folsom City Councilmembers, city staff, and members of the Folsom Police and Fire departments spent part of their morning today inside the classrooms of Alder Creek Elementary School, joining students to celebrate Read Across America Day.
The visit brought local leaders and first responders face to face with young readers as they shared favorite stories and emphasized the importance of literacy. District officials with Folsom Cordova Unified School District also took part in the celebration, underscoring the citywide commitment to education.
“We love supporting literacy and sharing our favorite stories with the next generation,” the city shared, reflecting the spirit of the annual event that connects community leaders with students through books and storytelling.
Read Across America was launched by the National Education Association in 1998 as a nationwide literacy initiative designed to encourage children and young adults to develop a lifelong passion for reading. The event is traditionally held on March 2 in recognition of Dr. Seuss’s birthday, though many schools extend the celebration throughout the week with themed activities, guest readers and classroom events.
Over the years, the initiative has evolved beyond its original focus on Dr. Seuss titles to highlight a broad and diverse range of authors and stories. The goal is to ensure students see themselves reflected in books while also gaining exposure to different cultures, perspectives and experiences.
In Folsom, Read Across America has become a recurring opportunity for city officials, community leaders and first responders to step outside their regular duties and into local classrooms. By reading aloud and engaging directly with students, they reinforce the shared message that literacy is not only a school priority but a community priority.
Across the country, schools mark Read Across America with book fairs, reading challenges and special literacy-focused activities designed to make reading engaging and accessible. In Folsom, the presence of city leaders and public safety personnel adds another layer of encouragement, showing students that reading is valued at every level of the community.
As students at Alder Creek Elementary listened to stories and asked questions, the morning served as a reminder that strong literacy skills begin early — and that a community united around education can help inspire the next generation to discover the joy of books and storytelling.
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