Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Congressman Andrew Garbarino, New York State Senator Monica Martinez, Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Islip Town Councilman Jim O'Connor, were among a host of elected officials who were invited to read to students at Morrow Elementary School in Central Islip School District recently. Romaine and Carpenter joined School Board President Luis Alcantara, School Board Vice President Debra Cavanagh, School Board member Michele Harriott and other special guests for breakfast in the school cafeteria before being escorted to their designated classrooms to read favorite children's story books. Garbarino, Martinez and O'Connor joined Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sharon A. Dungee to read on different days due to conflicting schedules.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine is pictured being welcomed by Central Islip School Board President Luis Alcantara and later reading to a classroom in Central Islip School District. He was invited as Morrow Elementary School launched its Parents as Reading Partners program File Photo |
Event organizer and retired teacher, Maureen Esposito, who is currently serving on the Board of Education, noted this is the first time a County Executive has accepted an invitation to be a Guest Reader at the school. Romaine has long been a proponent for providing quality educational initiatives to students at all grade levels throughout Suffolk County. Before reading his story, Congressman Garbarino chatted with students in Mr. Craig Reynolds' third grade class about his duties as a Congressman.
Dr. Dungee acknowledged all of the guest readers, some of whom included retired teachers and a retired Superintendent, for recognizing the positive impact that their reading to students would have on the youngsters. Supervisor Carpenter has read to elementary students in various schools throughout Central Islip Schools.