Maine Education Association kicked off the annual Read Across Maine initiative in March with special school visits at Guy Rowe Elementary School in Norway and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in South Paris. To launch a month-long celebration of reading, MEA President Jesse Hargrove spent the day reading with students across multiple grade levels.
Maine Education Association’s Read Across Maine initiative encourages educators to help students explore books across a variety of genres and subject areas—from poetry and Maine authors to recipe cards and STEM connections.
The morning began at Guy Rowe Elementary School, where Hargrove joined MEA Board member Stephenie Michaud in visiting first, second, third, and fourth-grade classrooms. Keeping with the theme of Read Across Maine, Hargrove shared several Maine-based books with students, highlighting authors and stories connected to their own communities.
In Mrs. Cassady’s fourth-grade class, Hargrove read How to Tap a Maple by Maine author Stephanie Mulligan. The story sparked lively conversations about one of the students’ favorite local traditions, making maple syrup. They shared memories with Hargrove and one another about tapping maple trees, visiting sugar shacks, and making syrup with their families.
Later at Rowe, first graders joined their third-grade reading buddies to hear Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen, one of Hargrove’s favorite Maine Authors. The first graders later wrote to Hargrove to share their enthusiasm for the title.
“You are an amazing reader. Thank you so much!” one student wrote. Another added, “I loved that book. It was the best book!”
Their excitement showed what MEA’s annual program is all about: inspiring a love of reading, sharing stories that connect to their communities, and bringing literacy into every subject, both in the classroom and beyond.
After wrapping up a morning of reading, Hargrove traveled to Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, where he joined MSAD 17 EA President Jeni Jordan to read Maine-based poetry with a group of high school students.
“Spending the day reading with students reminded me just how powerful books can be in sparking curiosity and joy,” said MEA President Jesse Hargrove. “Their excitement, their stories, and their questions made it clear that when we invest in reading, we’re investing in their future.”
Throughout March, PreK-12 students and classrooms could participate in MEA’s Read Across Maine Challenge by completing BINGO-style reading cards tailored to their grade levels. The activity turns reading into a classroom-wide engagement opportunity with a bit of friendly competition.
MEA hosts the Read Across Maine program every March as part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America initiative, which encourages students nationwide to embrace reading as a joyful, daily habit.
