NORWAY, MAINE—The Maine Education Association (MEA) kicked off its annual Read Across Maine initiative this week with special school visits at Guy Rowe Elementary School in Norway and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School in South Paris. MEA President Jesse Hargrove helped launch the statewide reading celebration by spending the morning reading with students across multiple grade levels.
Hargrove began the day at Guy Rowe Elementary School, where he joined Mrs. Cassady’s fourth-grade class to read How to Tap a Maple by Maine author Stephanie Mulligan. Students were excited to learn more about one of their favorite breakfast treats and shared their own experiences making maple syrup. Hargrove also spent time reading Maine-based books with first, second, and third grade classes at Guy Rowe.
Following the elementary school visit, Hargrove traveled to Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, where he read selections of 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.”
The Read Across Maine initiative invites educators to spark student curiosity through diverse reading experiences, including poetry, Maine authors, nonfiction titles, and books that highlight STEM connections.
As part of this year’s celebration, students and classrooms from PreK through grade 12 are encouraged to take part in the statewide Read Across Maine BINGO challenge. Each grade-level span receives a tailored BINGO card designed to spark excitement and promote classroom-wide participation through a mix of engagement and friendly competition.
The initiative, held annually each March, is part of the National Education Association’s Read Across America program and aims to foster a lifelong love of reading in students of all ages. Throughout the month of March, educators and students across Maine are invited to join in the challenge. To learn more, visit maineea.org/readacrossmaine.
#
The Maine Education Association is the largest professional association and union in the state of Maine representing more than 23,000 teachers, support staff, professors, pre-service teachers and retired educators. The MEA is an organization for educators, run by educators and is here to support and strengthen educators in their career. When educators are in a strong position, our kids thrive. At MEA, we work hard so educators can focus on inspiring the passion for knowledge in the minds of Maine’s students. To learn more about the MEA, visit the MEA About page.
