Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/116561
READ ACROSS AMERICA NEA's Read Across America Cat-a-Van Reading Tour Stops in Phoenix Everyone's favorite cat is back! Hitting the road to celebrate Read Across America Day, the Cat in the Hat revved up engines of NEA's Cat-a-Van Reading Tour to get children excited about reading—and brushing their teeth. The 7-foot tall famous feline travelled across the county to promote the importance of children's literacy while highlighting the connection between books and toothbrushes: Students miss a whopping 51 million hours of school a year due to oral health problems. With red stovepipe hats and excited smiles, young students at Justine Spitalny and Glenn Downs Elementary Schools were the first in the West to be visited by the Cat in the Hat, along with friends Thing 1 and Thing 2, as part of NEA's Read Across America Cat-a-Van tour. Sponsored by Renaissance Dental, the tour kicked off in Phoenix, Arizona, on the morning of February 25, 2013, with NEA Executive Committee member Paula Monroe leading the reading Continued on next page Both of the participating schools in Phoenix, Arizona received $1,000 from NEA's Read Across America Tour sponsor Renaissance Dental. Pictured from l-r: NEA's Paula Monroe, Jane Ardell, Glenn Downs Elementary School Principal, Dr. Rachel Saunders, Justine Spitalny Elementary School Principal and Michelle Roberston, Cartwright Education Association President. Photo: Amy Buffenbarger "I do not like green eggs and ham I do not like them Sam-I-Am." Students listen as Paula Monroe, NEA Executive Committee member, reads the Dr. Seuss classic Green Eggs and Ham. Summer.13advo.indd 19 AEA Advocate x Summer 2013 19 3/18/13 12:03 PM