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Making a difference "I wanted to be my first grade teacher" - by Joel F. Glazier Warner Elementary School's Adrienne Hopson carries on the "smile." February, and DSEA members have long realized that schools are key places where "I Love to Read Month" is put into action. School libraries often are the heart of that program. Red Clay School District's Warner Elementary in Wilmington is no exception, and the school's library is under the caring direc- tion of Adrienne Hopson. "Come on in, let's snuggle with a book" is one of the phrases stu- dents and staff often hear from the vivacious librarian, now in her fifth year at Warner. Thanks to Red Clay's Saturday Library Program, the Warner, Lewis and Shortlidge Elementary School libraries are open one Saturday a month, enabling students and their parents to use the facilities. "Books are so special. They allow students to travel beyond their homes, their neighborhoods, their school buildings. They took me all over the world when I grew up, and I look forward each day, and to those Saturday Library days. I look forward to helping students journey through their books." This Leap Year provided an extra "I day for "I Love to Read Month." Leap Day had Hopson introducing children's book author Nikki Grimes to an assembly of Warner students. Many young readers let the author know of their love for her books, such as The Road to Paris, Barack Obamaand the Dyamonde Daniel. Love to Read Month" received full support from Governor Jack Markell in Parents and students at Warner love Adrienne Hopson because she's always smiling, always caring about every family. Adrienne Hopson's goal led her to Author Nikki Grimes (back left, wearing scarf) talks about being an author with Hopson and Warner students. Last impression from her own first grade teacher Hopson vividly recalls her first grade teacher at Philadelphia's Comegys Elementary School. "Mrs. Carmella V. Sciponni—she would always sign her name that way. Mrs. Sciponni welcomed us all with the greatest smile. I decided then I wanted to be Mrs. Sciponni. She was like my own mother. I cannot remember wanting to be anything else. I wanted to stand in front of a class; I wanted to read stories; I wanted to say nice things to chil- dren. I wanted to be …Her." Hopson adds emphatically, "I want- ed to be a part of shaping children's lives." graduate from Philadelphia's Bartram High School, earn a bache- lor's degree in Education at Cheyney State University, master's in Education at Widener University, and to complete Library Science courses at the University of Delaware. She and husband Robert moved to Delaware, and their two children graduated from Concord High School in Brandywine. First grade dream realized Hopson's dream was realized at Sharon Hill (PA) Elementary School where she began her career teach- ing first grade. She breaks into a smile, remembering. "When I got my first paycheck, I felt like I was Mrs. Sciponni," she laughs. In Delaware she continued teach- ing first grade for sixteen years at Red Clay's Heritage Elementary School. She noticed some students seemed turned off by books and libraries. "I did not like seeing stu- dents who were not excited by books, so I became a librarian and love being in my own library. I look forward to our extra Saturday Library Program and the summer enrichment Library iPod classes as much as the children," she happily adds. "She (Hopson) does everything right," adds Gail Sudler, retired Warner teacher and now adjunct education instructor at Delaware Technical/Community College. It is apparent that at Warner, the library and its librarian provide a focus for many. Hopson is greeted cheerfully by as many staff as stu- dents. Her smile ("Thank my moth- er and Mrs. Scrippioni for that") reflects the positive atmosphere that she and many librarians create in schools. "Ms. Hopson gets so many greet- ings each morning. The kids get upset when they do not see her standing there," observes Warner Special Education Teacher Suzy Hessling. When not at Warner, Hopson sings alto in the Wilmington Dioceses Gospel Choir. She has been an active volunteer at the Delaware Humane Society and also at the Wilmington Hospital where she admits she enjoys interacting with the public…even out of the school setting. Don't let students give up Hopson grows serious when dis- cussing a job frustration. "The biggest disappointment is when stu- dents seem to give up on them- selves. We in education must always remain encouraging." A similar message ended "I Love To Read Month" at Warner when Author Nikki Grimes told students, "My own mother did not encourage me to be a poet or writer but I had my dream. I did not give up…it took years of writing, but now I am suc- cessful doing what I love." Hopson recalls her first grade dream, "I wanted to be my teacher." Dream fulfilled. Joel F. Glazier, DSEA-Retired, is a frequent contributor to ACTION! He can be reached at jglazie@aol.com. 24 March/April 2012 DSEA ACTION! www.dsea.org