Karrington Childress, the current Miss West Virginia, has pitched in again to help with an in-school reading program sponsored by the Shepherdstown and Charles Town Rotary clubs. She joined two volunteers from Shepherdstown Rotary in reading to three 1st grade classes March 25 at TA Lowery Elementary School in Kearneysville. The accompanying photo shows her with Mrs. Stone’s class there.
She helped with earlier Rotary readings at Blue Ridge and Ranson elementary schools last November.
Karrington is a native of Charles Town. She is pursuing a degree in elementary education at Shepherd University and hopes to attain a master’s degree as well. She is devoting her year of service as Miss West Virginia to promoting reading among school age children throughout the state.
“We can’t thank Karrington enough for all the time she’s taken to help us with our reading program,” said Shepherdstown Rotary Club member Peter Smith. “She’s great with kids, and they really pay attention to her when she tells them how important reading is. We know she’s going to be a great teacher.”
The local Rotary reading program was initiated in the spring of 2023 by the two Rotary clubs. Members of the two clubs visit four Jefferson County schools four times a year to read books to 1st grade classes and then give every child in each class a copy of the book that was read. The children get to keep these books as their own and take them home with them. The books that are read are selected by teachers at the schools. The Rotary clubs pay for all the books.
The four schools involved in the program are those mentioned above plus North Jefferson Elementary. The latest round of readings at the schools was held the weeks of March 18 and 25. The book read this time was a National Geographic Kids Reader named “Animal Homes,” by Shira Evans. It explores the ways different animals house themselves.
