For Anna McClenney, teaching has been more than a career, reading with students is a mission.
Anna McClenney, Micah volunteer, reads with her students
For Anna McClenney, teaching has been more than a career, reading with students is a mission. “I was employed by Richmond Public Schools as a reading tutor and I continue to do so as a retired teacher, and as a member of Fifth Baptist Church ” says Anna. Her faith community at Fifth Baptist is partnered with John B. Cary Elementary School through The Micah Initiative, allowing Anna to continue to share her gifts and love of reading with students.
Along with school supply drives, lunch buddies, and catered meals for the students, Anna has led her church in multiple reading programs at Cary. Anna says of her church, “We also volunteer with the Book Fair, The Read Across America/Dr. Seuss Day… (and) Fifth Baptist participates in the First Friday Reading Project along with other volunteers. We read on the first Friday of every month going into every classroom with our books.”
Anna loves reading with the students at Cary. She says that her favorite books to share are Dr. Seuss as “they are great for teaching as you read.” “This month I read about the Bullying Monster, which the students enjoyed,” says Anna. With nurturing Micah volunteers like Anna at John B. Cary, there’s hope that reading will become as much a part of students’ lives as it is for Anna McClenney.