Army of Local Realtors Reads Aloud to Elementary Students For Dr. Seuss-Themed ‘Read Across Pasadena’

A dedicated army of local realtors set out to a handful of Pasadena Unified School District elementary school campuses Thursday morning to mingle with students and read Dr. Seuss classics for the district’s second annual “Read Across PASadena” literacy initiative.

The fun filled morning was a snippet of the week long event that follows suit with National Read Across America Week which honors the late author Dr. Seuss by hosting readings by local leaders, parents and community members throughout the week.

“With the continuing support of the realtor community, our schools are the first choice in education for more area families,” said Superintendent Brian McDonald. “I am pleased to welcome realtors to our schools during this celebration of reading. Their first-hand experiences are turning around the perception of our schools to one that is relevant today: Pasadena Unified schools offer a rich and competitive array of educational choices where children thrive and excel.”

Parents, staff and realtors were spotted at Norma Coombs School dressed up as famous Dr. Seuss fictional characters–some even in full “Cat in the Hat” costume to get kids in the reading spirit.

“Read Across Pasadena” was inspired by Collaborate Pasadena and sponsored by the Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF) as a means to strengthen connections between the realtor community of the greater Pasadena area and Pasadena Unified schools.

Approximately 70 realtors dedicated their time to read to the young students in their ongoing effort to understand what the schools have to offer for future families looking to make a home in Pasadena.

“I am so excited to provide continued leadership for our 2nd Annual Realtors Read Across Pasadena,” said realtor Carrie Benuska of the John Aaroe Group. “This special event is so important for the local real estate community, giving individual realtors an opportunity to experience the Pasadena Unified schools in a very personal way. This first-hand experience enhances our services to both home buyers and sellers in the Greater Pasadena area.”

Educators praised the mission of “Read Across Pasadena” not only for its fun nature, but also for the experience that students will cherish in the future.

“We know that if students are reading at grade level before they leave elementary school, we can close the achievement gap,” said Norma Coombs School Principal Dr. Jenifer Smith. “We know that is the foundation of everything a student needs to have before they leave elementary school,” Smith added.

Teachers sat back while their real estate readers got into character and read aloud classics like “A Cat in the Hat”, “Green Eggs and Ham” and “Horton Hears a Who!” to the young audiences.

“The children love when the community comes in and sees what they’re capable of doing. They get to show off and show how much reading they do. It’s important that we have Pasadena community members come in because as a public school, it’s very important that we show that public school is important to our society,” said Norma Coombs School second grade teacher Charlotte Caldwell.

Participating realtors include John Aaroe Group, Berkshire Hathaway, Compass, Coldwell Banker, Deasy/Penner, Dilbeck, Keller Williams, Podley Properties, and Partners Trust.

“I just love ‘read aloud’. My kids are all grown and I know how important it was for me and anything that I can do to be apart of something that is inspirational to encourage adults to get together with kids and read–I love it,” said Benuska.