No one can deny that reading is an essential building block of education. Many retired educators even have leftover books from their careers. LRTA created a way to put those books to use and help out a few schools in need.

This year’s theme for the LRTA Fall Meeting, Book it North for LRTA, inspired the staff to add a new philanthropic component to the meeting. Everyone who attended the Fall Meeting was asked to bring a new or gently used children’s book with them. Since the Fall Meeting was held in Bossier City, the books were donated to schools in need there. With the generous donation from the Shreve Memorial Library (thank you Mr. Thomas Tebbe!), we served nine schools that were in need in Bossier City!

After the Fall Meeting ended, District XI distributed the books to:

Bellaire Day Care, Main Campus
Bellaire Day Care, South Campus
Bossier Council on Aging
Butler Elementary Library
Central Park Elementary Library
Mooretown Elementary Developmental Library
Summer Grove Elementary Library
Southern Hills Elementary Library
Southwood High School Library- science books donated by LRTA Executive Director Rodney Watson

The Book Drive served as a way to engage Fall Meeting attendees and help schools in need. As Mr. Watson points out, this event demonstrates how retired teachers continue to support students and education.

“Once a teacher, always a teacher. Even when retired, Louisiana educators continue to give to their communities in support of students.”

Thank you to everyone who participated in the book drive! The schools were so excited receive your donations. Thank you to the unit presidents of District XI and district president Jan Webb. They brought the books to each school in person after working the Fall Meeting. Thank you to Thomas Tebbe, who is a member of LRTA, and the Shreve Memorial Library for your generous donation to the schools.