By Stephanie Natera-Smith
For students in four Cherry Hill elementary schools, literacy recently came to life in a way that felt personal, exciting and unforgettable. Thanks to a $7,500 grant from the National Education Association awarded to the Cherry Hill Education Association (CHEA), students had the opportunity to meet New York Times best-selling author Nick Bruel, creator of the popular Bad Kitty series.
Bruel visited four elementary schools, bringing stories, creativity and enthusiasm directly into school communities. The visits were about more than meeting an author. They also helped students see reading and writing as joyful, meaningful and connected to their own lives.
The success of the initiative reflected the power of collaboration. After CHEA secured the grant, the association partnered with local PTAs at all four schools to strengthen the experience and broaden its impact on students and families. The teamwork helped turn a single grant into a districtwide celebration of literacy.
“This grant provided an incredible opportunity for our students and showed what is possible when educators, families and school communities come together around literacy,” CHEA President Wally Batista-Arias said. Batista-Arias said CHEA was proud to secure the funding and work with PTA partners to expand its reach.
The excitement began even before Bruel arrived. In the weeks leading up to the visit, students at A. Russell Knight Elementary School participated in a February Read-A-Thon and logged more than 62,000 minutes of reading.
For Cherry Hill educators, the initiative served as a reminder that when public schools are supported through grants, advocacy and strong partnerships, students gain experiences that inspire learning long after the event ends.
Stephanie L. Natera-Smith is an associate director in the Communications Division. She can be reached at snatera@njea.org.