Dist. 54 teachers collect 1,000 books for classrooms

This month, Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54 school board members will visit nine teachers in the district to commend them for filling their classroom libraries with more than 1,000 books each.

A significant body of research shows students read more, understand more, and are more likely to continue reading when they can choose what they read. Studies show that access to many books and personal choice of what to read are the two most powerful factors for improving reading motivation and comprehension. Experts recommend that every classroom have 1,000 books to meet the wide range of abilities and interests of its students.

Though District 54's Superkids: Powered by Books Committee raises funds to buy books for teachers, many of the teachers being recognized have assembled their large classroom libraries through their own efforts.

The nine teachers being recognized this month join 270 others who have previously achieved the goal.

They are Brenda Rengers of Armstrong School in Hoffman Estates; Angela Fitzpatrick of Hanover Highlands School in Hanover Park; Elise Koverman and Allison Nagy of Hoover Math & Science Academy in Schaumburg; Megan DeRoo, Jessie Horcher, Karmen Johns and Crystal Rizzo of Lakeview School in Hoffman Estates; and Trisha Masella of Stevenson School in Elk Grove Village.