Bloomingdale classroom selected as BookLove Foundation grant recipient

As families begin stocking up on school supplies ahead of the 2022-23 school year, one Marquardt Elementary District 15 classroom is also stocking up on some new inventory.

Laura Reece's fourth-grade classroom at Winnebago Elementary in Bloomingdale has been selected to receive a nationally-recognized grant from the Book Love Foundation. The grant is meant to engage a future generation of readers.

"This incredible grant will give us an opportunity to attract young readers by putting more current and high-interest books on my classroom's shelves. I have seen quite an interest in graphic novels as well as books celebrating diversity," said Laura Reece. "We can't wait to give students more options when it comes to books that interest them on a personal level."

The Book Love Foundation has raised $1,000,000 to provide more than 330 teachers across the U.S. and Canada with grants to build and supply classroom libraries.

Grant winners are extraordinary teachers who work at local, state and national levels to inspire both students and colleagues.

Winnebago Elementary School serves approximately 485 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms.

The students live in Glendale Heights, Bloomingdale, Glen Ellyn, Addison and Lombard. Winnebago classrooms are dynamic learning environments designed to support the mental, emotional and physical well-being of every child.