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In observance of Career and Technical Education month, celebrated each February, Lowndes County Career Tech students from Central High School in Hayneville and The Calhoun School embarked on a mission to foster a love for reading among younger students. 

The initiative, which began on Feb. 8, aims to promote literacy while highlighting Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO). The sessions encourage a passion for reading and provide an opportunity for elementary students to interact with positive role models.

Meisha Jackson, Lowndes County Public Schools Career Coach, said that she hopes the initiative lights a fire inside the students when it comes to reading. 

“Reading is a powerful tool that opens doors to endless opportunities,” Jackson said. “We believe that by sharing our love for literature with younger students, we can ignite their imaginations and instill a lifelong love for learning.” 

The collaborative effort between Central and Calhoun exemplifies the mission and purpose of CTSO which is to enhance student learning through instruction, leadership and personal development, applied learning and real-world application.

Samita Jeter, Lowndes County Public Schools Superintendent said that the goal is to inspire younger students to develop a passion for learning and reading. 

“We want to create a culture by which all students gain a love of reading,” Jeter said. “Having higher achieving older students to read to the younger students can have a positive influence on student learning.”

The Lowndes County Career and Technical Center students that participated consisted of members of various school organizations including Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Future Farmers of America (FFA), National Career Association, and Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and Skills USA.

Angela Calhoun, Head Start director, said that she was absolutely delighted for the students to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Career Tech students. 

“We (Lowndes County Headstart) express our utmost gratitude for the chance to collaborate with the Career Tech students in spreading awareness about the significance of literacy among our students.” Calhoun said. “These opportunities help establish a strong sense of community within our schools. We look forward to continuing these experiences.”