Rapid City Council member Lisa Modrick kicked off a 12-week reading series at Rural America Initiatives June 20, visiting Beth Black Elk's class of three to five years olds.
Modrick read 'Pete The Cat', 'Little Green', and 'Chicka Chicka Boom Boom' to the youngsters, who were captivated during the story time. Modrick engaged the kids, asking them questions, getting a show of hands on different items and offering them to share their own thoughts as the stories were read. The kids also engaged Modrick with questions and comments during the exchange.
Rural America Initiatives is hosting a city official weekly for 12 weeks during the summer. Officials will be reading to RAI children, promoting the importance of reading to children as well as the importance of early childhood education programs and services, such as RAI. The reading series included Mayor Steve Allender (July 2) and other Council members and City staff. Below is a list of City staff and dates they will be reading to RAI children.
JUNE 20: Council member Lisa Modrick
JUNE 27: Council member Jason Salamun
JULY 2: Mayor Steve Allender
JULY 11: Jim Gilbert, City IT Director
JULY 18: Wade Nyberg, Assistant City Attorney
JULY 25: Brandi Christensen, City Human Resources Manager
AUGUST 1: Council member Laura Armstrong
AUGUST 8: Terri Davis & Janet Parr, RC Library Director and Manager
AUGUST 15: Rapid City Police Chief Karl Jegeris
AUGUST 22: Rapid City Fire Department
AUGUST 29: Council member Becky Drury
SEPTEMBER 5: Council member Ritchie Nordstrom