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Benson, along with 36 other real estate agents from Davis County, spent the morning recently reading to more than 400 students at Tolman Elementary School in Bountiful, during the school’s second annual Read With a Realtor Day.
“I love to give money and help support the schools,” Benson said, who participated in the inaugural event last year. “But I think it’s better to get involved and work with the kids.”
Agents could be found sitting on the floor in hallways, classrooms and throughout the school, as they read with students. Some agents chose books from the school library to read, while others brought their favorite books from home to share with students.
Todd Porter, with Legacy Real Estate, chose a book about sharks to read to students, as well as the classic There’s a Nightmare In My Closet.
“I have four kids and I think this is a great idea to have kids mingling with professionals,” he said.
Erin Boyle, Tolman Elementary community council president, started the Read With a Realtor program last year, as a way to help promote literacy in the school. She said the response from the community was overwhelming.
“This is kind of my way of giving back to a school that has given so much to my son, Tyler, who’s in second grade,” Boyle said. Angelina Nelson, an agent with Exit Realty, read fourth-graders the book Stellaluna, and said she chose the book because she reads it to her own daughter at home.
Paul Benedict, with Envision Lending, read sixth-grade students the book Mailing May, which chronicles the journey of a young girl whose family “mails” her, for 63 cents, to visit family members across the states.
Second-grader Emily Stoll, 8, said she thought the event was “really cool,” because she loves to read.
“Sometimes I have a night light that I sneak and use to read when I’m supposed to be going to sleep,” Stoll said.
Principal David Pendergrast said the realtors have been supportive, and feels the event brings the community and students together.
“Whenever we see a ‘for sale’ sign in the neighborhood, we know we’re going to be getting another great family,” he said. “These guys are in the business of families, just like we are.”
tdeans@sltrib.com
Most memorable teacher
Most people have at least one teacher who stands out in their memory. It could be a teacher who used love and understanding to encourage students, or a teacher who used tough love and consequences in the classroom.
Interested to know what impact teachers have had on local leaders?
Each week the Class Act page will feature one community leader’s memory of a favorite teacher.
This week’s Most Memorable Teacher quote comes from Utah Board of Education member Denis Morrill, who has fond memories of Granite High School English teacher Mrs. Reynolds.
“I remember Mrs. Reynolds because she taught me that I could write. My grammar was just horrible, but with her encouragement and help I had a couple of poems published in a national high school magazine,” Morrill said. “I still write for personal reasons and enjoy it.”
