West Virginia First Lady and President of Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, Joanne Jaeger Tomblin recently visited Brookview Elementary School in Foster. During her visit, Tomblin read several classic children's stories to the Pre-K classes.

Pre-K teacher, Sherry Kerns invited Tomblin. "The children enjoyed her visit", Kerns said. "It's a wonderful way to celebrate reading in our schools."

Tomblin often participates in these types of events and advocates the importance. "By focusing our efforts on our youngest learners, we have the ability to teach them crucial skills that lay the ground work for all their future academic and career endeavors," Tomblin said.

Recently, Coal Valley News editor Fred Pace also visited Brookview Elementary School in Foster on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2012, to read to fifth-grade students celebrating “Read to Me Day.”

Pace read the book ‘A Thanksgiving Story’ to Amber He’s fifth-grade class. Pat Pauley was the substitute teacher that day.

Pace said he and the Coal Valley News were honored to be asked by the school to participate in the annual event.

“This is a great way for the community newspaper to be involved in the communities we serve,” Pace said. “It’s also an opportunity for us to emphasize the important role that reading plays in education and careers.”

Pace also complimented the students.

“The students were very respectful, paid attention to the story and asked lots of questions,” he said. “We all had fun. It was a real treat for me to read to them and talk to them about reading and their community newspaper.”