Local couple honored by Reading Council
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WORLAND — The Wyoming State Reading Council would like to recognize the 2015 Celebrate Literacy recipients for their contribution and support of literacy in Wyoming. The students and adults in Wyoming benefit from the efforts and dedication of these individuals.
Mark and Ruth Stephens were nominated by the Washakie County Reading Council. Both Mark and Ruth were elementary teachers and involved in many programs to support literacy such as Bingo for Books and Family Fun Nights. Ruth was nominated in memorandum as she passed away earlier this year. Ruth was a Washakie County Library board member and began the summer library program where school libraries were open for the month for June for student access. The Stephenses have been supporters of literacy and learning.
Mark Stephens said, “My late wife and I were both recognized and it was mostly through her. She had a lot of accolades and I was a reading teacher for about 10 years. We did a lot of stuff through the school.
“Ruth was, in my opinion, the main recipient because she had a lot more stuff. She had a library board and the reading council.
“It was nice to be honored like that.”
Mark Stephens was recognized by the Washakie County Reading Council this past spring.
Teresa Decker and Melanie Schurman were nominated by the Cody Reading Council for their efforts and dedication to literacy at the classroom level, community level, local reading council and state reading council level. Both of these professional educators have supported literacy with a variety of programs in their classrooms as well as with after school programs to support reading and writing. Both have been committed to a variety of community activities as well. Decker and Schurman took on the task of reorganizing the Wyoming State Young Author contest to include updating judging rubrics, providing training for judges, facilitating the judging of entries, and providing support for local council contests. Decker has also taken on the task of being the Wyoming State Reading Council president. Schurman was instrumental in establishing the Cody Reading Council and helping it thrive. The literacy dedication of these ladies has made a huge impact for students in Wyoming.
The Casper Reading Council nominated Jerry Jones for her years of support to literacy in Natrona County. Jones is the Youth Services Coordinator with the Natrona County Public Library but her support of literacy reaches far beyond the walls of the library. She has established partnership with a variety of organizations such as Even Start, Natrona County School District, and Casper Star-Tribune. She has been essential in helping organize “Casper Reads” which transitioned to “Wyoming Reads.” She secures funding to provide literacy programs in the schools such as “Reading is Fundamental”, helped create a bi-lingual story time at the library, contributes weekly to the publication “My Trib,” and organizes workshops on literacy available for educators, librarians, and parents from across Wyoming.
The Wyoming State Reading Council recognized these recipients in Casper last month.
