CARBONDALE – The Illinois Education Association donated 18 computers to I CAN READ! of Southern Illinois. The computers will be instrumental in helping the kindergarten through fifth grade students in the program access books online and also with writing and research.
“These computers will be invaluable for my students,” said IEA member, Carbondale Elementary District 95 teacher, and I CAN READ! program curriculum director Chassity Felton. “Technology is so important when it comes to advancing our students’ education. I’m so grateful the IEA could help provide this wonderful opportunity for our Carbondale Elementary District 95 students. ”
The IEA heard about the need for the computers after Felton applied for and won an IEA Schools and Community Outreach by Educators (SCORE) Grant. SCORE grants encourage early career members and their local associations to collaborate and create opportunities for community service projects or school projects.
“We are always looking for ways to advance the education of all our students,” said IEA President Kathi Griffin. “We’re so happy we could provide the computers to Carbondale to help students with their reading and writing skills.”
I CAN READ! launched in 1999 as part of an alumni education committee committed to providing one-on-one and small group reading assistance to children in kindergarten through fifth grade in Carbondale. Its mission is to be a vehicle of early intervention to address barriers to reading and improve reading comprehension for all children.
The IEA will bring the computers to the I CAN READ! program located at Carbondale Elementary Administrative Center, Annex CES95 Building (925 S. Giant City Road, Carbondale, Illinois) on Wednesday, May 23, at 4 p.m.
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The 135,000 member Illinois Education Association (IEA-NEA) is the state’s largest education employee’s organization. IEA represents preK-12 teachers outside of the city of Chicago and education support staff, higher education faculty, retired education employees and students preparing to become teachers, statewide.
