Campaign Trail Leads to Ties with Reading Recovery and Old Friends!

During a busy campaign season, Ohio Representative Chris Widener took time out to view a Reading Recovery professional development session at Wright State University in Dayton. Rep. Widener is currently running for the Ohio Senate, District 10.

                                                                                                                                        Rep. Widener joins Reading Recovery
trainers and teachers during a professional 
development session at Wright State
University.

Linda Slusher, the teacher, and Connor, the student, are both from Reid Elementary

School in Widener's House district. After the session, "Rep. Widener pinned his flag pin, with the American and Ohio flags, onto Connor's sweat shirt! Oh, what a grin that brought out," said Phoebe Ingraham, Reading Recovery Teacher Leader who coordinated the event.

Left to right: Reading Recovery
teacher Linda Slusher, Pam Young,
Rep. Widener, and Connor.

Pam Young, Reid Elementary School principal, is a former Reading Recovery teacher. Young started the program in the Tecumseh Local School District, and preserved it in the Clark Shawnee School District. Coincidentally, Rep. Widener is a former school board member for Mad River-Green district where Young was also a teacher. The two remembered each other and the former acquaintances reconnected!

Rep. Widener was very impressed by the session. "I am proud many of our schools in the Miami Valley have committed to Reading Recovery," Widener stated. "Clearly, this program has the proven record to improve the reading ability of our children that need the most help".