Cumberland Students Celebrate Reading During Read Across America Week

Student-athletes and community members visited the lower elementary school to read with young students.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Students and educators across Cumberland Academy celebrated Read Across America Week with activities designed to make reading fun for younger students. At the lower elementary school, older student-athletes and coaches from the high school's soccer and baseball teams visited classrooms to read books aloud to the younger students.

Why it matters

Read Across America Week is an annual national literacy initiative that encourages schools and communities to engage students in reading-related activities. Cumberland Academy has emphasized the importance of literacy and strong reading skills for student success, and the school district sees this week as an opportunity to make reading enjoyable for students.

The details

During the week, Cumberland Academy hosted visiting readers from the high school's sports teams who read books like "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly!" and "If You Give a Pig a Party" to the younger students. The district superintendent said the goal is to show students that reading is valuable, whether they are beginning readers or more advanced, and to avoid making reading feel forced.

  • Read Across America Week was celebrated from March 2 to March 6, 2026.
  • The annual literacy initiative is timed around the birthday of children's author Dr. Seuss on March 2.

The players

Dr. Jo Ann Simmons

Superintendent of Cumberland Academy, who emphasized the district's focus on making reading fun and engaging for students.

Cumberland Academy Knights

The high school's soccer and baseball teams, whose players visited the lower elementary school to read to younger students.

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What they’re saying

“We want our students to embrace reading. We don't want them to see reading as something they don't like to do — we want to make it fun.”

— Dr. Jo Ann Simmons, Superintendent (tylerpaper.com)

“There's nothing that is more exciting for an elementary pre-K3 student to look up and see a big soccer player coming down and sitting with them and reading.”

— Dr. Jo Ann Simmons, Superintendent (tylerpaper.com)

What’s next

Cumberland Academy plans to continue hosting reading-focused activities and community engagement throughout the year to promote literacy.

The takeaway

Cumberland Academy's celebration of Read Across America Week demonstrates the district's commitment to making reading an engaging and enjoyable experience for students of all ages, with the help of community partners and role models.