News Releases

Maine's First Lady Reads "Blueberries for Sal" Students in USM Reading Clinic

July 18, 2006

Maine's First Lady Karen Baldacci visited USM's Summer Reading and Writing Clinic on Tuesday, July 18. She read "Blueberries for Sal" to a nearly 100 Portland-area children. Digital photographs of the event are attached to this e-mail.

Mrs. Baldacci, a former Kindergarten teacher and advocate of education and literacy issues, talked with students about her own love of reading. Nancy Hutton, co-chair of USM's Summer Reading and Writing Clinic, introduced Baldacci to the children as "a reader like us."

Baldacci is a strong advocate for literacy, and is the chair of the Read With ME Committee, part of the Maine Reads! organization. She is a member of the Raising Readers Advisory Board, and chairs the Libra Foundation at Well Child Checks Program.

Since 1970, USM's Reading and Writing Clinic has been part of a graduate course in the College of Education and Human Development's (CEHD) Master's in Literacy Program. USM graduate students serve as tutors for K-11 students, who receive a five-week individualized literacy program. This tutoring experience prepares graduates students, most of whom are practicing teachers, to work as literacy specialists.

USM's CEHD offers 26 academic-program options at the certificate, master's, post-master's, and doctoral levels.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please call Judie O'Malley of USM Public Affairs at 207-780-4200 or Nancy Hutton, USM Reading and Writing Clinic co-director, at 207-780-5400.

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