Real men read, and Lime Kiln Elementary School has the pictures to prove it. Last week, about forty men, including police officers, business men, school administrators, community leaders and clergy visited the school to read to its male students.It was all for the school’s second annual Real Men Read event, a national program geared toward encouraging boys to read. (According to the “Real Men Read Web site”:www.realmenread.com, research shows male students lag behind their female peers when it comes to literacy skills.)

Rev. Gordon Williams, an associate pastor of the Bethel Gospel Assembly in New York City and a Lime Kiln parent, gave a key note address before the reading sessions. He urged the boys to be leaders and really got them fired up, Lime Kiln principal Lori Lowe-Stokes said.

“It was a powerful, powerful day,” she said.
Check out the pictures (courtesy of Lime Kiln Elementary) from the day below:

Rev. Williams speaks while flanked by students Ricky Rohrig (on his left) and Kercy Alexandre (on his right.)

Erik Maldonado from Mad Science of the Mid-Hudson reads with Angel Jimenez. (In the background is Christopher Adams.)

Student Marvin Guerin with Spring Valley High School assistant principal Michael Phillips.

Student Michael Chrastil with Kizza Carter from Carter Insurance Agency, LLC.