A Message from California State PTA President Heather Ippolito
I love reading! I love the feel and smell of a book in my hands. My mother was an elementary school librarian and my grandmother was a teacher, so growing up we had no shortage of books in our home. We made weekly trips to the library, we frequented bookstores in our travels, and every night we read a story before bedtime.
When my daughter was born, we continued with those traditions and she grew to be a book lover too. Sadly, during high school this love of reading faded. I’m not sure if it was the pressure of her full class load or if it was the busyness of extracurricular activities, but she no longer found escape in books.
While this was a worry to me, I’m happy to report that after heading off to college her love of books has returned! Not only is she reading for her classes, she is reading for pleasure. She is devouring novels and is excited to share what she’s reading with her family and friends.
To the families who wonder, “Will this make a difference for my child?” I’m here to tell you an emphatic YES!!! Don’t stop reading TO your child, WITH your child, IN FRONT OF your child. All of it seeps into them. Keep the love of reading going in your family- today, tomorrow, together!
Heather Ippolito
California State PTA President
A Message from President-Elect Will Sanford
One of the most powerful skills that our children need is the ability to read and truly understand what they are reading. Literacy is a skill that helps level the playing field, as it provides access to information and knowledge- whether from a book or a computer screen. It gives individuals the power to learn.
Literacy is more than sounding out words on a page. It is the ability to understand the meaning of words, analyze how those words and sentences may impact you, and influence the decisions you make. We read for many purposes, including enjoying creative fiction and poetry, completing class work, filling out job applications, and understanding election ballots. Literacy influences nearly every aspect of life.
Literacy promotes independent thinking, and we want to ensure that all children can access and use that personal power to be the best they can be. We encourage you to read with your child, talk about what you read, explore words and their meanings, and discuss how language can be used to encourage and discourage others. In a world increasingly shaped by digital content and Artificial Intelligence, our children must be equipped to not only read, but to analyze and appropriately use information.
As Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Words shape ideas, decisions, and communities. When children learn to read with understanding, they gain the power to think critically and participate as informed citizens. Literacy is not just an academic skill, it is the foundation of responsible citizenship. By nurturing strong readers today, we help prepare engaged leaders for tomorrow.
Will Sanford
California State PTA President-Elect