Instructional coach Royal Burton created a “Reading Initiative” at The Varnett School East two years ago. The focus was on reading every chance you get and to have someone read to you every day.
With that in mind, Dr. Margaret Stroud, superintendent of The Varnett Public School, was invited to read Hidden Figures - The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race.
Dr. Stroud read to eager second graders ready to hear an exciting story about four highly intelligent African American women who excelled in math and used these skills to help send the United States to outer space. The book was written by Margot Lee Shetterly.
Told from the point of view of Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson, Katherine Johnson and Christine Darden, and spanning three decades of history, Hidden Figures charts the progress of the black women mathematicians who answered their country's call to service during World War II and stayed on to help America achieve one of the things it desired most--a decisive victory over the Russians in the Space Race, as explained on hiddenfigures.com
Dr. Stroud encouraged the students to be persistent and to do well in math and science in order to follow their dreams.
Ms. Gayle Voltz
Director, The Varnett School East
Photos and video by Ms. Voltz