Feb. 3, 2005 -- African-American students, faculty, staff, administrators from Arkansas State University and African-American community leaders will participate in the 15th National African American Read-In scheduled for Monday, Feb. 7, at Hillcrest Elementary School, Philadelphia Elementary School and at Fox Meadow Intermediate Center in Jonesboro. Beginning at 8 a.m., readers will read books written by African Americans to elementary-aged pupils throughout the day at the schools.

Sponsored by the Black Caucus of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and NCTE, the read-in serves to make the celebration of African American literacy a traditional part of Black History Month activities. The program has been endorsed by the International Reading Association.

Readers for this event include Mrs. Emma Agnew, Mrs. Terrell Broussard, Mrs. Cynthia Cooper, Dr. Renee Davidson, Mr. Patrick Dixon, Mr. Walter Ejuba, Mrs. Sherry Eskridge, Ms. Kimberly Fox, Dr. Gloria Gibson, Mrs. Regina Gilbert, Mr. Leo Glover, Dr. George Grant, Mrs. Cynthia Graves, Ms. Sherrell Harris, Ms. Chiquita Holt, Dr. Natalie Johnson, Dr. Cherisse Jones, Dr. Glen Jones, Mrs. Pamela Lee, Mr. Jerrod Lockhart, Mr. David McClain, Dr. Veda McClain, Dr. Arthur McLin, Mrs. Pat McLin, Mr. Ron Norman, Mrs. Lisa Paxton, Mrs. Melanie Richardson, Ms. Kennedi Ridgell, Ms. Pam Rhodes, Mr. Tony Thomas, Mrs. DeNita Webb, Mrs. Carmen Williams, Dr. Lonnie Williams, Ms. Anita Wilson, and Mr. Renell Woods.

(Contact: Dr. Veda McClain at 972-3059 for more information)