🚒 🚓 🚲 A siren’s wail signaled the return of the annual Heroes for Literacy Parade at William W. Estes Elementary School. 📖
The event celebrated five outstanding students, one from each grade, for their remarkable reading growth. They got a VIP escort to school in Asheville Police Department (APD) cruisers and Asheville Fire Department (AFD) trucks while fellow students held up signs and cheered. Thanks to a new partnership with Walmart each student also received a new bicycle. The initiative, once known as “Firefighters for Literacy,” now includes both APD and AFD. It has become a powerful tradition of encouragement and community connection.
“We come to Estes and read to every class once a month, and this gives students something to strive for all year,” said firefighter J.T. Debrie. “It’s about building relationships and giving kids a reason to love reading.”
Though the winners got a special trip to school and a new bike, the greatest reward was recognition from fellow students and teachers.
“They’ve worked incredibly hard to become better readers,” said second-grade teacher Kelly McDougal, “This is about celebrating growth, and it’s about building a stronger relationship between students and first responders. It helps students better understand what firefighters and police officers do, and it gives the first responders a chance to have fun while encouraging literacy.”