NEW HANOVER COUNTY — The Barbara Highsmith Reading Academy donated more than 4,000 new Scholastic K-7 children’s books to the International School at Gregory.
The donation is valued at $12,000; the gift was part of the Azalea weekend of activities for the academy. According to Gregory’s principal, Hilda de Leon, the books will be used for both class instruction and student and community giveaways.
Mayor Bill Saffo proclaimed July 15 as Barbara Highsmith Reading Academy Day in the City of Wilmington in 2019. Highsmith was a lifetime educator for New Hanover County Schools for 37 years, both at Wrightsboro Elementary School and the International School at Gregory. Her children established the academy, with support from the Nick Cannon Foundation, after her passing to further her will, legacy, and in accordance with her passion to help struggling second-grade readers in Wilmington enhance their reading skills.
The academy is currently working with Gregory to bridge the literacy gap; second grade is the critical point to prevent at-risk students from obtaining needed reading skills.
“It’s a privilege and honor today to donate and to further my mom’s legacy of sacrifice and love for Gregory,” said academy President and CEO Ronnie Highsmith wrote in a press release. “The books will be used for family and community engagement, classroom instruction, and to replenish the library and media center damaged by Hurricane Florence of 2018.”
The academy intends to continue to make annual book donations to Gregory, through a Literary Partnership with Scholastic, Inc.
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