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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, June 3-5, 2020 B-7 The Park Record Parley’s Park first-grade teacher elevates literacy PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM PAGE B-6 Local Park City news every Wednesday and Saturday e COURTESY OF PC READS Kara Cook, a first-grade teacher at Parley’s Park Elementary School, is the recipient of the PC READS eElevating Literacy Award. Cook has taught at the school for the past five years, and instigated a bilintgual summer reading and math tutoring program. most vulnerable students and For information about PC in turn, our community,” Allen n READS and its mission, said. d visit parkcityreads.org. Cook created the program e after seeing some of her stuy dents fall behind in their award comes from PC READS, h summer reading. She initially an organization she respects. thought the program would eSCOTT IWASAKI “They bring everybody toonly involve herself and few gether in a targeted effort to -The Park Record of her students. promote literacy, which is s Parley’s Park Elementary huge,” she said. “The support mSchool first grade teacher Kara they give to teachers is amazCook loves her job, especially ing. They come to the schools twhen she teaches her students and provide us pre-professiondto read. al development. They give us We’re trying to find - So she is overjoyed that stugrants so we can attend differcreative ways to .dent advocacy nonprofit PC ent education conferences, and continue the program rREADS awarded her its 2020 that is priceless when it comes tElevating Literacy Award, this summer and the to student advocacy.” which honors those who help Cook, who has taught at Parsummer to come...” eimprove the lives of students ley’s Park Elementary School 6with reading disabilities. for the past five years, disKara Cook, o “I feel very humble, because covered her love of education Parley’s Park Elementary ythere are so many people in when she was in high school. School first-grade teacher Park City who are deserving of “I worked at the Boys and ethis award,” Cook said. “I was Girls Club up here in Park City -very appreciative that somewhen they used to have a facil“So many other teachers got ity at City Park,” she said. “I sbody thought of me. I didn’t -know I was even nominated, on board, and I also had some loved working with the kids.” amazing help from Park City kand it was a complete shock.” Although Cook, who says d Cook’s colleague, Shannon High School students who the late Shel Silverstein is one fAllen, a third grade teacher volunteered their time,” Cook of her favorite authors and posat Parley’s Park Elementary, said. “Then Park City Library ets, said she “veered from the nominated her. generously donated a room, education path” and got a mar“When it comes to advoca- and we were able to give 35 keting degree in college, she cy for early literacy, Kara is kids who were below reading missed working with children. a guru,” Allen said in a state- level in kindergarten and first “I went back to school and ment. “Her undeniable love grade one-on-one reading ses- got my Masters of Educaand care is the reason she is sions during the summer.” tion degree at Westminster such a remarkable teacher. She Cook expanded the program College, and started teaching does whatever it takes to not for Spanish-speaking students again,” she said. “I can’t imagonly help close the achieve- and added a math component. ine doing anything else.” ment gap, but to also make “It involved a lot of people Cook’s favorite thing to sure her students feel valued, in the community, and it was teach is reading, especially seen and heard.” such a great experience,” she when it comes to working with Allen referred to a free tu- said. “I would love to continue the newer elementary-school toring program that Cook es- it this summer, but I know it students. tablished last summer for stu- will be a challenge to meet in “In first grade you see kids dents struggling with reading person. So we’re trying to find go from not knowing many letand math as one of the other creative ways to continue the ters to being excited that they reasons for the nomination. program this summer and the can read a full story, and I love “(She) continues to push summer to come.” seeing when that lightbulb forward to advocate for our Cook is honored that the goes on,” she said. PC READS gives Kara Cook award for her dedication Wattsmart helps us ® Help keep Park City Green and Clean The Original Utah Lender Since 1897 RATES ARE LOW! save big Contact Me Today To Discuss Refinancing, Pre-Approvals or Purchasing Look for Green Tips every Wednesday in The Park Record for ways to be ecofriendly in your daily life By teaming up with Wattsmart, McKay-Dee Hospital and Intermountain Healthcare secured over $130,000 in annual energy cost savings – money that can support Intermountain Healthcare’s real priority: providing the best possible patient care. 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