Beloved teachers' love of reading reflected in new installation
By Paula Scott
An interchangeable Book Walk on the elementary playground has been installed thanks to memorial funds from the families of Ada Schools teachers Julie Butterfield and Doris Cotsamire, a grant from the Hardin County Community Foundation, and contributions and efforts by Ada staff.
On October 20, family members, friends, former students and Ada Schools staff gathered to hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially recognize the impact made by these two teachers. Smiles and tears were mingled during the course of the event. Elementary Principal Jeremy Clark welcomed guests to the event and school librarian Chanda Smith provided the story of how the Storybook Walk came to be:
“Thank you all for showing up on this rainy fall morning. To the families of Julie Butterfield and Doris Cotsamire, may I extend a special welcome. We’re very happy to have Rick Butterfield, Katie and Luke plus their families as well as Doug Cotsamire, Jeff and Diane Hood, Natalie Hood and her children: Calvin, Elias and Maggie. We’re so glad you could be here for this event. And to our 6th grade students, the last class that was lucky enough to have Mrs. Butterfield as a teacher, welcome.
CONTINUES
“A storybook walk had been something in the back of my mind for quite some time. I thought it would be an amazing addition to our playground and I began doing some research. After speaking with librarians from public and school libraries and hearing the positive feedback surrounding their book walks, I knew it was something I wanted to make happen for Ada and our students.
“After pitching the idea to my principals and maintenance supervisor last fall, I was on a mission to secure funding for this project. My first bit of good news came in the form of a $750 grant from the Hardin County Community Foundation. Throughout the summer and fall, the library also received memorial money from the family and friends of Mrs. Butterfield, our beloved 4th grade teacher who we had lost to cancer that summer. Mrs. Butterfield was a library lover and avid reader. And personally for me, she was a library champion. She believed in the power of books, believed in what librarians did, and strived to make her students love reading as much as she did. I learned after working here a few years that Mrs. Butterfield had her library degree–which is a degree not many folks have or pursue. I only wish we would have had the opportunity to work together in the library so I could have learned more from her and perhaps we could have retired from the library together.
“Then later that same school year, I was made aware of another family that wished to give money to the library from the estate of the Cotsamire family. Doris Cotsamire was a teacher here at Ada for 27 years. She instilled her love of reading to countless kindergarten and first grade students here at Ada–including some of our current staff members! Those that taught with her or knew her from church remember her eager smile, the way she welcomed people into her life, and hosting family reunions; no doubt recounting stories of “how things used to be.” It’s no wonder that she wanted the stories to continue long after she was gone.
“The physical work of getting this Book Walk in the ground and ready for students to enjoy on the first day of school goes exclusively to the maintenance department and Mr. Dearth; especially the summer crew. They spent hours digging, measuring, digging some more, and installing the posts so that we can enjoy this storybook walk today and for years to come. Without their help, guidance, and willingness to work hard until it was done, I would have been lost. And for them, I’m very grateful.
“And so we fast forward to today. This project was funded by teachers and families that believe in what a story can do for a child. Believe that a story can help you feel seen, help you laugh a little, expand your world, nourish your imagination, help you connect with others, and encourage a lifelong love of reading. I would like to think that Julie and Doris would be proud of the work done here. We are blessed to have known them, and happy to continue their legacy through the literature given to Ada students at this book walk. May the students here today and for years to come enjoy the gift of reading given by these beloved teachers.
“And now, even though the book walk has been here since the beginning of school, we would like to “officially” open it with the blessing of the Butterfield and Cotsamire families.
“Thank you again for coming today, and please enjoy the book walk.”
