Harrisonville teacher turns
Polar Express Challenge into whole-school success story

Every student at McEowen Elementary School did his or her part to help other students in need by reading books in the Polar Express Reading Challenge.

Sponsored by NEA, Warner Brothers Pictures and the Houghton Mifflin Company, the challenge lasted three weeks, Oct. 1–22. For every book read by students across the United States, the sponsoring groups will donate $1 to help students in struggling schools receive much-needed books and resources.

“As I was reading through the October issue of NEA Today, I came across the poster for the Polar Express Reading Challenge and was instantly excited about it,” says fifth-grade teacher and Harrisonville NEA member Kelly Wernex. “The Polar Express is a book that I love and have shared with my class for a number of years. I saw the challenge as a great opportunity not only to get kids reading but also as a way for kids to help other kids.”

Students at McEowen Elementary read 2,234 books during the challenge, raising $2,234 to support school library systems in need. Every student at McEowen participated in the challenge by reading at least one book.

“The staff and students eagerly climbed aboard just as the boy does in the story,” Wernex says. “We made it a school goal for every student to participate in the challenge. Teachers allowed for extra time in the classroom and in the library—so students could read just for the challenge. It was truly a school-wide effort.”

Chris Van Allsburg’s classic book, The Polar Express, has been made into a movie by Warner Brothers Pictures.

by Kelly Wernex
Harrisonville NEA