Celebrate Donors

Honoring Mary Alice Yarborough, Pitt County, NC

Reading Recovery teachers and teacher leaders from Pitt County, NC,
salute Mary Alice Yarborough.

“We Wanted To Do Something Special”
Ten years, ten red roses, and countless memories.
After 10 years in Pitt County, NC, Mary Alice Yarborough knew about the annual Reading Recovery banquet. After all, she was the federal programs director and site coordinator who had introduced Reading Recovery to the county in 1994. And the 2005 banquet marked 10 years of Reading Recovery success in Pitt County as well as the 20th anniversary of Reading Recovery in North America.

But what she didn’t know was that for that banquet, Reading Recovery teachers Sarah Faucette and Jananne Waller were planning something special.

“So often, we don’t get an opportunity to tell people how much we appreciate them,” Sarah said. “Mary Alice’s support made such a difference to the success of Reading Recovery in our schools and the banquet was a wonderful chance for all of us to let her know how much we have appreciated having her as a friend, colleague and champion.”

To honor Mary Alice, the two teacher leaders asked Reading Recovery teachers in Pitt County to make personal donations to the Reading Recovery Fund in her name. More than 30 individuals contributed. Then, in a “surprise” presentation at the annual banquet, members of each training class from the past 10 years reflected on their Reading Recovery journey and presented Mary Alice with a red rose.

“The Pitt County Schools Reading Recovery teachers and Sarah and Jananne are all excellent, dedicated professionals who exemplify the very best of teachers,” said an overwhelmed Mary Alice. “Their commitment to a core belief that all children can learn to read guides them each day and is the real reason the program is so strong. Although students bring a wide range of strengths and needs to the table, the teachers and teacher leaders bring love and determination. The ability to read is the most important skill we possess; bringing literacy to someone locked in a world of illiteracy is immeasurable.”

Mary Alice received a list of the contributors, who were all listed in this year’s Reading Recovery Fund Annual Report.

Shortly after the celebration, Mary Alice announced that she was moving from Pitt County to Orange County. Despite her departure, her appreciation for her Pitt County friends remains strong. “I have received few gifts in my lifetime to match this one,” she said. “Although I have moved to another district, where Reading Recovery is strong, I will always treasure my relationship with all of the Pitt County teachers.”

Her welcome to her new location was warm. Barbara Honchell, the trainer at the University of North Carolina Reading Recovery Training Center in Wilmington, was enthusiastic about Mary Alice’s arrival. “We at Orange County are looking forward to benefiting from Mary Alice’s leadership. We welcome her and Carolyn Cook Southerland, our new teacher leader,” she said.