Bradley County Sheriff attends Readers are Leaders event

Cleveland, TN (WDEF) – Sheriff Eric Watson was a guest of honor at Thursday’s Readers Are Leaders event held at First Baptist Church. Sheriff Watson, along with other city and county representatives, were invited due to their belief in the importance of education, especially giving a child the ability to read successfully. Dr. Linda Cash, Bradley County Director of Schools, introduced Linda Vinson, Educational Consultant and Rick Donohoe, the Executive Director of the International Children’s Reading Foundation. The keynote address, entitled “Early Literacy and the Ninety Percent Reading Goal” was delivered by Tennessee’s Commissioner of Education Dr. Candice McQueen.

All speakers, which included students from area schools, stressed the importance of preparing young children to read. Sheriff Watson expressed his strong belief that those children who learn to read stand a much better chance of success in life and a much smaller chance of passing through the legal system.

He told the assembled educators, parents and children that the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office would “promote the Readers Are Leaders effort by spreading the importance of children’s reading.” He also commented “it’s never too late to learn to read.”