Men get “R.E.A.L.” in the classroom

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WVTQ)- Fayette County Public Schools is looking to get more men involved in elementary education.

This morning the district launched the R.E.A.L. program an initiative encouraging men to read in elementary classrooms.

A group of dads, grandfathers and other male role models spent Tuesday morning reading to students at Lansdowne Elementary.

It’s all apart of Fayette County Public Schools’ new R.E.A.L. program which stands for read, excel, achieve, lead.

The initiative looks to get more men in the classroom, reading to students, sharing books that celebrate diversity and strong values.

“This program is going to help facilitate the child’s success because they are going to be able to see those role models,” said Chris Medley, a R.E.A.L. mentor.

Chris Medley says he attributes his love of reading to the fact that his dad read to him when he was growing up and now wants to pass that along to kids that may not be getting it already.

“Not everyone has a dad who is there at night to read to them because they may be working or they may not be there or they may have some other commitment that brings them away from their family,” said Medley.

The 7-month-long program launched at Lansdowne in September, the district is now expanding it to 29 elementary schools and looking for hundreds of men to volunteer, something medley says is a great opportunity to for the kids of Fayette County.

“We believe that parental engagement is absolutely crucial to a Child’s success and this is especially true in these formative years,” said Medley.

For more information on how to become a volunteer head to https://www.fcps.net/.