Additional photos at READ MORE

Students, staff and community members of Cory-Rawson Local Schools  gathered on October 14 to dedicate Mrs. Wagner’s Reading Tree. Susan Wagner taught for many years with most of her time being spent in first grade.  She was in the classroom even while battling breast cancer. She passed away in June of 2021. 

To honor her memory and love of reading, the Cory-Rawson community gathered donations to fund the reading tree area.  A Celebration Maple, which will have golden leaves in the fall, was planted near the elementary wing. Green and gold Benches, in C-R green and gold, are on either side of the tree to provide seating for readers and for teachers who are reading to their students. 

The FFA Chapter made cement bricks and two high school students painted these to look like children’s’ books covers. Flowers will be planted in the future.

The reading tree idea came from a social media post showing bricks painted like children’s books in a flower garden. A C-R elementary teacher talked to the administration to make the concept a reality.

Organizers note, "Our elementary building is almost 10 years old but has no shade trees to offer teachers and students a place to read outside on warm days. From there the idea of a tree started.  onations came in from all over including other states.

"A community member who is a landscaper assisted with finding and planting the tree. A green and gold bench was spotted at the local fairgrounds and that seemed to be a perfect fit so those benches were ordered.  A company in northwest Ohio custom made the signs for the Reading Tree area and the school maintenance crew helped put it all together."