Author Dr. Suzanne Doherty
Children’s author visits Mountain Vista School
Dennis Blauser
On March 9, the students and teachers of the Mountain Vista School in Oracle had a special treat sponsored by the Oracle Schools Foundation. Published author and motivational speaker, Dr. Suzanne Doherty, spent the day reading to students, answering their questions and speaking with faculty in the afternoon about the joy and importance of writing. Dr. Doherty’s latest book, Adeline and Edward-Be A Friend was the focus of the day’s events. The book, which was published last year, is available in several languages including: English, Spanish, Korean, Japanese, Chinese and Thai. The editions in other languages are translated so that the story appears in English and the selected language. Teachers at Mountain Vista all received a copy of the English/Spanish version as a gift from the Foundation.
Dr. Doherty firmly believes that the love of reading should start at a very young age. Family and extended family members are a child’s first and most effective teachers. Her 40 years as an educator and school system Superintendent have resulted in a passion for reading education. She believes that modeling good reading habits at home instills a life-long appreciation of the written word. The Adeline and Edward book series is a great resource for discussion, developing positive attitudes and behaviors and contributing to a child’s academic development. Dr. Doherty has traveled to schools both in the United States and in other countries, reading to students and helping teachers promote writing skills.
The students had the opportunity to hear the story read by the author and to ask questions about writing and how to write their own stories. The afternoon session with teachers focused on motivating children to write and techniques to spark their enthusiasm and improve their skills. Dr. Doherty thoroughly enjoyed her visit to the school and was delighted by the warm and enthusiastic reception she received.