Reader Spotlight

Every month we'll highlight a reader in the Great Lakes Bay region and learn more about them, their work, and their reading life. We'll also discuss books and share a conversation about their journey.

Read on to learn more about Lauren, a reader, reading advocate, and educator.

Lauren reading a circus-themed book from the PBS Raising Readers Room.

Tell readers a bit about your family.

I’m married to my wonderful husband Jack. We have one cat named kitty. Kitty also goes by Francis.

Where are you from originally? Where do you now reside? I’m originally from Roseville, MI. I currently reside in Midland, MI.

What’s your favorite thing about reading? My favorite thing about reading is that you can get lost in a book. Time tends to not be existent when you’re reading and when your done reading for whatever length of time you feel refreshed.

How long have you worked at Delta College and what is your role? I’m the engagement coordinator for the Michigan Learning Channel and Delta Kids education programs at Delta College Public Media. I have been in this role for just over three years.

What is your favorite thing about your job? My favorite thing about my job is that I get to work in so many different communities to share and teach the amazing resources and activities that we have to offer.

How did the PBS Raising Readers Room space come about? Who else is involved in keeping it updated and fresh for kids? Delta College Public Media partnered with the Bay-Arenac Intermediate School District on a unique, grant-funded community program in support of families and reading. Rich Van Tol from the Bay-Arenac ISD and I proposed creating a Raising Readers initiative. We won $10,000 in funding from the Parents as Teachers organization, through its Investing in the Power of Families grant initiative. Our local partnership was one of only two given away nationwide. The grant funds in-person opportunities for families to connect with one another, but it also allowed us to put a PBS Raising Readers Room at the Bay County Historical Society museum. This will be a sustained location providing space for families to interact and connect while at the museum. And, every Tuesday starting March 5th, families will have the opportunity to join in a scavenger hunt, take part in small activities, and stay to explore and engage in our space. The Bay-Arenac ISD and Delta College Public Media are also planning to have three “big” events for families to come and connect.

Starting Strong, Bay Arenac ISD, Bay City Public Libraries and Bay City Historical Society are all partners in this room. Through all our collaborative partners we intend to keep the space updated and fresh for families each month with a new theme or books and play items.

What is the age range of the space? Is it the same for the programs you oversee? The space is geared for preschool to lower elementary aged students. The programs that I oversee are for all ages birth- adults. A large focus is on preschool-middle school though.

As part of your role, you provide books to kids in several Great Lakes Bay counties. Tell us about this part of your outreach. We donate books and activity books to students in preschool through second grade. These books are their very own to keep and use during the year especially summer. We supply books to 10 different school across six different counties including Bay, Midland, Sanilac, Tuscola, Saginaw and Genesee. Click the link for more information.

What else should readers know about PBS/PBS Kids related to books and reading? PBS and PBS Kids have so much to offer when it comes to books and reading.

PBS has a PBS Books page, where there are book clubs, suggested reads, author spotlight and webinars.
Read, Write, ROAR! is an English Language Arts program on the Michigan Learning Channel for kindergarten through third Grade learners.
The Michigan Learning Channel partnered with the Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators (MAISA) and real Michigan teachers to create educational video lessons and corresponding activity sheets that align to Michigan teaching standards and the Literacy Essentials.
PBS for parents celebrates books in sharing their suggested books for families based off of holidays, different topics and events.
PBS Kids has literacy games and aps that you can download for your families to listen and play. PBS offers a variety of books you may be familiar with such as Curious George, Wild Kratts, and Clifford these books are timeless and always a great addition to your home libraries.

If you could be a children's book character, who would it be and why? I would be Pete the Cat! I would be Pete the Cat because he genuinely seems so fun and love going on adventures!

What was your favorite book as a kid? My favorite book as a kid was Green Eggs and Ham. I also loved the Animorphs Series.

visit the link below you can find links to all Michigan Learning Channel and Delta Kids education programs, events, and resources. Click the Kids tab at the top of this page: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/

For more information on the Bay County Historical Society Museum, visit here.