Union City elementary school celebrates Masked Reader ‘big reveal’

By Mary Ann Mook

Union City Area Elementary School, a United Way Community School, celebrated Dr. Seuss’s birthday
and Read Across America Week with its third annual Masked Reader program, culminating in a
schoolwide “big reveal” assembly on Friday, March 6.

Modeled after “The Masked Singer,” Union City’s Masked Reader features school staff reading
excerpts from favorite books while wearing costume masks.

During Read Across America Week (March 2 through March 6), which celebrates the March 2 birthday
of the late Dr. Theodore Geisel Seuss, a famous author of children’s books, teachers received a video
each morning that included three Masked Readers. After watching the video, classes submitted their
guesses as to the identity of the Masked Readers. The week ended with a live assembly where the
identities of the Masked Readers were revealed.

United Way Community School Director Bailey Pituch welcomed the classes to the assembly held in
the gymnasium.

Elementary school Principal Dr. Melissa Tomcho thanked the Dr. Seuss committee for organizing the
Masked Reader program and the big reveal.

During the assembly, Pituch introduced the 17 Masked Readers, who had an escort. The Masked
Readers consisted of teachers, bus drivers, custodians, administrators and cafeteria workers, and each
one revealed who was behind the mask.

They were Jeannette Boyd, Mike Cole, Allie Trauner, Amanda Clabbatz, Jen Drayer, Stacey Dell,
Nathan’s Grandma Pam, Crisi Williams, Grace Bean, Monica Weed, Kristy Speakman, Haleigh
Burlew, Amorette Ross, Dennis No. 3, Lydia Reynolds, Andy Pitrone and Dr. Melissa Tomcho.
Also during the assembly, the class(es) with the most correct answers about the identity of the Masked
Readers in the videos was announced.

Two classes were tied for first place with the most correct answers – Adam McNulty’s class and Jessica
Reynolds’ class.

This event was presented by United Way Community Schools and would not be possible without the
Community School Model at Union City Area Elementary School, according to a press release from
the United Way of Erie County. Through coordinated partnerships that connect the school, families and
community support, United Way helps make literacy-building experiences like Masked Reader a
consistent, schoolwide tradition that keeps students excited about reading, the press release stated.
Every participating student earned a book vending machine token for taking part during the week. The
books featured by the Masked Readers will be highlighted in the library, and copies will be raffled
during an upcoming Literacy Night.

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