Book vending machine rewards readers

Fredericksburg Standard Radio Post - August 23, 2023

A local elementary school teacher is sparking young readers’ imaginations with a book vending machine.

Fredericksburg Elementary School staff and students were joined by members of the FISD Education Foundation, FISD school board and Fredericksburg Morning Rotary Club to cut the ribbon on the new book vending machine in the FES library. Pictured on the left side of the machine, front row, from left, Rotarians Della Zey and Janie Bailey; Assistant Principal Karen Nevins, students Harrison Hagendorf, Aiden Garcia, Briggs Gonzales and Brooks Bonn; back row, Carrie Roemer (librarian), Ross Bigelow, Mark Cornett, Tanya Chambers, Marc Bennett, teacher Nathan Lorraine. Right side, from left, Hadley Feller, Harper Meyer, Tinley Jacoby, Eliana Albiter, Landon Brown, Eden Hensley; back row, Principal Scott Duncan, Kelly Ellebracht, Allison McDade, Keri Hensley, Brian Lehne, Jamie Duecker, Lori Maxcey and Supt. Joe Rodriguez.

Nathan Lorraine teaches reading and language arts to fifth graders at Fredericksburg Elementary School. He wants children’s imaginations to pull them to read and help them grow a love for reading.

Last fall, Lorraine applied for an educator’s grant from the FISD Education Foundation to fund the project.

The machine, located in the elementary school library, became available to students on Friday, Aug. 18, following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The machine operates with tokens which are awarded to students who challenge themselves to read books that interest them.

Once they’re finished reading, students can keep the book they chose from the machine.

The Fredericksburg Rotary Club and proceeds from Scholastic book fairs held at the school library helped to make this project come to be. FISD Education Foundation dollars funded the first stock of books.