Progress is at the heart of Linda Placzek’s work. She’s dedicated herself to helping children become more confident in their reading — and what an impact she has had.

Linda was working with a child last year who was having a difficult time reading. She reassured him and gave him a challenge – read every day over the summer. With a little practice, she said, what would be difficult today would be a breeze tomorrow. When he came back in the fall, he read to her like he’d been excelling at reading from the start.

As a retired elementary school principal, Linda knows how important it is to help young kids become strong readers.

So when she retired seven years ago, she really didn’t stop working. Instead, Linda teamed up with the Kiwanis volunteers who had been helping get RIF books to children in her school since the early ‘90s.

Linda saw the Kiwanis in her school and the joy they’d bring to our children. And, most importantly, the difference it would make to the students’ passion for reading. Linda decided that she wanted to be a part of that on the volunteer side.

Since she’s been leading her local Kiwanis, Linda has accomplished a great many things, most notable are the more than 6,000 books that have been distributed to Omaha’s Conestoga Magnet School since her retirement.

But Linda hasn’t stopped there. She’s recruited 15 Kiwanians to read with students at Conestoga Elementary every week.

Linda’s work has been a game-changer for so many children in the Omaha area, but she insists that the Kiwanis members involved in her projects get just as much out of it as the kids do. The work “fills their bucket,” she explains.

On behalf of all the kids whose lives have been changed through her work, thank you, Linda! And congratulations on being chosen as one of RIF’s 2013 Volunteers of the Year.

Linda and two other award recipients — Sara Massey of New Orleans and Kay Gooch of Austin — will receive their awards May 9, 2013, at RIF’s WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Gala Celebration. 

Photo Source: Alex Ragon 

 

posted by Bethany

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Tags: Kiwanis, Principal, RIF volunteer, Volunteer of the Year