Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist Skydives For Literacy

This State Education Commissioner REALLY Wants Kids To Read

Rhode Island teachers and administrators are serious about reading.

Last year, the principal of a Rhode Island elementary school ate a worm after the school’s students met their reading goals. This year, state education commissioner Deborah Gist went skydiving after students at Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy (BVP) won the state’s summer reading challenge.

Gist jumped out of a plane on Saturday with BVP’s math and data coordinator, as the school had highest percentage of students in the state complete all their summer reading goals, according to a press release. The stunt was pulled in an effort to support literacy.

Dozens of students and teachers watched Gist and teacher Drew Madden jump out of a plane in Middletown, R.I. Gist says she now would recommend skydiving to anyone.

“It happened fast, so you really didn’t have time to think or get nervous,” she told the Providence Journal.

To see Gist skydive for literacy, watch the above video.

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