Stewart gives and receives books

    The students at Stewart Elementary School in Washington have noticed quite a few more books in their library lately. The school library has 125 new books on its shelves thanks to a donation from Ted Stewart, a Washington resident who volunteers at the school. Stewart won a $500 award earlier this year for the time he spends working with second and third graders. Stewart continued to ?pay it forward? by using the money he won to purchase books for the school?s library.  

    Second grade teacher Joan Hippen nominated Stewart to receive the award for volunteerism. She said she nominated him because he has come to the school every day for the past seven years to help students with math problems.    

    ?He?s here for an hour a day, and he works with kids individually on math,? said Hippen. ?He helps them learn the basic math facts in addition and subtraction. He gives them little tricks to help them figure out the problems. I can always count on him. He?s very dependable.?

    Hippen said that the students are also very fond of having ?Mr. Stewart? around.

    ?The students absolutely love him,? said Hippen. ?He works with every single child ? it doesn?t matter what their skill level is. They know that at least once a week they?ll get to work with him. It?s a great time for them.?

    Mr. Stewart is no stranger to the classroom. He taught elementary school for 39 years and spent most of his career in New Jersey.

    ?When I was a teacher, I taught every subject, and I always felt that I did an especially good job of teaching math,? said Stewart.

    When Stewart learned he was $500 richer, he decided to share his good fortune with the elementary school.

    Hippen noted, ?The reason he wanted the books to be in the library is that he wanted every child to be able to read them. He was very generous to give back to the school.?

For the full story, see the May 4 edition of The Washington Evening Journal