Fall 2008
A Legacy in Books
Story by Michelle Mouton
Photos by Aaron Mayes
A Legacy in Books
While many students try to avoid cracking the books over vacation, about 50 schoolchildren (and their parents) came to the Gayle A. Zeiter Literacy Development Center this summer to improve their reading skills. Senior-level education majors and graduate students provide one-on-one tutoring to help local children improve their reading proficiency.
The center is expanding its programs to include additional training in literacy development for future and current teachers, thanks to the donation in honor of Gayle A. Zeiter, ’85 BS Education and ’88 Master of Education. She passed away in 2002 but her influence on children lives on. Her husband, real estate developer Jim Zeiter, ’87 BS Finance, made the donation as a legacy for the longtime Clark County School District teacher. “This will touch many lives, not just the lives of educators but also the children,” he says.
The center serves children from kindergarten to eighth grade. The donation helped refurbish the center in the Carlson Education Building. Hundreds of colorful books and other literacy-related materials now line its shelves. Part of the gift will allow teachers and doctoral students to attend conferences on literacy. The center has also brought internationally known authors of children’s books to campus for the speakers bureau.
Reflecting on his gift, Jim Zeiter says Gayle would have been happy to know so much good is being done in her name.
College of Education students Samantha Campbell (top photo) and Anita Hylviu in the Zeiter Literacy Development Center