First Lady of Florida visits Windermere Prep

HORIZON WEST  Four second-grade classes at Windermere Preparatory School got to ask questions, enjoy story time and even flex their muscles with First Lady of Florida Ann Scott during a special visit.

Scott made stops at three schools in the Greater Orlando area Wednesday, Oct. 5, finishing her day with the students at WPS. She travels the state often and has been to all 67 Florida counties visiting schools and sharing her love of reading with the students she comes across.

With that in mind, it was a special treat for WPS’ second-graders, who gathered at the Lower School building to meet with Scott as she read them a book called “Dex: The Heart of a Hero.” WPS students were actively engaged with the story. In fact, when Scott read a part about  Dex’s strength, she encouraged the kids to flex their own muscles with her — to which they happily obliged.

During Scott’s visit, the kids also asked myriad questions, ranging from what her favorite color was and if she helps the governor make laws to what she wanted to be for Halloween.

Melissa Fagan, director of the Lower School at WPS, said that she saw Scott’s website months ago and was excited when she found out that Scott was a huge advocate for literacy and for sharing it with students across the state. Since WPS is always looking for special guests to speak to its students, Fagan knew she wanted Scott to visit.

“I thought, wouldn’t it be cool if we had somebody of her significance to visit our students and share her love of reading with us?” Fagan said. “I was able to contact her office — it was very simple — and six months later they gave me a call to say that she would be in the area. We’re always looking to bring in people with a significant background or presence in our community to share their love of reading with the kids so they see that even their superheroes, professional athletes or people they look up to all have that same, common foundation of a love of reading.”

For Scott, reading had always played a prominent role in her life growing up, so when she became first lady of Florida she wanted to use her platform to help instill the love of reading in Florida’s future.

“I’ve been visiting schools since two weeks after Rick’s inauguration, and I am continuing to visit schools who request me,” Scott said. “(Reading) was so important to me growing up. I spent a lot of time at the public library, the school library, and because it was so important to me I wanted to share it with both of my daughters. I’m happy to say it’s as important to them as it was to me, too. They’re passing on their passion for reading to our four grandsons.”

The opportunity to acquaint WPS’s students with the first lady was a unique experience, and one that Fagan knows will stick with them. In fact, the highlight of Fagan’s day was being able to share the children with Scott, and vice versa.

“I thought it would be fun to share my school family with the governor’s office,” Fagan said. “I think the kids here at Windermere Prep are very unique and special in their own way, and they have such a passion for learning and for each other. They feel very proud when we have guests on campus and they want to embrace them and be embraced by them. We’re proud of what we do here, and we’re proud of the kids.”

Contact Danielle Hendrix at [email protected].