Englewood students read about bravery with Gov. Kotek

Gov. Tina Kotek wanted to give the Englewood Eagles a bit of inspiration heading into the weekend.

“You are a lot more brave than you think you are,” she told a gym full of students at the north Salem elementary school on Friday afternoon.

Kotek was a guest of honor for an assembly where she read “A Little Bit Brave” by Nicola Kinnear.

The book follows a rabbit, Logan, who generally stays indoors, but finally gathers the courage to venture out thanks to his friend, Luna, and (spoiler alert) ultimately saves the day when a scary wolf shows up.

Kotek selected the story because of its message.

“It really showed what everybody needs right now — a little bit of bravery,” she told Salem Reporter.

The program was part of a larger Englewood effort to promote reading among its students.

Jessie Preis, an Englewood parent volunteer, has worked to revamp the school’s reading incentive program after it lapsed during the pandemic. Englewood students track reading at home and the school provides online resources and links to free read-along videos and a map of neighborhood little free libraries for kids whose families may not be able to read with them.

Students who meet a goal of 100 minutes per week get to attend special assemblies, Preis said. Last week, they brought in Smokey Bear and firefighters to talk about their work and let kids tour the truck.

Preis said Kotek’s visit came about after she spoke with one of the governor’s staff at a shelter opening in Dallas earlier this year. She didn’t expect the governor would come to Englewood, but floated the idea. The staffer said if they could find a good time, Kotek would be happy to.

The entire school was invited to attend.

“I’m just so grateful they took it on,” Preis said.

Before reading, the governor explained her job to the Salem students, telling them her work was to make their lives easier.

“I don’t always get it right, but we work really hard to make your community safe and supported,” she said.

After, she fielded several questions from students.

Liam Parkison, a third-grader wearing a Pikachu onesie, inquired, “Do you have a special house like the president has the White House?”

Kotek explained that her residence, Mahonia Hall, has a lot of space for her dog Teddy to run around.

Flora Musick, a third-grader also dressed as Pikachu, asked how students could prepare to be governor.

“Well first, you gotta be brave,” she said.

Fourth-grader Evan Preis inquired about how students can show kindness, prompting the governor’s most controversial answer. She said it starts at home.

“If you have a brother or a sister, you’re going to be nice to them, right?” she asked the students, prompting a moment of pandemonium as some shouted objections.

Kotek also urged the students to be involved in their communities and look for opportunities to show kindness to people they don’t know.

“You have to speak up. You have to participate,” she said.

Correction: This article originally misspelled Jessie Preis’ last name as Pries, and was updated to correct student names misspelled on a school list. Salem Reporter apologizes for the errors.

Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.

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