Jackson Free Press

This summer, Lynn House, interim state superintendent of education, is challenging students to keep learning and avoid the "summer slide" in reading achievement. House is working with the Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Parent-Teacher Association as one of the leaders of the "Find a Book Mississippi" summer reading challenge. The initiative will provide tools and resources to aid librarians, parents and students in finding interesting and challenging books that will help maintain reading skills over the summer months.

"Studies have shown that students lose critical reading skills gained during the school year when they don't read over the summer," House said in a press release. Reading can open students' minds to new worlds, as well as help them maintain academic progress.

The program includes an online "Find a Book" tool that searches thousands of book titles at the students' grade level. In addition, House is encouraging parents and students to visit their local public libraries and to participate in nonprofit-sponsored summer reading programs across the state.

Originally from DeSoto County and currently residing in Madison, House has degrees from the University of New Orleans, Furman University and the University of Mississippi. House has 37 years of experience as an educator and, in addition to her K-12 work, she has taught and been an administrator at the college level.

Prior to her current position, House served as the Louisiana Board of Regents' deputy commissioner for academic and student affairs, and as assistant commissioner for academic and student affairs for Mississippi's public university system. House assumed the interim state superintendent position July 1, 2012, after serving as the deputy superintendent for instructional enhancement and internal operations since 2010. She also previously served the MDE as its director of federal programs.

Find information on the summer reading challenge, as well as a summer reading pledge form at MDE's website. The site also contains informational flyers for school administrators, parents and librarians and links to other resources and summer reading opportunities.