Elaine Langford - July State Employee of the Month

Teacher makes love of reading contagious

For boys at the Girardot Center in Cape Girardeau, being a part of Elaine Langford's Book Club is an honor, said special-education teacher Sharon Moroni, who nominated Langford as Missouri's State Employee of the Month.

"Wouldn't you like to be able to lay around on the couches, read a book and just chill for an hour or so talking about what you've read?" Moroni said. "You would not believe how the boys discuss books, both in and out of "Book Club.'"

Before Langford came to the state Department of Social Services agency, the New Madrid Bend Youth Center's library was limited and aged, she said.

"The boys would seldom take a book, much less read it," Moroni said.

Reading was a chore to most students there until Langford arrived, she said.

"She brought with her some books that the guys could really relate (to)," Moroni said. "One guy would read it, and then another, and soon everyone wanted that book."

As Langford continued to bring in current, top-selling books, the boys' enthusiasm for them grew.

"I've never seen guys read like they do here," Moroni said.

And as a result, the center's Woodcock Johnson III Test of Achievement scores have seen improvement.

"Elaine makes this job look easy," Moroni said. "I know that she has to spend hours reading to keep up with the guys. I know she has to spend a great amount of time finding the right books. But, Elaine acts like it's fun.

"She obviously loves to read and somehow passes that enjoyment to the boys. This is a special talent."

Missouri's State Employee of the Month is selected by the State Employee of the Month Selection Committee from among nominations submitted by the 16 state departments and some elected offices. The six committee members also are members of the State Training Advisory Council.