Liberty Elementary media specialist Kristi Craven recently won a $2,000 grant from Target department stores. The funds will be dedicated to providing students with media experiences such as special reading events, guest speakers and book donations.  
With the funding, students who attend the annual Pajamboree at Liberty Elementary will receive free books. For years students have come to school the evening of the event dressed in their pajamas to read with their families and enjoy cookies and milk.  In addition, the event provides students a chance to test their comprehension of books using the Accelerated Reader program.  
Additional events will be added to the calendar. Magician Chad Crews will visit to kick off the week-long celebration of children’s literature in November.  Another literacy event now possible with the Target grant will be a guest visit from author/ storyteller/historian Dr. Annette Laing for the fourth-grade students at Liberty Elementary. Laing, a former Georgia Southern University professor, will share stories and artifacts supporting the Common Core curriculum.  
According to a news release, 97 percent of Liberty Elementary students participate in the Accelerated Reader comprehension program. The goal is to see 99 percent of the students participate in the reading-comprehension program and for the level of students earning an average of 85 percent or higher on their quizzes to reach 60 percent of the student population.