How a Tomoka Elementary third-grade class stopped the Daytona Beach Barnes & Noble bookstore from closing

Young voices making a difference.

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Earlier this year, Shaina Belsky's third-grade class at Tomoka Elementary found out that the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Daytona Beach, one of their favorite stores, was going to close — but instead of complaining, the young avid readers took action.

Under the direction of Belsky, the gifted class wrote a letter on a large poster board addressed to the highest-ranking official in the company: Barnes & Noble CEO Demos Parneros. He was so moved by the gesture, that he personally ensured the current store's lease was extended by another year while the company searches for another location in the community. To celebrate and honor the students for their actions, Frank Morabito, vice president of retail operations at Barnes & Noble, came down from New York to visit Belsky's class on Friday, Dec. 8, along with members of the Volusia County School District.

"The result of this really shows the power of a group of people, no matter how old you are, and the power of words and images and reaching someone you never met — Demos, who lives thousands of miles away,” Morabito said.

Each student received a $25 giftcard for Barnes & Nobles, something they were very excited about.

Volusia County Schools Superintendent Tom Russell also visited the class and said the event is evidence that deep learning is happening in local schools. He also said the outcome has shown the students how to create a healthy argument with a point of view in the hopes of making an impact. 

“[Belsky] taught them a lot today, I believe," Russell said. "Basically, how to change the future.”

Belsky said the greatest lesson the kids have learned is that their voices are important and that they have the potential to make a difference in their own community.

“We live here," Belsky said. "This is an important asset in our community, and I’m really trying to teach them it’s not enough to recognize a problem and complain about it. We have to try to find solutions.”

It's why as a class, they have collected money for worldwide and local organizations like UNICEF and the Halifax Humane Society. 

“It’s time for them to start thinking outside themselves and the positive changes they can make, and kids can make a difference,” Belsky said.

And in this case, they did. Russell said he's proud of this group of students and what they have done for the community.

“So often in education, we don’t remember the day to day," Russell said. "But we always remember an event like this.”

 

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