Debora Carrera worked as a school principal for years before becoming one of the top officials in the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

She knows the importance of reading to children, which she did at Panther Valley Elementary on Thursday.

“It’s really important not just to love to read because we love to read but to understand that behind it, literacy is so critical in supporting our young people as they grow up, into the workforce and the choices they make in college and career decisions,” the department’s executive deputy secretary said.

Carrera visited Panther Valley to read the book “Be You” to Stefanie Palina’s kindergarten class, which she also donated to the school. The students shouted out the words if they knew them, and answered her questions about the book.

The book deals with messages about being unique and accepting others.

“I think all the children felt special today, identifying with whether it’s kind, silly or weird, that it’s OK to love themselves,” Carrera said.

She also met with district officials to discuss the Wolf administration’s proposed budget, which includes additional money for education.

Superintendent David McAndrew Jr. said it was a good opportunity to discuss the district’s strengths and needs.

“It’s important the state hears firsthand and has an opportunity to see it,” McAndrew said.

McAndrew also read a book - “Everybody Toots” - to first-graders in Kara Krajnak’s class. McAndrew said that the district emphasizes reading among elementary students - giving everyone an opportunity to get a book from the book fair, and with the book buggy mobile library which delivers books around the district. It’s been especially important since the pandemic.

McAndrew and Carrera both noted how it was special to read to students without masks, for what seemed like the first time in years.

“To be in front of children in a normal setting, just read a book, we can’t take that for granted. There was so much joy on my part, the part of the department, and I’m honored to be here today,” she said.