November 10, 2025, Lancaster ISD/Lancaster, TX -- Rolling Hills Elementary celebrated National Authors Day with a day full of creativity, inspiration, and community connection. In honor of the day dedicated to celebrating authors and their contributions to literature, the campus brought together local authors, district personnel, and families to share with students the joy of storytelling and the power of writing.
“The goal for this year’s celebration was to invite authors to come speak to our students and read to them,” said Rolling Hills Elementary teacher and literacy committee chairman, Tammie Courtney.
Throughout the day, guest readers, including local authors and Lancaster ISD staff members, visited classrooms to read their favorite children’s books aloud. District employee, Rhonda Garner, arrived dressed in a mustard costume to match her book choice, The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Mo Willems. 
“It’s one of my favorite books and it was a joy to see the students light up when I came in character,” Garner shared. “I try to participate each year and I read with exciting voices. The students love every moment and I love to see their excitement.”
In addition to the classroom readings, parents were invited to a special session on how to support their children in protecting and developing their original ideas, from creative stories to future projects.
“My discussion with parents was about how to encourage their children to develop their own intellectual property,” said film producer and Lancaster ISD alumni, Tuesday Lewis-Harris. “We focused more on the students publishing their own books that can eventually be developed into screenplays and merchandise that can create a brand.”
This discussion encouraged parents to think about their children, their interests, and how they could help them reach the next level.
“My grandson is very smart, he is already thinking about colleges. My granddaughter loves Tik Tok and fashion,” said Rolling Hills grandmother, Erica Thomas. “I’m going to start encouraging them to start writing and using their imagination about the things they are interested in.”
The Rolling Hills Elementary’s literacy committee works throughout the school year to provide reading and writing initiatives to students and parents. The National Authors Day event is just one of the many ways the campus is working to get students excited about literacy and writing.
“The goal is for students to walk away knowing that we are all readers and we all can write,” Rolling Hills Elementary principal, LaJoyce Johnson expressed. “I feel like everyone has a book inside of them and we want them to know that they can share their ideas and creativity with the world.”
Principal Johnson also shared ways that parents can help their students at home with their literacy.
“We ask that parents have their child read 20 to 30 minutes a day. Provide them with books and actually sit down and listen to them read,” said Johnson.
By the end of the event, students left with an excitement for reading and writing, parents gained valuable tools to guide their young authors, and the Rolling Hills community celebrated the potential of imagination.
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