Durant, Oklahoma – On Friday morning, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Rolling Book Bus rolled into Northwest Heights Elementary, delivering a surprise literacy celebration for the school’s second‑grade students. The mobile library, part of the Thunder’s community‑outreach program, allowed each child to board the bus, browse a curated selection of books, and select one to bring home.
Local educators welcome the initiative
Durant Public Schools’ Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, Kasey Bennett, returned to her hometown for the visit. “I’m so excited when organizations and different entities across the state support screen‑free learning and hands‑on, actual old‑school type learning where they get to have a book in their hands,” Bennett said. “It doesn’t get any more basic than that.” Her enthusiasm highlighted the importance of fostering a love of reading in young families and underscored the Thunder’s commitment to community service.
Students express gratitude
After the bus departed, two Northwest Heights students, Brooks Marcum and Waverly Kemp, voiced their appreciation. “Thank you to the Thunder… Thank you. American Fidelity,” they said, acknowledging both the NBA team and the local sponsor that helped make the event possible.
First visit to the southeast corner of the state
This marks the first time the Rolling Book Bus has traveled as far southeast as Durant, extending the Thunder’s outreach beyond the Oklahoma City metro area. The program, which tours schools and community centers throughout the state, aims to promote literacy, encourage family reading time, and provide free books to children who might otherwise lack access.
How the Rolling Book Bus works
The bus is equipped with a modest library of age‑appropriate titles, comfortable reading nooks, and staff who guide students in selecting books that match their interests and reading levels. Teachers can coordinate with the Thunder’s outreach team to align the visit with classroom curricula, reinforcing lessons in language arts and fostering a culture of reading at home.
Community impact and future visits
Local parents and school administrators see the event as a valuable supplement to classroom instruction. By giving each child a personal book to keep, the program helps build a home library, a cornerstone of early childhood development and family bonding. The Thunder has indicated plans to return to other schools in the region, expanding the reach of the Rolling Book Bus to more rural and underserved communities.
Support from local partners
American Fidelity, a regional insurance provider, partnered with the Thunder for this visit, demonstrating how local businesses can collaborate with larger organizations to support education. Such partnerships reinforce the community‑first ethos that both the Thunder and Durant residents cherish.
Overall, the Rolling Book Bus visit provided a memorable, hands‑on learning experience that aligns with Durant’s commitment to strong families, faith‑based values, and individual liberty through education. As the bus departs, students return to their classrooms with new books, fresh enthusiasm for reading, and a reminder that their community cares about their growth.
Original reporting: KXII News 12 (Gray) — read the source article.
