Media release from Rome, GA City Schools:
Sydney Snyder one day hopes to be a school teacher and possibly a principal, but for now, she is content with sharing a story and her passion with school children. Last week, Snyder, who is Miss Rome’s Teen, read to students at West End, Elm Street, and East Central Elementary schools.
Snyder started the day at West End Elementary. Before she visited her first class, she already had an important question from a student.
“Is today your birthday?” a student named Cameron asked. Cameron was wearing a gold crown because he was celebrating his sixth birthday. His question only seemed natural because Snyder was wearing a tiara.
“No. It’s not my birthday, but would you like to take a birthday picture with me?” she responded. Cameron was all smiles after that.
As she entered the first classroom, several students exclaimed, “She’s a princess.”
Once the class had settled down, Snyder brought out a book and began reading. The book, “Addison’s Athletic Adventure” was written by Snyder and follows a middle school student having trouble making friends. When Addison tries out for the volleyball team, she not only makes the team but also makes a lot of new friends.
The message from the book strikes home for Snyder, who is using active life and a healthy mind as her platform as she competes later this summer in the Miss Georgia’s Teen Pageant.
“My very first pageant director, Miss Hilary Bailey, has a niece named Addison, and she went through a very similar experience that I did in middle school. She had a hard time with friends, but through athletics, she found her purpose, and so did I,” Snyder said. “I was inspired by her, and I wrote my children’s book. I named the main character Addison after her. I’m really excited to share it with others.”
Although Snyder said she was excited, from the looks and reactions of all the students she read to, that excitement carried over to them as well.
While reading the book, Snyder stopped to ask questions and make sure everyone got involved.
“I love school kids. I’m actually a dance teacher back at home, so it’s really exciting to get to share the book that I wrote with them. They’re a pleasure to work with, and I really hope that this title and this job of mine helps me impact the younger generation because that is my purpose. I’m really blessed to be here,” she said.
Along with that, Snyder wanted to read to the students to share the message, but also reinforce how important reading is.
“It’s important that children understand the importance of literacy from a young age, and I want to get them excited about reading,” she said. “I want to introduce different kinds of literacy in classrooms like my children’s book because if they can relate to a book, they’ll be more inclined to read it in the future.”
Her message on literacy hit home for Rome City Schools Deputy Superintendent Dr. Barbara Partick-Lashley who was all smiles while watching Snyder read and interact with students.
“Having Miss Teen Rome come in here and read to kids at Rome City Schools is really cool. The thing that I think is so great is that she’s reading a book that she wrote. I think it’s going to be encouraging for the students,” she said. “It lets them know what they can do and how they can come back and give back. I think that’s the biggest message. Our focus at Rome City Schools is on literacy and she really embraces that.”
After finishing the book, Snyder asked students if they played sports and what sports they played. The students then got a picture with her and oftentimes she was engulfed in several hugs.
With the tiara and sash, many students talked about her being a princess. In fact, one first grader at East Central’s mouth fell open when Snyder walked into her classroom. She stood up and pointed at Snyder.
“It’s a princess,” the girl exclaimed.
A bit later, several students said Snyder looked like Rapunzel, minus the super-long hair of course, and Sleeping Beauty. Each time the students talked about her being a princess Snyder had a quick response.
“You are all princesses in my eyes,” she said.
At the end of her tour, Snyder was all smiles as well.
“This is awesome. I get to do things like visit Rome City Schools, but I also get to prepare for the Miss Georgia’s Teen competition, which will happen in June in Columbus,” she said. “We’re in the home stretch of that. I’m super excited to compete for that title. This will be my third year, but behind all the crowns and the sashes is experiences like this, so I’m really blessed to be in this position.”
