Book drive honors teacher shot in classroom

Educators across the Peninsula are holding an online book drive to honor the Newport News teacher who was shot two weeks ago.

The books will be distributed to schools around the region as a way to promote virtues such as peace, respect, unity and love, said Alynn Parham, president of the Williamsburg/James City County Education Association.

The book drive was organized by James Madison University alumni and members of the Virginia Education Association, with the link shared across numerous social media pages.

Educators want to honor Abigail “Abby” Zwerner, the 25-year-old Richneck Elementary School teacher who police said was shot by one of her first grade students on Jan. 6.

Zwerner, a JMU graduate who lives in Williamsburg, was released from the hospital last week.

“I really thought it was amazing how, not just my division, but the other divisions came together,” Parham said. “We wore green and black that Monday to stand in solidarity with Richneck. I thought it was nice that my division immediately started showing support and sympathy, and just emotion to what was happening in Newport News.”

Parham, who teaches world history, geography and African American history at Jamestown High School, said all of the books purchased from the book drive will receive a hand-written dedication to Zwerner inside.

After the books are inscribed, they’ll be sent to various schools across the region, including elementary schools in Williamsburg, James City County, Newport News and Gloucester, York and New Kent counties.

“We felt that this was a situation that everyone, no matter if you’re a union member or not, should be a part of because this is a tragedy in the education profession and the education community,” Parham said. “I think it’s great that it’s not just the teachers that are trying to support Abby, but it’s everyone.”

The book drive, called “Abby’s Book Club,” can be found on Amazon at www.amazon.com/registries/custom/3TIQHYAL9A3BC/guest-view. Books being requested include titles such as “One Drop of Kindness,” “The Boy with Big, Big Feelings” and “Our Class is a Family.”