Kim Meagher and Veronica Macdonald, 5, lace a fence with red plastic cups to spell "Team Hallett" -- a sign of support for Bob Hallett. (Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox / September 25, 2009) |
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Things are missing from the library at Riderwood Elementary.
Things like a tornado in a container and a clock with backward numbers. Things like marble mazes, windup toys and a weird eyeball that seems to elude description.
But for parents, students and teachers at the Towson school, the most important thing missing is their witty media specialist and unofficial in-house musician, Bob Hallett.
Hallett, who has worked in the county for more than three decades and at Riderwood for much of that time, was recently diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, and has been at the University of Maryland Medical Center since July, for surgery and treatment.
"People talk about him daily around here," the school's principal, Kathy DeHart, said of the man who has donned red spandex and a cape to become the superhero Red Reader. "To know him is to love him. ... Bob is not your typical library-media specialist."
Since learning about his condition, the Riderwood community has rallied around Hallett - literally and virtually.
Parents are selling "Team Hallett" wristbands and bumper stickers that read, "Team Hallett / Stronger every day!" - donating proceeds to the family. They've organized a twice-weekly prayer group.
On Friday, parents Deedy Macdonald, Cheri Pegues and Kim Meagher were pushing red Solo cups through holes in the fence around the tennis courts next door to Riderwood to spell out "Team Hallett." They also hung small wooden craft sticks decorated with paint and glitter, which had prayers such as "Keep him healthy" and "Make him feel better" written on them.
"We just hope that he pulls through this," said Pegues, who, along with her physician husband, goes on weekly visits to the hospital. She planned to sell copies of a CD featuring Hallett singing classics such as "Mack the Knife" and "Devil with a Blue Dress On" at the school picnic later that evening.
Hundreds of people have shared that sentiment on a Web site his wife, Debby, updates with news. Many are former students and Riderwood families who remember the dynamic man who organizes the talent show and oversees the student-run TV studio. The man who does magic tricks, wowing kids by balancing a chair on his elbow. The one who goes the extra mile to encourage reading, putting on rock concerts by Bob Hallett and the Hallettes as a reward.
"He's an entertainer," said Pat Murphy, assistant principal and one of the Hallettes. "He does so much, you couldn't even write a list of all the things. ... He brings out the creativity of everyone in the school."
His reach is reflected in the myriad cards and letters Debby Hallett said she regularly reads to him. At present, he's in intensive care and doctors are waiting for him to become stronger before they administer another round of chemotherapy, she said.
"We just have to take it one day at a time," Debby Hallett said.
She and her husband, who is also a musician on the side, have been bowled over by the outpouring from the school community, she said. Some days, she's spent several hours working her way through his correspondence.
"He can get kids excited about reading and learning, and that's not an easy thing to do," she said. "To me, that's one of his gifts. ... He takes all of these talents of his and puts it into what he does."
A few years ago, Hallett, 60, worked with the district's Education Channel to develop a motivational reading show. They came up with the Red Reader - and he agreed to wear the suit and goggles.
"People stopped us in the middle of Towson at the Italian festival, going, 'I know you, you're the Red Reader,' " Debby Hallett recalled.
Now her husband plays a character named Professor Q, a puppet with an Austrian-like accent, on the weekly program "Math Homework Helpers." Todd Porter, a producer with the station, said he and others on the show sometimes struggle to maintain their composure when Hallett gets going. "He's like a Willy Wonka of library media," Porter said.
"He is truly a superhero," he added. "That's the way a lot of people look at Bob."
For parent Shelly Plasse, one of the highlights of volunteering in the library was Hallett's dry, quick sense of humor.
"He's a true media specialist," said Plasse, who has a kindergartner and fourth-grader. "He does everything he can to bring all of the different kinds of media into the library for the kids."
That includes the gadgets and oddities typically displayed in the room - whose absence many said they were quick to notice this year. Students could play with them while waiting to check out books.
"When we went in the library, I was like, 'Oh, yeah, he's gone,'" said Philip Macdonald, a fifth-grader who remembers the marble mazes. "It was all empty."
Plasse recalled how her older son, a reluctant reader, told her "library was his favorite" out of all the special classes he took in first grade, she said. "And it wasn't because of the books."
Indeed, former Riderwood student Emily Bishai, now a freshman at Towson High, said Hallett's class was what "everybody looked forward to."
"He's really a part of Riderwood," said Bishai, one of four siblings who have attended the school. Her younger brother Trevor is in fifth grade. "I can't even imagine Riderwood without him."
Things like a tornado in a container and a clock with backward numbers. Things like marble mazes, windup toys and a weird eyeball that seems to elude description.
But for parents, students and teachers at the Towson school, the most important thing missing is their witty media specialist and unofficial in-house musician, Bob Hallett.
Hallett, who has worked in the county for more than three decades and at Riderwood for much of that time, was recently diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, and has been at the University of Maryland Medical Center since July, for surgery and treatment.
"People talk about him daily around here," the school's principal, Kathy DeHart, said of the man who has donned red spandex and a cape to become the superhero Red Reader. "To know him is to love him. ... Bob is not your typical library-media specialist."
Since learning about his condition, the Riderwood community has rallied around Hallett - literally and virtually.
Parents are selling "Team Hallett" wristbands and bumper stickers that read, "Team Hallett / Stronger every day!" - donating proceeds to the family. They've organized a twice-weekly prayer group.
On Friday, parents Deedy Macdonald, Cheri Pegues and Kim Meagher were pushing red Solo cups through holes in the fence around the tennis courts next door to Riderwood to spell out "Team Hallett." They also hung small wooden craft sticks decorated with paint and glitter, which had prayers such as "Keep him healthy" and "Make him feel better" written on them.
"We just hope that he pulls through this," said Pegues, who, along with her physician husband, goes on weekly visits to the hospital. She planned to sell copies of a CD featuring Hallett singing classics such as "Mack the Knife" and "Devil with a Blue Dress On" at the school picnic later that evening.
Hundreds of people have shared that sentiment on a Web site his wife, Debby, updates with news. Many are former students and Riderwood families who remember the dynamic man who organizes the talent show and oversees the student-run TV studio. The man who does magic tricks, wowing kids by balancing a chair on his elbow. The one who goes the extra mile to encourage reading, putting on rock concerts by Bob Hallett and the Hallettes as a reward.
"He's an entertainer," said Pat Murphy, assistant principal and one of the Hallettes. "He does so much, you couldn't even write a list of all the things. ... He brings out the creativity of everyone in the school."
His reach is reflected in the myriad cards and letters Debby Hallett said she regularly reads to him. At present, he's in intensive care and doctors are waiting for him to become stronger before they administer another round of chemotherapy, she said.
"We just have to take it one day at a time," Debby Hallett said.
She and her husband, who is also a musician on the side, have been bowled over by the outpouring from the school community, she said. Some days, she's spent several hours working her way through his correspondence.
"He can get kids excited about reading and learning, and that's not an easy thing to do," she said. "To me, that's one of his gifts. ... He takes all of these talents of his and puts it into what he does."
A few years ago, Hallett, 60, worked with the district's Education Channel to develop a motivational reading show. They came up with the Red Reader - and he agreed to wear the suit and goggles.
"People stopped us in the middle of Towson at the Italian festival, going, 'I know you, you're the Red Reader,' " Debby Hallett recalled.
Now her husband plays a character named Professor Q, a puppet with an Austrian-like accent, on the weekly program "Math Homework Helpers." Todd Porter, a producer with the station, said he and others on the show sometimes struggle to maintain their composure when Hallett gets going. "He's like a Willy Wonka of library media," Porter said.
"He is truly a superhero," he added. "That's the way a lot of people look at Bob."
For parent Shelly Plasse, one of the highlights of volunteering in the library was Hallett's dry, quick sense of humor.
"He's a true media specialist," said Plasse, who has a kindergartner and fourth-grader. "He does everything he can to bring all of the different kinds of media into the library for the kids."
That includes the gadgets and oddities typically displayed in the room - whose absence many said they were quick to notice this year. Students could play with them while waiting to check out books.
"When we went in the library, I was like, 'Oh, yeah, he's gone,'" said Philip Macdonald, a fifth-grader who remembers the marble mazes. "It was all empty."
Plasse recalled how her older son, a reluctant reader, told her "library was his favorite" out of all the special classes he took in first grade, she said. "And it wasn't because of the books."
Indeed, former Riderwood student Emily Bishai, now a freshman at Towson High, said Hallett's class was what "everybody looked forward to."
"He's really a part of Riderwood," said Bishai, one of four siblings who have attended the school. Her younger brother Trevor is in fifth grade. "I can't even imagine Riderwood without him."
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Our two sons attended Riderwood, and we would see Mr. Hallett at many school events. His connection with the kids was amazing, and we certainly hope his treatment is successful.
reedg01 (09/28/2009, 9:41 AM )