Rep. Tonko visits Hackett

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko poses with books, Hackett students and staff, two board of ed members, three principals and the assistant superintendent for secondary education

Our congressman cares!

U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko made a special stop at William S. Hackett Middle School on Tuesday to deliver books that librarian Sonji Greenaway had requested through the Library of Congress Surplus Books Program.

The program donates surplus books to schools, public agencies and other nonprofits with the goal of helping to build library collections. Tuesday’s visit was Tonko’s 73rd book stop, and he brought Hackett 44 brand-new books for the school library – books on subjects that Greenaway selected for a middle-school audience.

Tonko also talked to about 20 Hackett students in grades 6-8 about words and their importance, and then took student questions about his work. He was presented with a Hackett winter hat before he left.

Also present during Tonko’s visit were Board of Education Secretary Sridar Chittur, Ph.D., board member Ellen Krejci and Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Lori McKenna, along with Hackett Principal Michael Paolino and Assistant Principals Lisa House and Lawrence Moultrie.

Check out some Facebook photos from the visit. (You don't need a Facebook account to see the pictures linked in the highlighted text. A window may appear that says, “To see more from Albany City Schools on Facebook, log on or create an account,” but you can dismiss it by clicking “not now.”)