Carver ES dedicates book vending machine in honor of longtime teacher
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A beloved teacher at Ruby F. Carver Elementary School is being remembered through the dedication of a new book vending machine at the school.
Beverly Parsley, who taught at the school for 38 years (retiring in 2018), died last year. On May 14, school officials joined her family members and friends to dedicate the new machine in the school's cafeteria in her memory.
Parsley was remembered fondly at the dedication.
"Beverly was an extraordinary teacher," said Patricia Gregory, who taught with Parsley at Carver for many years. "She had a passion for teaching reading and she loved sharing books with the kids — especially books with characters who were full of personality and plots were full of humor . . . As a friend and colleague she was helpful, loyal, kind, respectful, supportive and always ready to help. Beverly made Carver a better place for the students and the staff."
Parsley's great-niece, Avery, demonstrated the machine for the crowd, selecting a book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. She and other family members posed for photos after the dedication.
The machine also memorializes another important member of the school community, Jane O'Toole, who died in 2017. The $7,000 device was paid for by "Walk4JaneO," one of the school's community partners and a group that includes family members and friends of O'Toole, a longtime Carver volunteer.
"Carver is a special place and it was special to Jane," said Mike O'Toole, Jane's husband and a founder of Walk4JaneO. O'Toole's children attended the school from 1993-2007, and Jane O'Toole became a familiar presence as a volunteer there.
The project "celebrates the power of strong community partnerships, the love of students and the love of reading," said Kristy Budny, Carver's principal.
The side of the blue and gold machine bears Parsley's likeness and a description of her legacy and contributions. In front, a small "Walk4JaneO" logo is below the slot where tokens are deposited.
The machine is designed to support important literacy, behavioral and equity goals. Students receive a token in recognition of exemplary behavior, plunk it into the machine and select the book they want.
"The machine builds a community of readers and encourages students to share their book choices," said Neeley Karkosak, the school's librarian. "Many of our students don't have access to books at home and the machine enables them to start their own libraries at home and experience the joys of reading."
Walk4JaneO will host its annual 5k memorial walk in memory of Jane O'Toole on Saturday, June 1, at 9 a.m. at Short Pump Park, 3329 pump Road. The event will benefit Carver Elementary and the Jane O'Toole Clothes Closet. Venmo donations to @walk4janeo.
