OCES students pack gym to read along with Mitchell

  • Malcolm Mitchell, author and former NFL athlete, teaches students about the power of reading at OCES, on Feb. 4, 2026. “I learned that reading was like magic,” Mitchell said. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Malcolm Mitchell, author and former NFL athlete, teaches students about the power of reading at OCES, on Feb. 4, 2026. “I learned that reading was like magic,” Mitchell said. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
  • Oglethorpe County Elementary School students surround Malcolm Mitchell, author and former UGA and NFL receiver, while holding his book “My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World” on Feb. 4. Many students wanted to talk to Mitchell or asked him to sign their books or clothing. CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO
    Oglethorpe County Elementary School students surround Malcolm Mitchell, author and former UGA and NFL receiver, while holding his book “My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World” on Feb. 4. Many students wanted to talk to Mitchell or asked him to sign their books or clothing. CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO
  • OCES gifted teacher Lindsay Gregory (from left), STEM teacher Kevin Southall, media specialist Corrie Mattox and art teacher John Lutz hold Malcolm Mitchell. Both students and teachers requested photos with Mitchell. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    OCES gifted teacher Lindsay Gregory (from left), STEM teacher Kevin Southall, media specialist Corrie Mattox and art teacher John Lutz hold Malcolm Mitchell. Both students and teachers requested photos with Mitchell. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
  • Former OCES principal Nancy Hart reads to Mary Kate Shealy’s third-grade class on Feb. 4. Hart accompanied her story with a globe and asked students questions, making the read-aloud interactive. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Former OCES principal Nancy Hart reads to Mary Kate Shealy’s third-grade class on Feb. 4. Hart accompanied her story with a globe and asked students questions, making the read-aloud interactive. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
  • Malcolm Mitchell, author and former NFL athlete, helps Ken Scott, magician, set up a levitation trick with third grade student volunteer Hazelynn Walton, on Feb. 4, 2026. Students watch amazed as Walton levitates from the back of a chair. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Malcolm Mitchell, author and former NFL athlete, helps Ken Scott, magician, set up a levitation trick with third grade student volunteer Hazelynn Walton, on Feb. 4, 2026. Students watch amazed as Walton levitates from the back of a chair. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
  • Students raise their hands as magician Michael Boone asks for a volunteer for his next trick. Magic tricks kept the students engaged during the Reading Rally. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Students raise their hands as magician Michael Boone asks for a volunteer for his next trick. Magic tricks kept the students engaged during the Reading Rally. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)
    Students at the OCES Reading Rally hold up their copies of “My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World” by Malcolm Mitchell. Every student received a copy of the book prior to the celebration of World Read Aloud Day. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

    Students at the OCES Reading Rally hold up their copies of “My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World” by Malcolm Mitchell. Every student received a copy of the book prior to the celebration of World Read Aloud Day. (CHARLOTTE COCHRAN/THE OGLETHORPE ECHO)

    Former UGA and NFL receiver Malcolm Mitchell began the Reading Rally at Oglethorpe County Elementary School with pregame stretches. But the tone quickly shifted when he shared his own story. 

     

    “Growing up, I had a hard time reading, but I want you to understand that reading will help you grow up to be the best that you can be,” Mitchell said. “I want you to read as much as you can so you can grow up and be your very best.” 

     

    When Mitchell asked if any of the kids struggled with reading, hands shot up into the air. For OCES literacy instructional coach Rebecca Crook, this honesty with the kids was powerful. 

     

    “It was awesome even just to see that moment,” Crook said.

     

    Mitchell played for Georgia from 2011-15, was drafted by the NFL’s New England Patriots in 2016 and helped the team win Super Bowl 51. 

     

    After his retirement, Mitchell founded the Share the Magic Foundation to inspire children to read. He also hosts rallies at schools across the country, but specifically in his home state of Georgia. 

     

    “Eighty-nine percent of students who participate in the programs report reading more books, and that’s exactly what we want — more time in books and less time on screens,” said Wesley Wooten, Share the Magic Foundation director of programs and partnerships.

     

    The Reading Rally for OCES was hosted in the school’s gym, and all OCES students participated to mark World Read Aloud Day, an initiative to promote literacy through read-alouds by Northeast Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency (RESA). 

     

    Mitchell’s Reading Rally event also included interactive magic shows by Michael Boone and Ken Scott. Flying doves, balloon hats and levitation tricks emphasized the magic of reading while keeping students engaged.

     

    The rally ended with an interactive read-aloud by Mitchell of his book “My Very Favorite Book in the Whole Wide World.” Each student received a copy and repeated each line after Mitchell. 

     

    “Just the power of him sitting there, reading the book, and them copying him,” Crook said. “Just to get books in their hands and just see them be really engaged in it is super powerful.” 

     

    After the rally, students returned to their classrooms where residents and county officials, including commission chairman Jay Paul, children’s librarian Beth Akins, children’s book author Susan Phillips, former OCES principal Nancy Hart and others read to them. 

     

    “It just gets everybody in our building, seeing what we’re doing everyday, and really supporting literacy,” Crook said. “My hope was that it was inspirational and helps continue to build those community ties because it takes everybody to run a school.” 

     

    For many of the students, Mitchell’s presence made World Read Aloud Day particularly special.

     

    “They just wanted to walk the halls with him and talk to him,” Crook said. “They just really admired him, and I think it’s something that they won’t forget.”