BJ Goff, PWS Educational Specialist, reads a silly Cinderella story
June 4, 2020
In honor of Prader-Willi Syndrome Awareness Month (in May), Latham Centers welcomed special guests who read stories to our students on Virtual Storytime.*
GUEST READER BARBARA J. GOFF, Ed.D.: BJ Goff has been in the field of PWS for many years. She has lectured at and attended countless PWS conferences and has been a friend to Latham Centers for quite some time. BJ joined Latham’s Virtual Storytime recently and read Once Before Time: Cinderella Rex by Christy Webster. The students loved this story because it was a silly take on a story they had all heard before – “A retelling of the classic fairytale with dinosaurs, Cinderella Rex attends the royal ball with the help of her Fairy Triceratops.”
After the story, the students learned a bit more about BJ, what she does, and how she got into the field of education. BJ told the students how much she loves working with people who have Prader-Willi syndrome, and that she has traveled around the country for years to help families like theirs. BJ saw some familiar faces, and smiles were abundant on the computer screen. After Storytime, BJ wrote to Brittni, Katrina, and Patrice, “Seeing the kids and hearing their questions and comments has been the highlight of [the pandemic]!”
Katrina noted, “When considering important people in the PWS community to read on Virtual Storytime in celebration of PWS Awareness Month, we just had to invite BJ Goff; she does so much to help strengthen our community!” Thank you, BJ, for joining us!
* Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evening, students at Latham Centers come together online for a good book and an interactive social hour. Each reader brings something special to Virtual Storytime. Whether they are a legislative or non-profit leader, a professional in the PWS community, a weather forecaster, or other surprise “Zoom” guest, they have provided the gift of storytelling and delightful conversation. Virtual Storytime has become a joyful part of Latham’s culture over the past couple of months. Our students on campus in Brewster – and students around the country – eagerly anticipate the 6:00 p.m. sessions with one another.