Reed McMaster, now a junior at Palmetto Senior High, probably can’t tell you exactly what he learned in his first grade class at Pinecrest Elementary, but he will always remember the generosity of his former teacher. Linda Fondas-Lanteigne decided to retire this year after 45 years of teaching, but not before she gave him a huge surprise. As her last parting gift, Fondas-Lanteigne made an incredible donation of over 1,000 children’s books to McMaster’s book collection project. He has been collecting gently used children’s books and delivering them to schools in South Miami-Dade, where there is a high percentage of underprivileged students. It was important for Fondas-Lanteigne that the books went to children who have a love of reading, and with McMaster’s help, that is exactly where they’ll end up.
