When he's not in his role as executive director of the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin or chief people officer at the Sewell Family of Companies, Adrian Vega has an alter ego called El Super Lector (super reader).
As El Super Lector, Vega makes monthly appearances at Blackshear, Burnet, Alamo STEAM Academy elementary schools in Odessa and Sam Houston Collegiate Prep in Midland through the Education Foundation of Odessa's Bookworms program.
The Odessa American reports volunteers read a book aloud to students at the campuses and the students get a copy of the books.
He has penned five "El Super Lector" picture books and there will be eight total, published through Complex Community Federal Credit Union. Five books are published and three more are pending.
He first devised El Super Lector as a classroom teacher in Dallas intending to get his students excited about reading.
". As you can see, it's construction paper, crayon. I drew it. I went to the teachers' work room laminated it and bound it. This is the original story," Vega said showing his original books, which he illustrated. "Then I wrote a second one and as you can see it's a little bit more refined. This one's a little bit more autobiographical because he talks about how can I better help kids how to learn how to read, become a teacher, (and) sing songs."
In his campus appearances, Vega appears wearing a yellow cape and a red tie. He plays his guitar and sings in addition to reading to the students.
Local
The latest news from around North Texas.
"When I was teaching, I incorporated the guitar. I wrote this other book `Around the World in Seven Days.' I wrote a song that went along with it that specifically talked about visiting places, each continent, one day a week," he said.
One of the things the Ector County Independent School District is focused on is kindergarten through third-grade literacy. In talking to Associate Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Lilia Nanez, Vega said there is talk of having read-alouds.
Vega said that's what he thinks is one of the powerful aspects of the Bookworms program. Youngsters will naturally want to mimic what they see.
"Therefore, if they see an adult reading a book, especially at this early age and they're experiencing that and it's a fun experience, they're going to want to re-experience that," Vega said.
He added that he started playing the guitar in his early 20s and the students remember the songs he sings at his appearances.
"The hope is as we move forward I know that UTPB (University of Texas of the Permian Basin) and ECISD are having conversations about applying research to the Bookworms program. ECISD is considering making it more structured by way of offering some professional development during teacher university, so when you think about that it becomes that much more powerful, or seamless, when you're marrying the community and the school effort together," Vega said.
He added that it helps reinforce what the teacher is doing in the classroom.
"Every time I conclude my story, there are questions at the end of the book. I always remind the students in front of their teachers. My hope is that they're going to re-read the book in class and that the teacher is going to have a conversation with them with the questions to reinforce the message behind the book," Vega said.
He also tells the students they can have the same conversations with their family members at home.
"When you think about the message behind the El Super Lector . not only is it about promoting literacy and reinforcing the importance of reading, but it's also about in many ways (reinforcing) core values and character traits," Vega said.
He noted that his super hero career would not be possible without the Education Foundation, Complex Community Federal Credit Union and Colin Sewell.
Vega said part of his responsibility for Sewell is to be engaged in the community at all levels regarding education.
"My goal is to literally do whatever I can to be a part of that experience, to contribute as a former public educator of 20 years, as a former classroom teacher, as a former campus principal, as a former instructional specialist, I can appreciate the effort from many different perspectives. That's why I'm more than happy to . assist in any way I can," Vega said.
Vega earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Texas San Antonio, a master's in educational leadership with a principal certification from Texas Woman's University and a doctorate in educational leadership with a superintendent's certification from Texas A&M Commerce.
He and his wife, Kathryn have two children. She teaches yoga.
During a recent Blackshear appearance, Vega read his book "Pay it Forward" and Hank Herrick, executive director of the United Way, read "Chrysanthemum" by Kevin Henkes.
Blackshear Principal Valerie Rivera said the Bookworms program started on the campus in October.
Rivera said the students love Vega because he reads in such an animated way and wears his yellow cape with El Super Lector insignia on the back. He also sings songs with while playing his guitar.
Herrick said this is the third time he has read to students at Blackshear.
"I think it was more intimidating my first time than when I went to Afghanistan," said Herrick, a 30-year Air Force veteran who was a chief master sergeant. He was in Afghanistan in 2009.
"My daughters are 26 and 24, so how do you hold their attention? How do you engage them, so after my first time the teachers were very kind and said we did well and so now I enjoy coming over, but it was intimidating the first couple of times," Herrick said.
Ora Christian, a first grade teacher at Blackshear, said she loves the Bookworms program.
"We as educators buy into their academic success, and with the program, the community also buys in to their academic success so we're being supported from teachers, from parents, from the community. Plus, a lot of the students don't have personal books," Christian said.
Education Foundation Director Celeste Potter said the foundation's goal is to have the program in place at all ECISD elementary schools in the 2019-2020 school year to impact every student in grades prekindergarten through first.
"If we could do all of them, it's a little over 6,600 kids a month," Potter said.
