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Former Tech and current Carolina Panthers linebacker James Anderson will be visiting three elementary schools in his hometown of Chesapeake, Va., on Friday, May 4, to distribute summer reading books to first-graders.

The visit is part of Anderson’s new literacy initiative entitled “Read Like a Pro.” He is teaming up with Scholastic Inc., the global children’s publishing, education and media company, to promote the importance of reading and literacy, and to help the schools he has “adopted” tackle the summer reading slide. In addition to providing books to first-grade students, Anderson will read aloud to the students and talk to them about how literacy and reading affected his life and got him to where he is today.

When students don’t read over the summer, teachers typically need 4 to 6 weeks in the fall to re-teach material students have forgotten. What researchers call the “summer slide” in reading skills is a major concern for educators and is responsible for the majority of the achievement gap between children from middle class and low-income families. Children from low-income families are less likely to have access to books at home.

 Anderson played at Tech from 2002-05. In the 2006 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected Anderson in the third round, and he has been with the team ever since. Last year, he finished with 145 tackles, two interceptions and 1.5 sacks. In 2010, he recorded 130 tackles, 3.5 sacks and an interception.

In July of last year, the Panthers rewarded Anderson for his steady play, signing him to a five-year contract worth $22 million, $8.5 of which was guaranteed.

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