Jackson Roark Honored with Schoolwide Reading

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — Deer Park Elementary School honored a previous student by dropping everything to read for 16 minutes. Jackson Roark died of bone cancer in 2021 and would have celebrated his 16th birthday Tuesday.

Students dressed in their favorite pajamas to honor Jackson’s favorite theme day and paid $1 for popcorn.

Officials say the $500 raised will go to Jack’s Stacks. The foundation helps students in Daviess County who wouldn’t usually have access to new books.

“I don’t know if there’s a word for that. I don’t know that I can find a word to describe it. What I can say is that means so much to his mother…to me. I know that would mean a lot to him,” says David Roark, Jackson’s father.

Jackson’s parents say they will continue to honor their son’s legacy by combining acts of kindness and providing tools for students to fall in love with reading.

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