Former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal visits Augusta for book signing honoring late wife
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- It was a special Monday afternoon in the CSRA for former Georgia Governor Nathan Deal.
Born in Millen, Georgia, Deal spent two years in Augusta at Fort Gordon–he was stationed there while he served in the United States Army.
He went on to serve as Governor of the Peach State from 2011 to 2019, when current Governor Brian Kemp succeeded him.
Since then, it's been a new chapter of life for Deal–allowing him to share his love for education and reading.
"It is important. I think the more they see adults–especially people in some positions of responsibility–telling them that it is important for them to learn to read, and taking their time to read to children," Deal said.
The Paulette P. Harris Literacy Center hosted a book sharing and signing event for Deal's most recent book, "Veto, The Governor's Cat".
The book tells the story of the adventures of Veto and Bill, two rescue cats who find their forever home in the Governor's Mansion.
It is based on a true story, as the beloved pets moved from the city to the country with the Deal family when they left the office.
Deal says the book teaches valuable lessons based on the challenges Veto and Bill face throughout their lives.
"One of the most important lessons is you don't have to look alike to be friends," said Deal. "Veto meets some friends that don't look like him at all–and just like Veto, not all the people have to look like us in order to be friends with each other. But there's also the lessons of being compassionate, being responsible for your own purposes, and to also understand that you're blessed."
His love for literacy became more profound thanks to his wife, Sandra.
She taught for 15 years in Hall County, Georgia, and made it her mission to read to more than 250,000 students across 181 school districts in Georgia's 159 counties.
She died in August 2022 after a battle with brain cancer.
"It was important, because she saw the effects of it in children that were coming through her classroom, or the absence of their literacy," said Deal.
Director Dr. Betsy VanDeusen says the absence of literacy in today's youth is even more concerning.
According to VanDeusen, only 30% of students are proficient in reading by the end of 3rd grade.
"What that means is reading will become exponentially harder for them once they get into the upper grades," VanDeusen said. "We really need to focus first and foremost on communities, supporting our parents, and making sure that we have evidence-based strategies in place for our students in the area to help accelerate those gains."
She says one of the contributing factors is the rise in technology–though there are positive effects from things like audio books, there's perhaps more from reading a paper copy.
"A lot of research is coming out that shows pretty definitively that it's not the same experience to read online and read in print," said VanDeusen. "But there's really nothing that can substitute for that sustained attention with a book with print–it not only gives you information you're reading about, but helps develop your brain cognitively."
But it's combatting those numbers and honoring his late wife's legacy that motivates Deal to achieve his new goal.
"My book is intended to educate the mind in that it introduces them to words and the pronunciation of words–but it also teaches them some lessons that hopefully will educate their heart," Deal said.
"She (Sandra) would be proud. She'd be glad to see young children listening to somebody read a book to them, and to do it in her honor and in her memory–which is what it is, is in her memory. I think she'd be proud."
The Literacy Center has resources available to help improve your reading and literacy skills.
They have a K-12 program that meets at the Literacy Center from 3 PM-7 PM, working with kids that are below grade level to accelerate their learning.
The center also has adult services during the day–in a partnership with Augusta Technical College, they offer GED courses on-site for those that want a formal program.
To find more information, visit their website here .
