This is my third year taking part in the award assemblies for winners of Bookmans' Reading Challenge; after three years you'd think I'd be just the teensiest bit jaded. But when the paper is ripped off the giant $5,000 check and the room explodes with screaming kids and teary-eyed teachers, it's like reliving that very first assembly. Thanks to Village Vista in Phoenix and the Peak School in Flagstaff for helping to recapture that magic again this year.

There are three things all of this year's winning schools have in common: 1) a dedicated and driven administrative staff that wholly believe in the worth of a child's education, 2) compassionate and energetic teachers who are not only devoted to their students but to the success of their entire school, and 3) a student body that exemplifies the very best of their respective schools and staff. It was honor to witness this enthusiasm in person. Congratulations!

We'll have more a more in-depth look at this year's Reading Challenge next week. In the mean time, you can see more photos from the Village Vista and Peak School assemblies in our Flickr.