District 75 book drive honors teacher's love of reading to kids

Whenever Kristen Meister would be finishing up a trip to the bookstore with her family, they would always know where to find her: in the children's section looking for new books to read in class.

Meister passed away in July, but her love of reading to children is quickly becoming the late District 75 teacher's legacy.

In honor of her teaching career and her passion for reading, the Mundelein Education Association and the Mundelein Elementary Education Association collected hundreds of books in her name during the Kristen Meister Memorial Book Drive this fall.

The drive brought in more than 400 books - 121 at Carl Sandburg Middle School, 151 at Mechanics Grove Elementary, 105 at Washington School, and 20 books at Lincoln School - as well as about $500 toward books for the MHS library and book covers for all librarians in Districts 75 and 120.

Each book contained a sticker that reads, in part: "This book was generously donated in memory of Kristen Lee Meister, a beloved educator, colleague, mentor and friend." A few of the selected titles in the drive were chosen from a stack of books Kristen read on video for her future grandchildren while she was ill.

Kristen, who taught at both Washington and Mechanics Grove School, was a parent of Mundelein students and an integral part of the school community. Her youngest child is a freshman at Mundelein High School. Her husband, Kent, teaches at MHS.

In a thank-you letter to the organizers and supporters of the book drive, Kristen's husband said part of his future plan is to be a secret reader to District 75 kindergarten and third grade students.

"I'd like to read some of those books with Kristen's sticker in them, hopefully passing on that love for a good story/lesson that those books often provide," he said.

"Thanks to all of you who were involved with this book drive ... Thanks for being part of the dream of keeping that passion alive."

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