Nashua Back To School Event To Feature Visit From Teachers Union Head

NASHUA, NH —Free school supplies, free brooks, eye exams and a visit from one of the nation's most prominent educators and labor leaders will be among the highlights at Thursday's Nashua Goes Back To School Night.

The event takes place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. outside the Nashua Public Library, located at 2 Court St. The festivities will be moved inside if there is rain. All parents, caregivers and students in the Nashua School District are invited to attend.

At the event, principals from the Nashua School District and volunteers will be distributing donating school supplies to attendees. Eye examinations will take place indoors, according to event organizers.

Additionally, Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), is scheduled to attend the event alongside a handful of local AFT leaders. The group is expected to distribute 6,000 free books to Nashua children and families as part of AFT's "Reading Opens the World" literacy initiative.

According to the AFT, the "Reading Opens the World" program is a 12-month, cross-country tour where 1 million books will be distributed.

Weingarten's stop in Nashua also is part of the AFT's "What Kids and Communities Need" campaign, which is designed to ensure that the needs of communities and investment in kids and public schools are at the forefront of the 2022 midterm elections.

Among those scheduled to attend the event with Weingarten are: Adam Marcoux, president of the Nashua Teachers Union, Deb Howes, president of AFT New Hampshire and Ryan Curran, president of Nashua Public Library Employees.