Herbert tells Settlement Canyon Elementary students literacy is key to education Utah Gov. Gary Herbert spoke at a rally of students at Settlement Canyon Elementary in Tooele on Friday, bolstering their efforts to reach reading goals while fulfilling a promise made to the school’s teacher of the year.

“Reading is the most important thing you will ever learn,” Herbert said. “It is the gateway to learning.”

The students were gathered to celebrate progress towards a reading goal of 2.5 million minutes. Deidre Gladney, a first grade teacher at Settlement Canyon whose husband is Col. Gerald Gladney, Commander of Deseret Chemical Depot, met the governor at a change-of-command ceremony and invited him to speak at her school.

Gladney was surprised when she heard the governor had accepted her invitation.

Herbert entertained the students for 20 minutes while extolling the virtues of reading and answering questions. He said he started reading books in the third grade.

“I checked out Tom Sawyer from the Orem City Library and read it,” Herbert said. “It was fun, so I kept reading.”

Herbert asked the audience what they wanted to be when they grew up. There were a variety of answers such as doctor, lawyer, teacher and one zookeeper, to which Herbert replied, “That is kind of like what I do with the Legislature.”

Herbert said his goal as young man was to be a professional baseball player and play for the New York Yankees, but he didn’t make it. He said thanks to teachers that taught him how to love reading, he made a career out of real estate and he and his wife also own a daycare center.

“If you want a good job, get a good education,” Herbert said. “And reading is the key to a good education.”

One student asked Herbert if he still reads.

“I have to do a lot of reading in my job,” Herbert said. “There are legislative bills to read, reports, newspapers and magazines.”

Herbert said he also continues to read for fun.

“When I go on vacation, I bring a book with me,” Herbert said. “I also try to read a book a week.”

“How did you get to be governor,” asked another student.

“Do you know what serendipity means?” Herbert replied. “That, along with my work experience and getting involved in public service. I ran for and served for 14 years on the Utah County Commission, before being tapped by Gov. [Jon] Huntsman to be his partner on the campaign ticket.”

The school presented Herbert with a gift basket and he congratulated the students on the 1,198,932 minutes they had read towards their goal.

Tim Gillie: tgillie@tooeletranscript.com