WASHINGTON -- The principal and two teachers from Two Rivers' Koenig Elementary School will receive honors Friday in Washington from Reading Is Fundamental (RIF), the nation's largest children's literacy organization.

Koenig's principal, Lisa Quistorf of Two Rivers, along with teachers Mary Brigham of Mishicot and Jolene McMahon of DePere, visited Rep. Tom Petri Thursday in his Washington office to discuss child literacy.

"Reading Is Fundamental is about motivating children, getting books in their hands and getting the community involved in making sure that our kids develop life-long learning skills," explained Quistorf. She said that the RIF program at Koenig Elementary School is being honored as a program of excellence. "We were the state champions two years ago. Last year we were the national champions," she said.

Left to Right: Mary Brigham, Lisa Quistorf, Rep. Tom Petri, and Jolene McMahon in Rep. Petri's Washington office.

"All across our country, parents and schools are struggling to figure out how to give young children opportunity by, among other things, making them not only read to grade level, but ahead of grade level because that opens up the world to them," Petri said. "I'm so happy that the Koenig school in Two Rivers is leading the way not only in Wisconsin but in the whole United States in this national effort."