Middle Road Elementary School welcomed well-known writer and New York Times bestselling author John Schu to campus on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, for a day of inspiration and encouragement.

Throughout the day, Schu held assemblies with the Eagles’ first- through fifth-graders, where he explored his childhood and adult life, the experiences that shaped him, and led entertaining participation segments for students and teachers alike.

SEE MORE PHOTOS: PGCPS on Flickr

His educational background, earning a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and master's degrees in teaching and leadership, along with library and information science, served him well during his presentations. Alongside his energetic presentations, Schu gave students and teachers free books for participating in fun activities during his visit, and they had the opportunity to chat one-on-one with Schu during a book signing event after their class presentations.

This year's visit saw students receiving their own signed copies of The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, a book close to Schu's heart that recounts the true story of a captive silverback gorilla named Ivan, told from Ivan's point of view. 

This visit marks the second time Schu has visited Prince George County Public Schools' campuses. During the 2025-26 School Year, Schu visited South Elementary, L.L. Beazley Elementary, and David A. Harrison Elementary for similar reading and meet-and-greet events.

To see more photos from John Schu's visit to Prince George County, visit PGCPS' Flickr channel.