The children at Pleasant Valley Elementary School had a visit from Miss Pennsylvania on Thursday.

While there, Miss Pennsylvania Page Weinstein read a book to groups of children throughout the day. In all, she read to more than 900 students.

“It’s just been really sweet,” Weinstein said about visiting the youngsters.

After greeting the children, Weinstein asked them a few questions about Pennsylvania and our country. She asked them if they knew what the Fourth of July is about, and explained it is the birthday of our country. We will celebrate its 250th birthday on July 4, 2026.

“My job as Miss Pennsylvania is to share how great our state is, because Pennsylvania is the birthplace of America,” Weinstein said. “Some really cool things happened in Pennsylvania. We have a lot of history. We have a lot of great inventions, and so that’s what I’m going to read to you today.”

For the kindergartners, Weinstein read an alphabet book titled, “K is for Keystone” by Kristen Kane. It is part of the Discover America State by State series. The book highlights information about Pennsylvania including Crayola, Fallingwater designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, Ben Franklin’s inventions, the Liberty Bell, Abraham Lincoln in Gettysburg, and Punxsutawney Phil the groundhog.

Weinstein also told them about how she wanted to become Miss Pennsylvania ever since she was a little girl. She said she worked very hard and competed six times for the title, which is a job she takes very seriously.

“I have the incredible opportunity to be a leader, and to be a role model to the younger generation, and I don’t take that lightly,” Weinstein said in an interview. “It comes with a lot of responsibilities to be able to have that impact, and hopefully inspire these children to become leaders in our community is incredible.”

Weinstein asked the kindergartners if they had any questions for her, to which hands sprang up all over the place. One asked her if she has a knight and does she live in a castle? The tiara might have had something to do with those questions.

Other children asked how old she was. When she said 27, the reaction was a gasp. Equally stunning to the children was that she would be traveling four hours to get back home to Pittsburgh.

Reading teacher Suzanne Burnett was in charge of helping Miss Pennsylvania with whatever she would need during her visit. Burnett said she was pleased that Weinstein was going over the concepts of kindness and working hard.

“She’s doing a great job on making the connection on what we are trying to instill in the children here — being kind and respectful,” Burnett said.

Miss Pennsylvania was in the area not only to visit children in the schools, but also to attend the 189th anniversary of the founding of Monroe County on April 1. County Commissioner David Parker had invited her to the events, which also promoted the upcoming America250PA celebration.

“It’s great,” Parker, who was also at the school, said about her visit. “It was nice that Miss Pennsylvania gave us three days here in Monroe County.”

Parker thanked the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau for sponsoring Miss Pennsylvania during her stay and The Penn Stroud Hotel for providing accommodations.

To learn more about America250PA Monroe County, or ways to volunteer or donate, can find more information at www.mc250pa.org.