Shelia Powers, a English teacher at Portersville Christian School holds some books her mother gave her when is was young and share them her students in her class.

PORTERSVILLE — From Mother Goose to “Les Miserables,” Sheila Powers' mother made sure she was well-versed in the classics.

“The greatest gift that my mother bestowed upon me is a love of reading,” said Powers.

Her late mother, Dorothy McClelland, kept a large assortment of literature in the house and set a great example by reading voraciously.

“Mom read constantly and rapidly, devouring three to four books a week,” she said. “Mystery novels were her favorites, but she also read historical fiction, biographies and poetry.”

Powers' mother often bought books especially for her, from Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys to more challenging volumes. Her lifelong love for the written word has stayed with her, and she now teaches English at Portersville Christian School.

“Much of the literature that I teach, I use every year, and I never get tired of it,” said Powers, whose students read classics like “Cyrano de Bergerac,” “The Great Gatsby” and “Julius Caesar.”

Powers also keeps a classroom library of books given to her by her mother, and lends them out to her students.

When Powers became a mother herself, she read old favorites like “Blueberries for Sal” and “When Ira Sleeps Over” in hopes of fostering a love of literature in her four daughters.

In fact, her youngest daughter, Bridgette, is studying English literature at Slippery Rock University with the goal of completing her doctorate.

“We're a reading family,” said Powers, who especially loves sharing stories like “Wherever You Are, My Love Will Find You” with her granddaughter Jaelyn, 7.

“I am so grateful for the love of reading that (my mother) instilled in me as a child,” Powers said.