Baltimore Raven Michael Oher, Author of "I Beat the Odds," Coming To Prince Street Elementary Feb. 10th

Free Tickets Given Out Feb. 4th Michael Oher, Baltimore Raven and author of "I Beat the Odds," is coming to Prince Street Elementary School on Friday, Feb. 10th to take questions and sign books for students, staff, and the community. Oher's visit was announced at Prince Street Elementary at a news conference on Jan. 9, and revealed to students and staff at an assembly featuring the James M. Bennett High Drumline. The news was sure to generate excitement at Prince Street, where everyone from prekindergarten through grade 5 as well as staff members, have been learning about Mr. Oher's inspiring success story through study of his book "I Beat the Odds," published in 2011 and poised for paperback release on Feb. 7th. Prince Street is partnering with Barnes & Noble in Salisbury to have paperback "I Beat the Odds: From Homelessness to The Blind Side and Beyond" books at the school Feb. 10th for purchase and signing. Oher was a born into a poor family with a drug addicted mother, but even though the odds were stacked against him he had a burning desire to break out of poverty and into a better future. He spent years in foster care and struggled through homelessness, before finally finding his path to stability and success through football and a loving foster family. Part of his story was movingly told in the 2009 movie "The Blind Side." "You will find that this book is hard to put down," said Assistant Principal Jason Miller, who is coordinating Oher's visit and the book study. "It's one of the most heart wrenching books I have read in my life. As you read it, it will strengthen your understanding of the challenging communities where children are being raised today, including some of those communities in our own backyard." Oher's visit on Feb. 10th will focus on students during the day, followed by a public event at night. At both times, Oher will make brief comments, respond to questions submitted in advance, and sign paperback copies of his book. Anyone purchasing six copies of "I Beat the Odds" may also have a piece of memorabilia signed. He will not sign any other memorabilia at the public session, in order to serve as many people as possible. Feb. 10th, Public Event, 7 p.m.: -Tickets for the public event will be handed out at the school on Saturday, Feb. 4th, from 9 a.m.-noon. -Tickets are free, and up to four tickets will be given to each person in line. -The first 500 tickets will be for auditorium seating. An additional 700 tickets will be distributed for viewing the program in classrooms on a live video feed; Salisbury University football players will be on hand to assist in the classrooms. All ticketholders will have the opportunity to participate in the book signing. -People picking up tickets on Feb. 4th will have the opportunity to submit a question for Oher to answer when he visits. The public can also submit questions in advance at HYPERLINK "mailto:beatodds@wcboe.org" beatodds@wcboe.org. -Attendees are asked to bring three canned food items on Feb. 10th, which the Maryland Food Bank will be set up to receive. Oher struggled with hunger in his childhood, so it is fitting for those coming to hear about his story to help relieve hunger locally. -The James M. Bennett High Pep Band will be on hand Feb. 10th to pep up the crowd. Feb. 10th, School Event: Prior to a 1 p.m. assembly for Prince Street students in grades 3, 4, and 5, Oher will sign a copy of his book for every student, and pose for a photo with every class at Prince Street. Students will be preparing questions for Oher over the next couple of weeks. At the 1 p.m. assembly, he will make brief comments, then answer as many questions as time allows. Joining Prince Street for this very special event will be sixth-graders from Salisbury Middle and Pinehurst Elementary fourth- and fifth-graders, who have also been reading the book. The James M. Bennett High Pep Band will be on hand to add to the excitement. "We are thrilled to have Michael Oher coming to Prince Street. His visit will truly bring our book study to life, and we know that meeting him will add to the inspiration we have already had from reading his story," Miller said. "We're also excited that Prince Street is going to be able to open up this experience to the community, so that many more people will have the chance to learn about a successful NFL player who overcame tremendous odds to escape poverty and lack of a stable home. Through his story as told in "I Beat the Odds, we can all start to look more carefully for the Michael Ohers in our schools and communities who need our love and support."