FREEVILLE, NY (607NewsNow) — Leanne Allen, who unexpectedly passed away on August 5th, 2026, served as a reading teacher for 28 years at Freeville Elementary School (FES).

During her time at FES, Leanne also acted as the Head Teacher for the school for several years, according to her obituary on Perkins Funeral Home’s website. A graduate of SUNY Geneseo with a major in English and a certification in elementary education, Leanne received a master’s degree in reading from SUNY Cortland and also completed post-master’s courses in Reading Recovery at Syracuse University.

Leanne had a passion for reading, teaching, and a dedication to her community. She was heavily involved in raising money for the Dryden softball program and was recognized in May 2018 as CBS5’s Educator of Excellence for the impact she made at FES.

The new Little Free Library has been added to the Little Free Library registry, a national nonprofit organization that aims to increase access to books for all. Located in front of the FES building next to the school’s sign, the plaque on the library reads, “In memory of Leanne Allen, who brought joy to so many.” 

Passersby can take a book for free and drop one off to help honor Leanne’s legacy in the community.