BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Students of MacArthur Elementary School met a special visitor from the North Pole Thursday. Broome County Executive Debbie Preston, or Mrs. Claus as she was known today, visited the St. Thomas Aquinas School with Rowdy the Reindeer.

Rowdy normally hangs out at the North Pole with Santa and his cousin Rudolph, but wanted to visit the kids to learn about how to behave.

Filling in for Mrs. Claus, Preston read Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer to students and also handed out holiday themed-books and candy canes. She says she enjoys helping the kids get into the holiday spirit.

"I just wish I could do it for the whole county but my staff told me that's impossible, because that's something I love to do and I love to be with the kids," said Broome County Executive Debbie Preston.

The books were donated by the Penguin Book Group of Kirkwood.