Library Media Awards

2018 Library Media Awards

Pitt County Schools is proud to announce its School Library Media Award recipients for 2018.  Anitra Cook, media coordinator at Sugg and Bundy Elementary Schools is this year's Media Coordinator of the Year. Principal Allison Setser states in Ms. Cook's nomination packet, "Ms. Cook is able to instill a passion for reading in our students, sparks creativity in them, and provides innovative approaches to meaningful and engaged learning."  Ms. Cook is also credited with being a valued leader who is forward thinking and depended upon for contributing to school-wide decision making while creating a risk-free environment where students are challenged to learn in new ways.   

This year's Media Administrator of the Year is Mr. Robert Johnson, principal of Eastern Elementary School. He was nominated by the school's media coordinator, Mrs. Sharon Crockett, who praised him for his vision and enthusiasm in building the STEM-focused initiative at Eastern. Mr. Johnson provides ample funding to launch and sustain programs such as LEGO League, the FLLocK of Eagles Robotics team, and a computer literacy program initiated by Mrs. Crockett. He demonstrates the importance of reading and literacy by sponsoring a staff book club and providing books for monthly character-education class read-alouds.  Both Ms. Cook and Mr. Johnson are well-deserving of these awards and will represent Pitt County at the state level.

2017 Media Awards  

Pitt County Schools recently announced its 2017 Library Media Award recipients.

Delane Fuquay, media coordinator at Farmville Middle School, has been chosen for Media Coordinator of the Year. Ms. Fuquay keeps the saying "The library is the biggest classroom in the school" posted on her desk as a reminder to herself to strive to be a leader that blends all aspects of learning for the benefit of her students and staff. Ms. Fuquay wears many hats at her school, such as lead mentor, National Junior Honor Society sponsor, and school webmaster. She also serves on the Literacy Team, the School Leadership Team and the Instructional Team.  This year's Media Administrator of the Year is Ms. Allison Setser of Sugg and Bundy Elementary Schools. Anitra Cook, the schools' media coordinator, nominated Ms. Setser for her leadership in providing funding for improvements to the collection and the media center's physical space, supporting innovative initiatives and literacy promotion, and building community support. Both Ms. Fuquay and Ms. Setser will be strong candidates to represent PCS at the state level.

2016 Media Awards

Jana Bullard has been announced as the 2016 Media Coordinator of the Year. Ms. Bullard has been the media coordinator at D.H. Conley High School for the past five years. Ms. Bullard works diligently to help teachers integrate technology and information skills into all areas of the curriculum and help students connect with books they can relate to. She strives to make an impact on teaching and learning at D.H.Conley. The district's Media Administrator of the Year is Charlie Langley of C. M. Eppes Middle School. Nominated by media coordinator Amelia White, Mr. Langley is lauded for bringing vision and leadership to the library media program, spearheading the creation of a Makerspace environment, while continuing to support innovative reading promotions and collaboration between teachers and the media coordinator. Mr. Langley and Ms. Bullard will represent Pitt County as nominees for the state awards.
 
 We are proud of both of these deserving honorees! 
 

 2015 Media Awards

Meredith Hill of Creekside Elementary has been named this year's Media Coordinator of the Year and Jennifer Poplin of Hope Middle School is this year's Media Administrator of the Year.

 
In her nomination packet, Ms. Hill explains that her role allows her to create an environment where "all stakeholders are valued and have the opportunity to learn, think, and grow, to become more than they were before they entered. A place where everyone can find themselves and find the value in others."  Of her job as school librarian she shares, "Introducing children to literature, helping teachers locate resources, working with administrators to provide a strong media program, guiding parents how to help their children with reading, and co-teaching with staff to meet the instructional and technological needs of the students feed my desire to help others." Ms. Hill has been the media coordinator at Creekside for seven years and was previously a Reading Recovery teacher.
 
Jennifer Poplin has worked in education for 27 years, as a teacher, lead teacher, and administrator. Nominated by her media coordinator, Tracie Below, she is described as "a champion" for the school library program. Mrs. Poplin is supportive of the school library's efforts to encourage reading and makes sure the media program has the resources needed to implement innovative and engaging programs, initiatives, and activities. Walking the halls at Hope, you are likely to find Mrs. Poplin interacting with students about the books they have read and what they are learning.
 
Ms. Hill and Mrs. Poplin will represent Pitt County Schools well as nominees for the NC School Library Media Association Awards. The state winners are announced at the annual NCSLMA conference in October.

2014 Media Coordinator of the Year Award

  Vanessa Sasser, media coordinator at Wintergreen Primary School, has been selected as Pitt County School's Media Coordinator of the Year. Ms. Sasser is being recognized for her innovation as an educator, genuine concern for student achievement, and flexibility in working with student and teachers. She demonstrates a high level of professional commitment and graciously gives of her time beyond the hours of the school day.  In addition to teaching seven to eight media classes a day, she is the school's technology guru and resource specialist, constantly striving to meet the learning needs of her school community.  Vanessa has demonstrated leadership by providing staff development to teachers and teacher assistants on various technologies. Within the district, she frequently shares model lessons with her peers, has presented SMART Notebook Tech Fest sessions as a certified trainer, and is piloting ebooks for instructional use.  Vanessa has been the media coordinator at Wintergreen Primary for eight years and was previously a teacher at D. H. Conley High School.  Ms. Sasser will be nominated by Pitt County Schools for the NC School Library Media Association Media Coordinator of the Year Award. 

2013 Media Awards

Katie Richardson, Media Coordinator of the Year		Ferdonia Stewart, Media Administrator of the year

Katie Richardson, media coordinator at Pactolus School, has been selected as Pitt County School's Media Coordinator of the Year. In Ms. Richardson's nomination packet instructional coach Kate Moore states, "Katie has transformed our media center into a thriving 21st Century center for learning."  Katie's leadership abilities made her a stand-out candidate.  She has gone beyond the call of duty by serving on the district Media and Technology Committee, chairing the school's School Improvement Team, serving as the Region I Battle of the Books Coordinator. Last summer she attended the Library of Congress Teacher Summer Institute and has shared the knowledge she gained across the district.  Katie has been the media coordinator at Pactolus for seven years and was previously a teacher at Grifton School.
 
Ferdonia Stewart, principal of Ridgewood Elementary is being honored as this year's Media Administrator of the Year.  In her nomination form,  media coordinator Angie Egerton states, "Mrs. Stewart encourages all staff members to examine the Information and Technology Essential Skills and embed the skills in the instructional program . . .Teachers and students have a clear understanding of the skills needed as students progress through the grade levels."  Furthermore, she "supports both print and non-print needs of the media collection and has focused on creating an outstanding collection . . . to support varied learning needs." Ms. Stewart has been principal at Ridgewood Elementary for three years and served previously as principal at Sadie Salter Elementary, and assistant principal at Chicod School and Ayden Middle School.
 
 Ms. Richardson and Ms. Stewart will represent Pitt County Schools at the state level.

Past Winners