Hope Middle Media Center Uses Grant for Modern Transformation

The Hope Middle School Media Center, under the visionary leadership of media coordinator Tracie Below, was recently awarded a $56,838 grant from the West Memorial Fund to revitalize and modernize its learning space.

This competitive grant, authored by Below, funded a transformation of the school’s media center that was completed earlier this month and includes a new circulation desk, flexible 21st‑century furniture and a reimagined layout that supports collaboration, independent exploration and technology‑enhanced learning. The updated space is designed to serve as a vibrant hub where students and teachers can learn, create and engage more effectively than ever before.

"Our students deserve this space - a place they can feel proud of,” Below said. "The new design is more accessible and efficient, creating a smoother flow and a space where students truly want to be. I’ve been in this library for 20 years and have tried every configuration imaginable with the furniture we moved in with when the school was new. Now, the space feels vibrant and fun. Students have walked in saying, 'It’s so pretty!' and 'It feels like a college library!' Teachers are excited about the flexibility and how easily it adapts to their needs. I’m so grateful for the support that made this vision a reality."

The media center renovation builds on Pitt County Schools' ongoing initiative to create learning environments that inspire curiosity, innovation and a love of reading. The updated design encourages not only student engagement but also provides teachers with adaptable spaces for group projects, digital exploration and collaborative instruction.

Hope Middle is the fifth school within PCS to receive a grant to renovate and transform its media center in the past four years. Previous recipients include Falkland Elementary (May 2022), Ayden Elementary (October 2022), Wahl‑Coates Elementary School of the Arts (March 2023) and Bethel School (January 2025), respectively.