CCSD Library Media Education
Erin Baker: 2023-2024 Cobb Library Media specialist of the year!
Mrs. Erin Baker earned Library Media Specialist of the Year because her entire career reflects an extraordinary record of leadership, innovation, service, and sustained impact on student learning. Across more than two decades, she has distinguished herself through exemplary teaching and extensive leadership roles at the school, district, and state levels. Her work includes mentoring colleagues, chairing legislative and advocacy committees, serving on strategic school teams, leading technology integration, and presenting professional learning to educators statewide. She has transformed her library into a vibrant, inclusive learning hub, expanded reading culture through creative programming, and championed digital literacy through dynamic, collaborative instruction. Erin’s dedication to student achievement, her commitment to strong library programs and access, her passion for literacy and advocacy, and her consistent recognition—from Teacher of the Year to multiple LMSOTY nominations—exemplify her exceptional contributions to the library profession and her school community.
Peggy Clay is the 2022 Cobb Library Media Specialist of the Year!
Peggy (Margaret) Clay has been named Cobb County’s Library Media Specialist of the Year for 2022. Peggy is the Library Media Specialist at Acworth Elementary School where she began her library career in Cobb County twelve years ago. During her career at Acworth, Peggy has served on many committees and received several certifications to support not only her school, but also the Library Media Specialist profession in Cobb, including the CCSD Library Media Leadership Team, MIE Certification 2018, CCSD STEM Certified School, Nearpod Certification, Acworth Leadership Team, Acworth Technology Team Lead, Acworth Principal’s Advisory Council, Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Coach, and Cobb County Association of Library Media Specialists (CCALMS) Board Secretary.
When asked about her mission and vision as a Library Media Specialist, Peggy stated, “I believe that in life and work I should use my talents to the best of my ability and work hard every day to be a force for good. I believe that passion in learning and positivity and open-mindedness can make anyone successful. And, I believe that ANYONE can be successful. That is what I want my students to know about me and my expectations of them. I love what I do every day as a teacher librarian!” Peggy talked about her love for collaboration with teachers. In regards to the past two years, she stated, “Today’s environment in school is very demanding for teachers. They are having to make up for lost time during the last two educational years for students. I am lucky that my teachers trust my ability to plan curriculum-based lessons that introduce standards, reinforce classroom learning, or build on what they have learned by integrating research or technology. I think an attitude that focuses on effort, positivity, and trust is what creates successful collaborative partnerships at my school.” As a Library Media Specialist, the role of reading and promoting a culture of reading at our school is very important. When asked about the role of reading at Acworth, Peggy said, “I believe that one of the ways that I promote reading here is by showing my passion for reading. I recommend books constantly to individual students and do book talks at the shelves. I love the detective work it takes to try and find that one special book that may make a reader out of a student that has struggled to make a choice. We have genrefied our fiction section and that is an area that I focus on with book talks…..’what is the last book you REALLY enjoyed reading?’ We go to that section and I start book talking! I usually pull 3 books and then leave them to decide. I read about 3 of the books in our fiction collection a month and that really helps. I use many picture books during my lessons, and this always motivates students to consider those books or authors to read. Read aloud time is my absolute favorite way to promote reading. I am always amazed at the reaction to a read aloud here……usually it is a round of applause! Other ways that I work to promote a culture of reading is the Book of the Week segment on the news, a Teacher Book Reading Group, and a fifth-grade weekly advanced reading small group.” Congratulations to Peggy Clay for earning the title of 2022 Cobb Library Media Specialist of the Year! Peggy will move on to compete for the title of Metro Atlanta Regional Library Media Specialist of the Year. Dr. Valerie Bryan is the 2021 Cobb library media specialist of the year!
Dr. Valerie Bryan is the 2021 Cobb County Media Specialist of the Year! Dr. Bryan has been an educator for 20 years, serving as library media specialist for 14 of those years. Her library media program was recognized as an Exemplary Library Media Program by the Georgia Library Media Association in 2017. She is a library media leader, serving on the CCSD Media Leadership Team and the Cobb County Association of Library Media Specialists.
Dr. Bryan states, "my mission as a Library Media Specialist (LMS) is to support a culture of learning and student success, which is connected to our school mission 'a community of learners committed to student success.' To accomplish this, I provide resources and instruction to strengthen multiple literacies and advance students' skills using information and communication technologies."
"I strive for the vision of preparing all graduates to use information and communication technologies to support life-long learning, earning, and change-making, says Dr. Bryan. My philosophy is that students learn essential life-enhancing skills when they are empowered to advocate for themselves, and others, using credible information and effective communication skills that support participation in our digital society." Congratulations to Dr. Valerie Bryan on earning the title of Cobb Library Media Specialist of the Year!" Award-winning programsIn a year full of unusual challenges, the Library Media Education team was hard at work for the students and teachers of Cobb. View the video below to see some of our 2019-2020 accomplishments!
Also, check out this Cobbcast article about how library media specialists continue to encourage a love of reading and learning during digital learning days.
ANITA FOSTER, CINDY FORD, and Kelly Colvin NAMED 2020 JUDY SERRITELLA MEDIA AWARD WINNERS!
Georgia Library Media Association's announcement of the 2020 Judy Serritella Exemplary Media Program Award winners.
Anita Foster and Cindy Ford, media specialists in the Cobb County School District, have each been awarded the 2020 Judy Serritella Media Program award winners. Foster, media specialist at Awtrey Middle School, received the Exemplary award. Ford, media Specialist at Hillgrove High School, received the Exceptional award. The award was created to recognize library media programs that empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information both in vision and in practice. Exceptional library media programs are ones that demonstrate these characteristics in a consistent and effective manner. Exemplary library media programs go one step beyond and are a model for innovation, student empowerment, and leadership in the school library community. The Georgia Library Media Association (GLMA) will recognize and honor three exemplary and three exceptional Georgia Library Media Programs (one from each level). (Source: GLMA website) INGRID HANSON AWARDED GRANT FOR ENRICHMENT BOOK CLUB
Georgia Library Media Association's announcement of Ingrid Hanson's award.
Ingrid Hanson, library media specialist at Lindley 6th Grade Academy, has been awarded with the Mable Wyche Underwood Grant for her enrichment book club.
The grant, given by the Georgia Library Media Association, allows building-level library media specialists to develop, design, implement or continue an ongoing program that promotes the use of the library media center in the instructional program. Hanson will receive $880 for books and audiobooks to add to Lindley 6th Grade Academy's enrichment book club. The book club identifies students with the potential for reading growth and provides them a positive, supportive, book club environment to read and discuss books weekly. Ashley Sherman named 2020 GEORGIA Library MEdia Specialist of the Year!
Melissa Fakalaris, Assistant Principal at Frey ES (left), and Ashley Sherman, library media specialist at Frey ES (right). Cobbcast article link. Marietta Daily Journal article link
Ashley Sherman, media specialist at Frey Elementary School in Acworth, has been selected as Cobb County Media Specialist of the Year. Ashley has also won Regional Library Media Specialist of the Year for Metro Atlanta.
Update: In June 2020, Ashley was named the GEORGIA Library Media Specialist of the Year! Congratulations to Ashley for this well-deserved and amazing honor! Sherman is a graduate of Kennesaw State University, receiving bachelors in English Education, Master of Library Science and Education Specialist degrees from there. Sherman has made contributions to her community as a Kennesaw State Recruitment Adviser, Cobb County Association of Library Media Specialists former President and board member, Cobb County Regional Technology Competition Judge, Cobb Helen Ruffin Reading Bowl Committee member, and Cobb County Media Leadership Team member/contributor. Sherman has made presentations at the 2013, 2016, and 2019 GaETC Conference. She is a 2016 GLMA Mable Wyche Grant Recipient and a 2018 GLMA Judy Serritella Exemplary Library Media Program Recipient and is currently serving as the GLMA Twitter co-chair. Certifications that Ms. Sherman has achieved are: NewsELA Educator and Microsoft Innovative Educator. Her library media program at Frey has received Cobb County Library Learning Commons Certification. Library LEarning Commons Wondering what's possible in a Library Learning Commons? Check out this short video of the Sope Creek ES Learning Commons. You'll be amazed to see what students can do! Special thanks to Megin Robinson, Sope Creek Library Media Specialist, and Hannah Bentley, 5th grade AC teacher. First New Library Learning Commons
Cobb County School District's first brand-new Library Learning Commons opened in 2017-2018 at Mountain View Elementary School.
Check it out with this visual tour! Special thanks to Jami O'Connor, library media specialist at Mountain View ES. 
The school library media centers in Cobb are transforming in both instructional practice and physical design. As Future-Ready Librarians, we integrate the Cobb Teaching and Learning Standards with technology and creativity in a co-teaching model. Through building relationships school-wide, library media specialists are uniquely poised to "lead from the middle" as we work toward building reading culture and digital literacy in your school.
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About Us
The CCSD Library Media Education department consists of over 100 library media specialists, over 100 library media parapros, a district supervisor, and a part-time secretary.
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