Macedonia Educator Named Media Specialist Of The Year

Editor's note: the following was submitted by the Cherokee County School District

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MACEDONIA, GA -- When Macedonia Elementary School Media Specialist Jennifer Rice wanted to “change up” what she was doing as a classroom teacher, she didn’t envision that it would lead to her true calling.

Instead of moving from one grade level to another, she moved from a traditional classroom to the media center.

And on Friday, March 4, she was surprised in the media center that she now calls her classroom by the Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower, family and colleagues, who surprised her with the announcement that she is the 2016 Cherokee County School District Media Specialist of the Year.

She now will represent the district in the state-level competition.

“If you would have asked me what my dream career was, I would have said three: media specialist, event planner or prop builder,” she said, and then gestured around the media center, which was decked out for a Read Across America event with plenty of colorful props. “I really feel like this is the place I’m supposed to be.”

Dr. Hightower in making the presentation praised Rice for the energy and passion that she brings to her work.

“I believe in passionate educators,” he said. “You don’t just need a passionate educator in the classroom, you need them in the cafeteria, the front office, the media center – and Jennifer, you embody that.”

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He went on to detail for the crowd of well-wishers the way that Rice has transformed the center. She not only has increased the annual circulation numbers from 30,000 to more than 70,000, but created a “cabin” reading room for reading “camp-outs” and increased PTA involvement.

As she accepted her award, parent and student volunteers quietly worked their way up and down aisles, shelving books and creating displays. A new project she’s embarking on, Books on the Bus, will bring a mobile library to low-income students who receive free lunches delivered to their neighborhoods during the summer break.

“You empower people and you engage kids…to me, this is what media specialist is all about in the 21st Century,” Dr. Hightower said.

A graduate of Georgia College & State University, where she earned bachelor’s, master’s and specialist degrees in education, Rice, in addition to her traditional media specialist responsibilities, also organizes the school’s reading bowl team, spelling bee and student news team. She recently was named to the Georgia Children’s Picturebook Award Committee for a three-year appointment.

Principal Tammy Castleberry applauds Rice for seeing not only students as her customers.

“She touches every child and every teachers in this school,” Principal Castleberry said, noting Rice’s programs for teachers such as monthly Tech Tuesday programs to introduce them to new instructional technology. The school book fairs, she added, also have been transformed by Ms. Rice into significant fundraisers that also increase literary, with $120,000 in books sold so far.

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PHOTO 1: Macedonia Elementary School Media Specialist Jennifer Rice is surprised on March 4, 2016, with the announcement by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower that she has been selected as the 2016 Cherokee County School District Media Specialist of the Year.
PHOTO 2: Macedonia Elementary School Media Specialist Jennifer Rice is the 2016 Cherokee County School District Media Specialist of the Year.
PHOTO 3: Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower congratulates Cherokee County School District Media Specialist of the Year Jennifer Rice and presents her with flowers.
PHOTO 4: Macedonia ES Principal Tammy Castleberry presents Media Specialist Jennifer Rice with a cake and an etched glass memento in honor of her recognition as the 2016 Cherokee County School District Media Specialist of the Year.
PHOTO 5: Jennifer Rice's family was invited to be part of the surprise Cherokee County School District Media Specialist of the Year announcement. From left, parents, Harmon and Sarah Moody; Ms. Rice; daughter, Olivia Bono; and sister, Susan Jackson.
PHOTO 6: Cherokee County School District Media Specialist of the Year Jennifer Rice and her celebratory book-shaped cake.
Photo credits: Cherokee County School District