Holly Springs Elementary School Media Specialist Kerry Harbin has been named the 2024 Douglas County School System Library Media Specialist of the Year.
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Chelsie Goodman and Holly Springs Principal Dr. Sherritta Abell surprised Harbin with the award and a celebratory bouquet of flowers on Wednesday.
Superintendent Trent North praised Harbin for her dedication to fostering a culture of reading and learning at her school.
“We are thrilled to celebrate Kerry Harbin being named the DCSS Media Specialist of the Year,” North said. “Ms. Harbin’s dedication to fostering a culture of reading and learning has set a standard of excellence for our students. Every day, her contributions and enthusiasm inspire a new generation of eager readers. We are proud of her impact on her school community and thank her for her value and commitment to excellence in education.”
Harbin has been an educator for more than 20 years and has served as a media specialist for nearly 18 years. She was previously named DCSS Library Media Specialist of the Year in 2017.
She said she believes the “Media Center is the heart of the school” and that she has worked “extremely hard to curate a warm welcoming environment.”
Harbin said one of the ways she strives to create a culture of reading at Holly Springs is by sharing diverse stories with students, which she said “makes a positive impact because it builds the trust between us and shows that I have empathy for all of our students’ backgrounds.”
“One of the greatest feelings as a Media Specialist is having a student come ask you for a second book recommendation,” Harbin said.
Harbin will now compete at the Regional Level in the Georgia School Library Media Specialist of the Year contest. Georgia Library Media Association sponsors the statewide competition, recognizing K-12 library media specialists with dynamic, innovative programs and whose instructional collaborations foster student engagement and achievement.