Through a combination of grants and parental support, library media specialist Barbara Ashby has transformed the library at George J. West Elementary School in Providence into a 21st century multimedia center with a full range of resources for research, recreational reading and technological mastery. Chair of the School Improvement Team, Mrs. Ashby received a grant to support Individual Professional Development Plans (IPDP) for teachers at West Elementary, developed district frameworks for information literacy, and collaborated on state guidelines for the use of IPDPs in teacher re-certification. She recently developed "Grow Your Own Librarian," a nationally recognized program to recruit, train and mentor certified teachers as library media specialists to fill vacancies resulting from a national shortage of school librarians.
Upon retirement she worked with The Center for Civic Education to provide training for teachers that focused on civics and integrating civic education into reading instruction. Mrs. Ashby also worked with The Rhode Island Library and Information Network for Kids (RILINK) to support school libraries, library media specialists, teachers, staff, and students with shared resources and training in partnership with the entire educational community.
1971 Salisbury State University, B.A.
