HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. – Henderson County Public Schools (HCPS) is proud to announce that Ashley McVey, Media Specialist at Mills River Elementary, has been named the 2024 HCPS Media Specialist of the Year. This prestigious recognition highlights Ms. McVey’s dedication to fostering a love for learning and literature within her school community, her commitment to students and staff, and her leadership in innovative media programs.
“I feel very blessed to get to do my dream job every day. There’s nothing better than captivating an audience of students through literature. I truly believe that all my students can learn to love reading as long as they can find books that interest them, and that’s where I come in,” said Ms. McVey.
Peers from Henderson County’s 23 schools nominate and vote for the Media Coordinator of the Year, ensuring the recipient exemplifies excellence in library services and media coordination across the district. To be eligible, nominees must be active members of the North Carolina School Library Media Association (NCSLMA). The NCSLMA is a professional organization dedicated to supporting, promoting, and empowering school librarians as they work to transform their school communities.
Principal Chad Auten praised Ms. McVey’s contributions to Mills River Elementary: “Ms. McVey is the heartbeat of our school. Her passion for literacy and creativity brings our library to life, and her efforts go far beyond traditional media services. We are incredibly lucky to have her at Mills River, and this award is a well-deserved recognition of her hard work and dedication.”
At Mills River Elementary, Ms. McVey has transformed the library into a vibrant, welcoming hub for both students and staff. She leads a monthly storybook tree project, where students and families decorate the tree to reflect the theme of a selected book. Additionally, she organizes the highly anticipated reading caves during Read Across America week, allowing students to enjoy reading in creatively designed “caves” made from various materials throughout the library. Beyond her library responsibilities, Ms. McVey plays a crucial role as one of the school’s social media managers, showcasing the exciting happenings at Mills River on Facebook and Instagram. She also serves as a teacher advisor for the student-led Falcon News, a daily broadcast that keeps the school informed with updates on weather, birthdays, events, lunch menus, and special features.
“We’re fortunate to have such passionate and innovative educators like Ashley McVey in our schools,” said Superintendent Mark R. Garrett. “Her dedication to her students, staff, and school library ensures that our media centers remain vital hubs of knowledge and creativity.”
