This year, a beloved and familiar presence made the event even more special – iconic character standees, books and activities from Sesame Street, courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
The 2023 West Virginia Book Festival came to life in Charleston, as book lovers of all ages flocked to the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center.
This year, a beloved and familiar presence made the event even more special – iconic character standees, books and activities from Sesame Street, courtesy of West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB).
Reading took center stage in this year’s festival as WVPB distributed hundreds of free books to children of all ages. But the festivities extended far beyond the world of books.
Families were treated to a day filled with creative crafts, engaging games, and invaluable information about learning opportunities for children. The event was not merely about reading; it was about celebrating the joy of learning and the endless possibilities that come with it.
Learn more about WVPB Education and how our team strives to educate, inform and inspire.
Christie Meadows, a fifth grade teacher at Glenwood School, Mercer County has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for May, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.
Christie Meadows, a fifth grade teacher at Glenwood School, Mercer County has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for May, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.
Meadows was presented the award by WVPB’s Education Specialist Autumn Meadows. Christie Meadows received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The award is sponsored by the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State.
Meadows has been a full-time teacher for 20 years and an educator for 26. She knew since she was a child playing school at home that she wanted to be a teacher. Her dedication to the profession and her students shows both in the classroom and in the community.
In the classroom, Meadows makes an effort to involve parents. Throughout the year she will bring them into the classroom to do things like crafts and in the past, she would do a career day for parents to volunteer to come in and present. Meadows said it’s important to include parents so that they can see what their child is experiencing at school and for the students to see their parents involved.
Meadows also goes above and beyond with classroom projects that engage the students but also reinforce skills taught and learned. Students would complete scavenger hunts, create PowerPoints, and participate in different experiments that involved melting holiday candies. In years past, they also wrote books as a class that were published for the students. This year, they had the opportunity to have pen pals in California and after a yearlong correspondence they got to virtually meet over ZOOM.
Meadows’ dedication reaches outside the classroom by showing the students the impact they can have in their community. They’ve collected and made stockings for local nursing homes, collected food and items for animal shelters, made cards for veterans, and this year they also fixed a meal for Amy’s House of Hope which provides meals to unhoused people in the community.
Meadows also practiced inclusivity by making sure her class did fun activities with students with disabilities not in the general education classrooms, such as bingo, Easter egg hunts, crafts and snacks. She said all these activities are her favorites. Meadows said, “I want them to see that not everyone has what they do and teaches them to put others before themselves. The kids look forward to these activities and truly enjoy helping others. They ask, ‘What else can we do?’”
“I love teaching,” said Meadows, “I love when you see a student who struggles begin to understand a concept. I love when they are willing to do things for others and not just themselves. I love watching students grow not just academically but socially and personally as well.”
Each month, WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia. If you know of a deserving teacher that goes “Above and Beyond,” please click here to nominate them.
As part of the Above and Beyond program, WVPB and the West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office will be hosting a Jurassic Jamboree at Marion County Public Library this Saturday, Aug. 5 with free goodies and a meet and greet with Buddy from the PBS KIDS show Dinosaur Train.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) and the West Virginia Treasurer’s Office invite you to attend our Jurassic Jamboree, story time and photos with Buddy the Dinosaur.
CHARLESTON, WV: West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) and the West Virginia Treasurer’s Office invite you to attend our Jurassic Jamboree, story time and photos with Buddy the Dinosaur.
The event will take place in Fairmont at the Marion County Public Library, Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m – 1:00 p.m.
“It is a pleasure to work with the State Treasurer’s Office and the Marion County Library staff to bring this wonderful day of literacy and fun to the local community,” shared WVPB Education Director Maggie Holley. “We hope that families come out to get a photo with our Dinosaur Train character and enjoy the story time.”
The Marion County Public Library is located at 321 Monroe Street in Fairmont.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) has teamed up with the Zoology Zone and Science Center in Hurricane to kick off their Back-to-School Summer Camp for kids ages 6-11 years old.
CHARLESTON, WV: West Virginia Public Broadcasting (WVPB) has teamed up with the Zoology Zone and Science Center in Hurricane to kick off their Back-to-School Summer Camp for kids ages 6-11 years old.
The WVPB Education Team will be onsite Wednesday, Aug. 2 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Campers will be participating in hands on activities, including exploring, experimenting, and learning about reptiles and amphibians. WVPB will share a Wild Kratts activity, a Wild Kratts photo standee and PBS KIDS learning materials to take home.
To learn more or register for the Summer Camp, go to the website, zoologyzone.org/summer-camp-2023 or call (833) ZOO-ZONE or (304) 397-1111.
Visit our website and see more WVPB Education news, events, and updates. You can also explore PBS LearningMedia, our free online source offering educational videos, interactives, lesson plans and more. Go online at https://www.wvpublic.org/wvpb-education.
Amy Taylor, a Nationally Board Certified English teacher at Midland Trail High School in Fayette County, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for April, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.
Amy Taylor, a Nationally Board Certified English teacher at Midland Trail High School in Fayette County, has earned West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Above and Beyond Award for April, which recognizes excellence and creativity of Mountain State teachers.
Taylor was presented the award by WVPB’s Education Director Maggie Holley. Taylor received a monetary award and a signature Blenko Glass blue apple paperweight. The award is sponsored by the West Virginia State Treasurers’ Office, presenter of the SMART529 college savings program in the Mountain State.
Taylor not only teaches English, but for the last nine years, has also been a part of the Early Enrollment program that offers students the opportunity to complete several pre-requisite college courses. At Midland Trail High School, she teaches English 101/102 for WVU Tech and Glenville State with an additional 12 sections online at the University of Charleston.
She said, “Between the West Virginia Invests Grant, Grow Your Own, and Early Enrollment programs, West Virginia schools, especially Midland Trail, have built and sustained outstanding opportunities for our students to find a life and career they can be proud of.”
Taylor goes above and beyond in the classroom engaging students with one of her favorite units. She begins the year with an Appalachian unit using two local memoirs that discuss poverty and adversity in West Virginia – facing many challenges and experiences that her students can relate to in their own lives. After reading one of these memoirs, Taylor brings the author to the classroom for face-to-face questions and interactions providing a powerful experience for the students. Taylor said this unit reinforces the importance of resilience.
Not only does Taylor go above and beyond in the classroom, but also in the community. She tutors after school, volunteers to work gates at sporting events, attends students’ events, helps plan and chaperone prom, and mentors teachers.
Taylor’s nominator, Michelle Moirai said, “I’ve never known any human who puts in the hours behind the scenes that this woman does. I honestly have no idea how she does it.”
Taylor said that being an active member in the community and school is important to building rapport with students and families. “Students look for us in the stands and audience just as much as they do their families; we are their family at Midland Trail.”
When Taylor was asked what she loves and enjoys most about teaching, she said hands down that she loves the lasting relationships.
“When my seniors walk across the stage, as they just did recently, I always tell them that our relationship doesn’t end at that moment… I just shift from teacher to mentor,” she said. “Knowing that so many remain in contact, through college and life’s events, shows me that my small part in their story planted a seed that grew into something great.”
Each month, WVPB has an esteemed panel of judges that select one deserving teacher who goes above and beyond for the students in West Virginia. If you know of a deserving teacher that goes “Above and Beyond,” please click here to nominate them.
West Virginia Public Broadcasting Education Director Maggie Holley has been named to The State Journal‘s Generation Next: 40 Under 40 for 2023. Holley was chosen for her commitment to expanding public broadcasting’s education and reading initiatives throughout the state in her role as the WVPB education director.
CHARLESTON, WV: West Virginia Public Broadcasting Education Director Maggie Holley has been named to The State Journal‘s Generation Next: 40 Under 40 for 2023. Holley was chosen for her commitment to expanding public broadcasting’s education and reading initiatives throughout the state in her role as the WVPB education director.
For the past 18 years, The State Journal‘s Generation Next: 40 Under 40 has recognized outstanding young professionals who work and volunteer to make West Virginia a better place. As the newspaper puts it, “As West Virginia continues to stare down hard times, it will be the innovations and energy from Generation Next that carries the state to prosperity.”
“Maggie Holley came to work at West Virginia Public Broadcasting in January 2022 as our education director and things haven’t been the same since,” said Butch Antolini, WVPB chief executive officer and executive director. “Her positive impact on education throughout the entire state has been experienced by educators across West Virginia and the multitude of programs she and her staff have initiated are providing our children with incredible learning opportunities that weren’t previously available. She is in high demand as a result of her work and most deserving of this recognition from The State Journal.”
Maggie Holley was born and raised in Floyd County, Kentucky, spending 16 years in education, including nine years as a middle school science teacher and six years in public school administration. She taught in Roane and Fayette counties and served as a principal at schools in Roane, Jackson and Kanawha counties.
Holley is currently a resident of Jackson County, balancing work as a wife, mother, and active local church member. As one of five daughters growing up in a coal mining family, Holley credits her parents for her work ethic.
“My parents instilled in me the value of hard work and education when our rural community offered limited opportunities and many obstacles,” shared Holley. “My passion in my current role is bringing programs that focus on mental, emotional and social health to rural towns.”
For more information on the Generation Next: 40 Under 40 recognition and the full list of recipients, visit The State Journal’s website at www.wvnews.com.
