COVINGTON, Ga. - Eastside High School Media Specialist Beth Bryan is Newton County School System’s 2019 Media Specialist of the Year. 

The Library Media Specialist of the Year Award recognizes individual excellence in the library media field through service to students, teachers and community at the K-12 levels. Bryan will now represent NCSS in the South Metro District Library Media Specialist of the Year competition, part of the Georgia Library Media Specialist of the Year program. 

Bryan, Datha Curtis, media specialist at Newton College and Career Academy; and Ali Geigerman, media specialist at West Newton Elementary, were this year’s finalists for the district award. 

“I am very honored to be selected as the Library Media Specialist of the Year for Newton County,” Bryan said. “The NCSS media specialists are a hard-working group of dedicated professionals and I’m extremely blessed to be able to represent them in this capacity.”

Bryan noted she became a media specialist because of her “love of books, reading, knowledge, research, technology and people. Every day I get to help and support the people in my school with what they need to be successful. I love my job and am thankful every single day that I get to be a library media specialist.”

Bryan’s essay and application packet will now be reviewed by the GLMA South Metro District selection committee, who will select a regional winner.

Bryan earned her bachelor of arts in history with an add-on certification for teaching social studies in 1994. She obtained her master of education in media from the University of West Georgia in 2008. She has served as the media specialist at Eastside High School since 2011. Mrs. Bryan previously served as a classroom teacher in the area of social studies.

“We are incredibly proud of Mrs. Bryan,” Jeff Cher, Eastside principal, said. “She provides an endless supply of love, support, and enthusiasm for our students and staff!” 

“Congratulations to Mrs. Bryan on this very deserving recognition,” Samantha Fuhrey, NCSS superintendent, said. “I know she will represent her school and our district well at the regional competition.”