New media specialist transfers from English department

Mill Valley News: How did you decide to move positions within the school?

Ashley Agre: So becoming a librarian has always been a dream of mine, but one that I thought was not achievable. Mostly because of the librarian that was here for the first 20 years. When he left I had not gone to school yet to get my Media Center specialists licensure. So they hired somebody else, and I thought she’ll never leave. I’ve always wanted to be the librarian here, so when they called this summer and said, “Mrs. Bennett has left, do you want this position?,” I thought about it for a weekend and said, absolutely, I do. So this is absolutely a dream come true for me.

MVN: What are some differences between your position now and your previous position?

AA: Not having a regular class. That’s a huge difference. Not getting to teach every day I actually really miss that. I am already thinking about the things that I love to teach and mourning the fact that I don’t get to teach those. But, I’m really loving the interactions I’m getting to have with kids that I didn’t know. I’ve never met kids that I wouldn’t get to see on a regular basis so I think it’s so cool. Just getting to help everyday and every day is different.

MVN: What’s your favorite thing about your new position so far?

AA: I think my absolute favorite thing is the space. I love our library. I love the windows it’s just such a happy, bright space to be. So I think just getting to be down here every single day, all day is my favorite.

MVN: What are your goals for your new teaching position for this year?

AA: One of my goals is to get through school, I had to go back to school. So, getting through that in a timely fashion. Another goal is to make the space a high-traffic area every day. I want kids in and out of here. I don’t want this to be somewhere that kids are like, “Oh, I’ve never been to the library.” I want kids to feel comfortable and to know that they can come in here.

MVN: What’s one thing from your old classroom that you wish you could’ve brought with you to your new one?

AA: Ms. Riss, I wish I could have brought Ms. Riss along here with me. I miss her. We were next door to each other for 15 years so not having this person next to me every day is sad. I miss her.

MVN: Describe something on your desk or in the library that has special meaning to you.

AA: I have a lot of pictures of my family. In my classroom, I had a whole bunch and there’s not really a space to do that here. I think probably the picture, right now that means the most to me is the one of my seminar last year. Leaving them was a very hard thing, so I have our picture from our group last year where I can see it every day.

MVN: What else would you like the student body to know about you?

AA: I was on “The Price is Right”.

MVN: Did you win?

AA:  I made it down to Contestants Row, but I never made it on stage. That’s my favorite fun fact.