Swampscott School Library Specialist Awarded Friend Scholarship

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — A Swampscott Middle School library media specialist who teaches literacy and started a Tech Ninja program at her school was honored with the Massachusetts School Library Association Audrey Friend Scholarship.

Jessica Bombardier is pursuing further studies at Salem State University in addition to her work at the school.

The scholarship is named after Friend, a beloved and long-time member of both the Massachusetts School Library Association and the Massachusetts Libary Association.

Bombardier teaches literacy with fifth- and sixth-grade teachers at Swampscott Middle School, created and distributes a newsletter involving digital literacy, reading, technology and library tips and news, and started the Tech Ninja program for students interested in computers, media and tech repair.

She will be honored at the association's annual conference on March 21 and March 22.

The association's goal is to make sure every school has a library program that is fully integrated at all grade levels across the curriculum that has a significant and measurable impact on student achievement.

For more information on the association go here.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)