Ribbon-Cutting Marks Launch of Library Makeovers Across PGCPS

With support from Heart of America and the Pull Up Fund, 46 school libraries will be transformed into modern learning hubs by early 2026.

PGCPS opened the 2025–26 school year on Tuesday, August 26 with a ribbon-cutting for the transformed library at Andrew Jackson K-8 Academy — the first in a series of 46 schools slated for library makeovers by early 2026.

The effort is funded through a multi-million-dollar partnership with Heart of America (HOA) and the Pull Up Fund, which are reshaping libraries to meet the needs of today’s learners while honoring the voices of students, families, and educators in each community.

“Each school has unique needs, and HOA employs unique thinking in designing each space, with the educators’ and students’ aspirations at the center of the design,” said Jill Hardy Heath, HOA President and CEO. “This project has four main categories of makeovers, and each school chooses what makes the most sense for them. We use that as a starting point for our collaborative work.”

The redesigns, each taking 12 to 14 weeks, will roll out in three phases. Schools can select from new models such as Collective Learning & Literacy Hubs, STEAM Innovation Labs, or STEM Exploration Centers.

Each space will feature HOA’s signature nature-inspired design — fresh lighting, natural materials, and open layouts intended to make libraries calm, welcoming places. At the same time, the makeovers bring cutting-edge technology into the classroom, from 3D printers and robotics kits to green screens, video production gear, and makerspaces stocked with engineering tools.

To anchor the new spaces, HOA will provide more than 72,000 books featuring culturally relevant stories that reflect the diversity of PGCPS students.

Nearly 26,000 students will directly benefit from the modernized libraries.

“We’re thankful for our partnership with Heart of America, whose support has helped transform more than 45 school libraries across our district,” said PGCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Shawn Joseph. “Early in my career, I met a student who struggled to read, and that moment ignited my lifelong mission to ensure every child has the tools to succeed. These new library spaces are more than buildings — they are gateways to literacy, a love of reading, and brighter futures for our students.”

The Andrew Jackson Academy ribbon-cutting is just the beginning. By February 28, 2026, every one of the 46 schools in the project will have completed its transformation, offering students spaces designed not only for reading but also for collaboration, creativity, and exploration.

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