NBISD is kicking off Red Ribbon Week this year with Oak Run Middle School Librarian Amanda Hunt as she will be taking over the district’s Instagram stories! Throughout the week, our followers can look forward to daily updates that will include exciting activities and events planned at ORMS. Some of the highlights will feature students celebrating Red Ribbon Week as well as what is going on in the library.

As part of the takeover, Hunt will highlight some of the ways that she gets students engaged to learn in the library. Additionally, there will be events and learning opportunities each day to make students aware of the dangers of drug use.

“I am so excited to share some of the amazing things librarians do everyday in our schools,” she said. “Join me this week as I share behind the scenes of what we do!”

Hunt has been a librarian for 14 years at both elementary and secondary campuses. She was the Chair for the Mavericks Graphic Novel Reading List Committee for the Texas Librarian Association from 2021-2023. She was also the Chair for Texas Association for School Librarians (TxASL) Talks Editorial Board and presently she the TxASL Councilor through 2025. In addition to those roles, she is also on the Social Media Committee and Operating Procedures Committee for the TxASL, and the American Association for School Librarians Committee for updating the new AASL Standards book releasing in 2025.
Hunt was a TLA TxASL Media and Visual Presence (MVP) Honoree for 2021 and 2023, and the TLA Branding Iron Award 2022 and 2024 Winner for Digital Only Communications in a School Library. She currently is certified Apple Teacher and Apple Learning Coach, as well as a Google Certified Trainer and Coach and an Adobe Innovator and Trainer.

“I have 60+ certifications in a variety of #edtech tools and absolutely love to read all the time. I read 600 books last year alone!” she said. “My favorite part of working at ORMS is the fact that I went to the school in 6th grade and my dad was an English teacher here for years. I love seeing my friends’ kids attend the school since we all grew up here. I’m thrilled to share what it’s like to be a librarian because I promise it is NOT reading books all day (I wish!).”

Red Ribbon Week is an annual, nationwide campaign in the United States dedicated to raising awareness about the dangers of drug use and encouraging youth to live healthy, drug-free lives. Started in 1985, Red Ribbon Week honors the memory of Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, a DEA agent who lost his life in the line of duty while investigating drug trafficking. After his death, community members began wearing red ribbons as a tribute, which eventually grew into a national movement.

Some of the features you will see this week will include fentanyl awareness, the dangers of vaping, the Red Ribbon Week Pledge and more.