Biography
With a love of music and a passion for literacy, Jamie continues to be inspired by beloved icon, Dolly Parton, and is honored to serve as the State Director for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library advancing early literacy in West Virginia, in partnership with Marshall University’s June Harless Center for Rural Education Research and Development, and the Dollywood Foundation.
A highlight of her work includes establishing the Imagination Library Book Redistribution Program, a statewide initiative to recover undeliverable Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library books from USPS sites, and redistribute them to pediatric clinics, health departments, Free Little Libraries, adult English language learning centers, special needs classrooms, and children’s hospitals. For this endeavor, she was presented with the Friend of Children award by the West Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, for which she serves on the Literacy Task Force.
Prior to joining the Harless Center team, she spent 18 years in music education and performance in the New York Metro Area, where she owned and operated School of Rock franchises and organized and performed in benefit concerts nationwide raising funds and awareness for organizations like Ronald McDonald House and Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide.
Jamie directs Let Them Rock 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable fund, providing equitable access to performance-based music education opportunities for underserved youth in Appalachia. She is Ambassador of the Year for the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce. Jamie also represents FrontWomen national nonprofit community resource group supporting women leaders, educators and professionals, as well as LeadHERship West Virginia and the WHOLE Child Committee.
Through service and collaboration, Jamie is truly excited for what can be achieved as a community to set our children up for success and achieve their dreams!