A two decade career in public education and a love of libraries helped a TCU professor land an appointment to the advisory committee for the Laura Bush Foundation for America’s Libraries. 

Dr. Marla McGhee, an associate professor of educational leadership in the College of Education, said her love for libraries sparked when she worked with Barbara Jansen.  

Jansen is an award winning librarian and author. She is also currently the chair of the grade 1-12 instructional technology and library services department and an upper-school librarian at St. Andrews Episcopal School in Austin, TX. 

“She taught me a lot about the instructional power of school libraries,” McGhee said. “Learning about libraries from an outstanding librarian is what really got me on track.”

The foundation’s mission is “to support the education of our nation’s children by providing funds to update, extend, and diversify the book and print collections of America’s school libraries.”

This year, the Laura Bush Foundation has donated more than $1 million in grants to school libraries across the nation, including three in Fort Worth. 

Julie Walker Nix, a founding and current member of the advisory committee, nominated McGhee to serve on the committee. McGhee was selected to serve in September.

“Marla was always the first principal to come to mind,” Nix said. “She was an outstanding principal who understands school libraries.”

As a committee member, McGhee will work as a part-time volunteer alongside experts on reading, children’s literature and education. She will be working to design the grant application and administer the process, said Nix. 

Two to three readers will evaluate each application. Then all members will be brought together to make decisions with Mrs. Laura Bush.

The application goes straight to the librarian so that the school can’t use the money for other departments or programs.

“For me that’s a real focus on making sure the money gets into the hands of the people that really need it,” McGhee said.

When Bush was the first lady of Texas, McGhee invited her to read to students at her school.

“She consistently would come,” McGhee said. “And that’s a really special thing.”

Bush crossed paths with McGhee at several venues after, re-sparking McGhee’s interest in the foundation.

“This just seemed like a real natural fit for me, to be a part of this advisory board,” McGhee said.