The Ivan Dawson Primary School in Cane Garden Bay and Willard Wheatley Primary School in East End also received books from Virgin Islander and Registered Nurse Mrs Stacey Bartley-Penn. Photo: Provided

Bregado Flax Educational Centre was also a recipient of books from Stacey Bartley-Penn. Photo: Provided

Virgin Islander and Registered Nurse Mrs Stacey Bartley-Penn, right, a 1997 graduate of the Leonora Delville Primary School, gives back to her old school. Photo: Provided

Former Speaker of the House of Assembly Mr Julian Willock, standing centre, assisted with the donation of books to Ebenezer Thomas Primary School. Photo: Provided

Virgin Islander and Registered Nurse Mrs Stacey Bartley-Penn donated books to Jost van Dyke Primary School and Robinson O;Neal Memorial Primary School on Virgin Gorda. Photo: Provided

Some of the books donated to local schools by Mrs Stacey Bartley-Penn were written by young local authors. Photo: Provided

Francis Lettsome Primary School and Claudia Creque Primary School receiving their books from Virgin Islander and Registered Nurse Mrs Stacey Bartley-Penn. Photo: Provided

Presentation of books by Mrs Stacey Bartley-Penn to Enis Adams Primary School and Alexandrina Maduro Primary School. Photo: Provided

One of the books written by local author Declan Wheatley. Several books by Mr Wheatley were donated to local schools by Mrs Stacey Bartley-Penn. Photo: Provided

Mrs Bartley-Penn has already contributed to the Virgin Islands, her place of birth, in various capacities while working at the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA). Currently residing in the United States, Nurse Bartley-Penn remains in the nursing field where she is highly respected and sought after.

The daughter of the soil has also dedicated herself to giving back to her community in meaningful ways.

When her sister, Ms Kelsey Skerritt, asked for help to furnish a classroom with a library, Mrs Bartley-Penn extended the initiative to all schools in the territory.

Build a Classroom Library- Nurse Bartley-Penn

On December 6, 2023, the ‘Build a Classroom Library’ initiative was launched in Virgin Gorda at the Bregado Flax Educational Center. Collaborating with Mr Trefor A. Grant, they outfitted the grade one classroom with new and used books, a rug, and a bookshelf to create a reading corner.

The collection included step-level readers from the ‘I Can Read’ and Scholastic readers book sets, along with books by several local authors including, Black, Bold and Beautiful by Mrs Jemema Jackson-Thomas; Hurricane Irma Through My Eyes by Ms Amia A. Wheatley (written at age 12); The Many Hats I Wear by Ms Amia A. Wheatley (written at age 15), My Favorite Beaches in the British Virgin Islands by Mr Declan Wheatley (written at age 8); My Favorite Restaurants in the British Virgin Islands by Mr Declan Wheatley (written at age 11) and Pass it On by the late Mrs Jennie N. Wheatley among others.

Over the past week, Mrs Bartley-Penn has visited numerous public schools with the aim of extending the initiative to all remaining schools, including private schools, in time for the 2024-2025 school year.

Collaborated with like-minded residents

To achieve this remarkable feat, she has partnered with individuals she considers family and friends in the territory. These partners include Ms Ingrid A. Moses, Ms Tiffany R. Scatliffe-Esprit, Ms Rhonda Williams, Ms Stacy Hodge, Ms Kadia Evans, Mr Sym Lettsome, Mr L. Allen Wheatley, Mr Claude O. Skelton-Cline, Mr Julian Willock, Mr Preston P. Stoutt, Mr Adrian McCoy, Mr Coy W. Levons, and Mr Raul R. Sprauve.

Mrs Bartley-Penn has also partnered with  Metro Construction Limited, Dr the Honourable Karl Dawson (R1), Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), Honourable Marlon A. Penn (R8), and Honourable Stacy M. Mather (AL).

Mrs Bartley-Penn’s message to the children in grade one classrooms throughout the territory is simple yet powerful: “Make reading one of your hobbies.” Her goal is to convey reading as a fun activity, encouraging children to integrate reading into their daily lives, while providing teachers with the tools they need to enhance phonics and basic reading skills, according to a statement she released.