Education Foundation, ECISD to partner on million-dollar library project

The right space can foster a love of reading. Provide equitable access to educational materials. Offer specialized and supportive environments. In short, a great library can enhance academic success for all ages. The school library happens to be the location of the next big collaboration between Ector County ISD and the Education Foundation of Odessa.

“For more than 25 years the Education Foundation of Odessa has been a key partner with ECISD,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Keeley Boyer. “Their focus on childhood literacy makes them a perfect partner for this effort and we are grateful for their ongoing commitment to our students.”  

ECISD libraries are in the midst of a transformational shift – from traditional, passive spaces to vibrant, student-centered hubs that nurture a genuine love of reading and learning. The vision is to make every school library the heart of the school community. Wednesday afternoon, the school district and the Education Foundation announced a $1 million partnership to jumpstart the process and fully renovate four school libraries, the first of which will be at Murry Fly Elementary School. At the completion of the renovation at Fly, the next school will be announced. 

“We believe every student deserves access to modern, engaging learning environments. These renovated libraries will serve as hubs of innovation and discovery, and we’re excited to help bring that vision to life.” says Celeste Potter, Executive Director Education Foundation of Odessa. "We hope that the Odessa community will rally behind this project and help the district raise additional funds to impact additional campuses." 

“This project directly aligns with our strategic plan priority: One District. One Community,” Dr. Boyer added. “We want to connect with the community in meaningful ways, sharing success, and united in support of every learner.”

ECISD is intentionally moving toward a culture of reading engagement with the simple belief that students who love reading will read more, and students who read more will achieve more.

Key focus areas include:

• Modernized collections – curating high-interest, diverse, and relevant books aligned to student interests while ensuring compliance with state guidelines.
• Inviting, thematic spaces – designing libraries with updated furniture, flexible seating, and campus-specific themes that reflect school identity while maintaining a cohesive district standard.
• Consistent systems & processes – implementing tools like Titlewave’s Shared Collection to streamline book approval, purchasing, and visibility across the district.
• Community & reading culture – creating engaging initiatives such as book talks, themed events, and interactive reading experiences that build a love for reading.
• Sustainable, phased implementation – rolling out renovations and updates in phases to ensure long-term sustainability, equity across campuses, and responsible use of funding.

In February 2025, ECISD unveiled a completely renovated library at Ector Middle School. It featured all new furniture with flexible seating, fresh designs, new carpeting, books, games and unique programs like LEGO building and cursive writing, all aimed at fostering creativity and a love of learning among students.

In the end, ECISD is not just updating libraries but redefining them with the goal that every student in ECISD sees themselves reflected in the books they read; has access to a space that feels safe, inspiring, and engaging; and develops a lifelong relationship with reading. When this vision is fully realized, ECISD libraries will no longer be seen as optional spaces but as essential to student success and school culture.

 

Left to right: Lauren Tavarez, Shelly Madrid, Viktoria Henderson, Til-Lois Calhoun, Dr. Keeley Boyer, Kayley Howard, Sara Moore, Dr. Steve Brown, Celeste Potter, Rachel Galvan, Jessica Dominguez, and Maggie Edwards.