STAFF BIOGRAPHIES

Ms. Martha Hickson
Librarian

Ms. Hickson joined the Media Center staff in 2005 after a career in public relations. From 1989 to 2003 she worked for AT&T as a writer, designer, and editor of publications, speeches, and web sites for employees, retirees, investors, and customers. Her work as a writer and editor has earned more than two dozen awards, including five Gold Quills of Excellence, the highest honor from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), the professional society for public relations.

She received her master's degree in library and information science from Rutgers University's School of Communication, Information & Library Studies (SCILS) in 2005. While at SCILS, she founded and led the Rutgers Association of School Librarians, the first student affiliate of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL). In 2005, NJASL presented Ms. Hickson with its Future Leader Award.

In addition to her full-time responsibilities at NHHS, Ms. Hickson works as a part-time youth services librarian at the Somerset County Library in Bridgewater, NJ.

Ms. Hickson lives in Washington, NJ, with her husband and three cats: Petey, Patches, and Frances. In her free time, Ms. Hickson enjoys going to the movies, traveling, cross-stitching, playing the ukulele, watching Survivor and The Amazing Race, and (of course) reading.

See Ms. Hickson's bookshelf.

Mrs. Ginny Konefal
Librarian

Mrs. Konefal has been a NHHS librarian since 2000, and has taught at every grade level from elementary school through post-secondary. Her resume includes teaching 1st and 3rd grades in Piscataway, NJ. She has been a school librarian at the Hampton Public School in Hampton, NJ, and the Terrill Middle School in Scotch Plains, NJ. She has also been on the youth services staff at the Somerset County Library and an adjunct instructor at Rutgers University's School of Communication, Information & Library Studies.

Mrs. Konefal holds a bachelor's degree in education from Seton Hall University and a master's degree in library science from Rutgers. She has also earned supervisory and 6th-level certificates.

She serves on the executive board of the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, which named her its Outstanding Media Specialist of the Year in 1994. Her work has also been recognized by the Center for International Scholarship in School Libraries, which selected the NHHS Chemical Elements Project (undertaken in partnership with Ms. Smock) as one of its 10 featured research initiatives.

In her free time, Mrs. Konefal enjoys visiting her children and grandchildren, spending time with her pets, reading, going to the movies, and traveling around the world.

Ms. Nancy Barry
Media Center clerk

Ms. Barry has worked at North since 1999, and has seen both of her children graduate from the school: Christopher in 2000 and Nicole in 2004.

She holds an associate's degree in marketing from Raritan Valley Community College. Before joining the NHHS staff, she worked as a customer service representative and as a realtor.

Outside of the library, Ms. Barry likes to spend time with her family, read mystery books, go to the beach, swim, play tennis, and work in the garden.

Ms. Lori Guida
Media Center secretary

The latest addition to our staff, Ms. Guida began working in the Media Center office in 2006, after arriving at North in 2003 as the head varsity cheerleading coach.

Her team was the 2005 National Cheerleading Champion and the 2005-2006 Skyland Divisional Champion. Ms. Guida was named a national Cheerleading Coach of the Year in 2006.

Ms. Guida earned her bachelor's degree in public relations from York College of Pennsylvania. She has worked previously as an account assistant for Amber Design Associates and as a marketing assistant for Ingersoll Rand's Vehicle Services Marketing Division.