PBS North Carolina, an educational media network, has appointed LaTarsha Debro to serve as Halifax County’s first PBS Rootle Ambassador.

The PBS Rootle Ambassador program takes locally based community members who are strong supporters of families with young children and trains them to use and share the suite of PBS early education resources with families in their communities. 

Rootle is PBS NC’s locally branded 24/7 PBS KIDS Channel aimed at children ages 2-8 years old. 

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The PBS Rootle Ambassador program was announced in 2021. It was developed from the knowledge that local family members, educators and community leaders have a tremendous impact within the early childhood education space, as well as the need to equitably reach children across the state. 

Primary funding is provided by the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust grant.

Debro is a member of the fourth cohort for ambassadors. The program’s ultimate goal is to have an ambassador in every North Carolina county within five years.

“The work that LaTarsha has already done in the community that she serves is phenomenal and we feel honored to join in with her efforts. Together, we have a mighty opportunity to reach children, families, and educators in Halifax County and across North Carolina in a meaningful way,” said Lauren McDowell Pyle, director of children’s media and education engagement for PBS North Carolina.

Debro has served as branch librarian at Weldon Memorial Library for over 15 years. 

Weldon Library is a branch of the Halifax County Library System. 

“I am ecstatic about serving Halifax County as a Rootle Ambassador and to assist with connecting local children and families with PBS’s high quality early education resources,” Debro said. “Halifax County is my home. I grew up in Halifax County, a product of Halifax County Schools, and now an employee of Halifax County so to represent my home is a full circle moment.”

Debro said, “I am eager about gaining more knowledge on all of the resources that the Rootle Program has to offer and as equally excited about sharing those with the families in this county. I whole-heartedly believe that having access to the early education programs and online resources that PBS Kids/ Rootle Program offers are sure to have a great impact in setting a strong academic foundation and will ultimately cultivate lifelong learning habits for our early learners.”

Debro is no stranger to PBS programming. “Personally, I grew up watching PBS and learning with many of the early PBS shows, like Reading Rainbow and Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood now Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood. I am enthusiastic about connecting with this generation of children who are also being educated with the great PBS KIDS’s characters and content.” Debro said.

Debro will be highlighting the many ways to engage with the programming over the coming months, including the pbskids.org website and its engaging online activities designed to get young minds thinking.

Debro is set to embark on this journey as Halifax County’s Rootle Ambassador at the opening session of the Rootle Ambassador Academy in August.