First Book Names Libby Doggett as Chairman of the Board; Sharon Price John Appointed to the First Book Board; Andrew Roberts Joins First Book Advisory Council

Pictured from left to right: Sharon Price John, Libby Doggett, Andrew Roberts.

Washington, D.C. – July 14, 2025 – First Book, the national nonprofit dedicated to furthering educational opportunity for children in low-income communities, named early childhood education leader Libby Doggett as chairman of the Board of Directors. In addition, Sharon Price John, president and chief executive officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc., (NYSE:BBW) has joined the First Book Board, and Andrew Roberts, president of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, has been named to the First Book Advisory Council.

“Together, Libby, Sharon, and Andrew bring extraordinary vision, experience, and commitment to support our mission of bringing the power of education to every child,” said Kyle Zimmer, president and CEO of First Book. “Their leadership comes at a critical time. Today, more than 64% of 4th graders are not reading proficiently. For 4th grade students from low-income families, the number is even higher: more than 80% are not proficient readers. In addition, schools and programs in under-resourced communities are facing unprecedented budget challenges. That’s why we have launched an ambitious five-year scaling plan. While First Book is proud of serving 6.5 million children in need annually through our community of 600,000 educators – adults working and volunteering in economically disadvantaged communities – our goal is to reach EVERY child in need. Over the next 5 years, we are working to connect one million teachers and volunteers with First Book, which will enable us to reach all 27 million children in need. We are thrilled to benefit from the strategic insights, networks, and energy of these three thought leaders from the corporate and education sectors.”

Doggett is a national leader in expanding access to high-quality early childhood education. As the former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy and Early Learning at the U.S. Department of Education, she oversaw the Race to the Top – Early Learning Challenge and Preschool Development Grant programs and served as the Department’s primary liaison on early learning to the White House and other agencies. Prior to her federal service, Doggett led early learning initiatives at the Pew Charitable Trusts, Pre-K Now, and the National Head Start Association. She holds a doctorate in early childhood special education from the University of Texas; she began her career as a bilingual first-grade teacher in Austin, Texas.

First Book also welcomes Sharon Price John, a business leader known for her focus on driving profitable growth, delivering on the corporate mission of “adding a little more heart to life,” and expanding the beloved Build-A-Bear’s purpose-driven branding and social impact. The Build-A-Bear Foundation supports children’s literacy programs as a path to social and educational equity. First Book and the Build-A-Bear Foundation are working together to distribute one million books and 100,000 Build-A-Bear reading buddy bears by 2027.

John’s other board positions include serving as chair of the Toy Association Board of Directors. She previously held leadership roles at Stride Rite Children’s Group LLC, Hasbro and its U.S. Toy Division, and Mattel. She holds a master’s degree from Columbia University, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee Knoxville.

In addition, Andrew Roberts, president of the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, has joined the First Book Advisory Council. Roberts brings deep experience in nonprofit leadership, education policy, and philanthropic partnerships. At the Barbara Bush Foundation, he leads national efforts to improve literacy for both children and adults, aligning closely with First Book’s mission to empower underserved communities through education. Roberts has a master’s degree from the University of Maryland – Robert H. Smith School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University.

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Education transforms lives. First Book is building a world where every child has access to a quality education. We work to remove barriers to education and level the playing field for kids in need. At the heart of our work are the 600,000+ members of the First Book Network, the largest online community of individual educators, professionals and volunteers dedicated to supporting children living in low-income communities across North America. This Network is the key to creating lasting change. Through our research arm, First Book Research & Insights, we conduct studies that aggregate their voices to identify challenges, needs, and solutions. To address their needs, we provide free and low-cost books, resources and access to leading experts through the First Book Marketplace, which uses aggregated buying power to support their work. Founded in Washington D.C. in 1992 as a nonprofit social enterprise, First Book is dedicated to eliminating barriers to learning and inspiring young minds. Learn more at firstbook.org and visit our award-winning eCommerce website at fbmarketplace.org.