Partners In Education Roatan (PIER) was founded in 2006 by Cam and Ted O’Brien, former owners of Bay Island Beach Resort, to improve public education on Roatan. They transformed their former resort into the Sandcastle Library—a hub for tutoring, science workshops, technology access, and a bilingual book collection. Initial fundraising events like concerts and golf tournaments supported the organization’s growth and expansion of programs.

Recognizing that most public schools lacked libraries, PIER introduced two bookmobiles staffed by a librarian and a reading specialist. These mobile units brought books and "Story-in-a-Bag" kits—combining reading with activities in math and science—directly into classrooms. Teachers participated alongside students, learning new methods to move beyond rote memorization. The content was aligned with the national curriculum and developed in collaboration with school staff.

During school breaks, PIER refreshed its educational kits, and when schools closed temporarily, it adapted by creating educational videos. Later, a bookmobile was stationed in a central community to increase access. The Sandcastle Library loaned over 20,000 books annually and served nearly 4,000 students with personalized support and enrichment programs.
In 2019, PIER partnered with the SOL Foundation, relocating its library services to their facility, where literacy programs continued for two years using creative, student-centered methods.

In recent years, PIER has focused on strengthening the core of education: the educators. Through training in key subjects such as Math, English, Spanish, and Ocean Literacy, PIER supports teacher development and educational leadership across the Bay Islands.

A better Bay Islands begins with better public education. Become a PIER Partner and help us continue to grow.