It is time for the AASL membership to elect the volunteers who will lead our organization. Candidates will introduce themselves in a series of blogs, and were asked to prepare answers to the question:  They have also written answers to the following question: “Which part of the AASL strategic plan speaks to you most and why?” Please read through their answers below and be sure to vote when the ballot arrives in your inbox.

Statements and/or videos were a voluntary option offered to all candidates.  Voting for the 2025 ALA elections will open on Monday, March 10, 2025 and close on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.

The candidates for the Educators of School Librarians Section, Chair-elect are:

Buffy Edwards

The candidates for the Educators of School Librarians Section, Secretary are:

Michelle Robertson

Jessica Thompson

Chair-elect:

Buffy Edwards

 

 

 

 

 

My name is Buffy Edwards, candidate for Chair-elect, Educators of School Librarians (ESLS) division.  As a former Teacher Librarian and now educator of school librarians, the part of the AASL strategic plan that speaks most to me is meaningful engagement.  On one level, this means having a passion and focus for something that is meaningful to oneself.  Now, as an educator of future school librarians, it has shifted slightly. Still passionate, I work to help learners see themselves as leaders and to realize their own potential, which I do in several ways.

A robust curriculum embedding AASL standards through authentic application helps candidates establish a grounded perspective of best practice.  Learners should partner with faculty members on research which can help move the profession forward with cutting edge trends and to stay abreast of current issues. Working with professional organizations, candidates should be provided with transformative experiences through free or reduced rates for conference attendance to gain presentation experience and network with other professionals.

Changing the narrative about the role of school librarians is impacted by conversations and relationship building with education-focused parties.  Cross-department collaborations of LIS learners working with pre-service education learners to develop a themed-based literacy unit, establishes a foundation of the collaborative role and sets an expectation for first year teachers; informing members of professional education departments about the work of school librarians is far-reaching and informs those who work with pre-service teachers and administrators; and presenting information about the powerful classroom teacher / school librarian partnership to student organizations helps new teacher see they do not have to be alone on that first day!

I would be honored to serve as Chair of ESLS and will work to strengthen and advance the field and seek to unite educators dedicated to preparing the next generation of professionals.

ESLS Secretary:

Michelle Robertson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Leadership Engagement” section of the American Association of School Libraries’ strategic plan resonates most strongly with me. I’m constantly learning and adapting, and I recognize the vital role leadership plays in driving positive change. The leadership engagement section of AASL’s strategic plan focus on increasing the visibility of school librarians as leaders is crucial. School librarians possess unique skills in information literacy, digital curation, and fostering a love of reading – expertise that should be recognized and leveraged beyond the library walls.

The commitment to offering multiple pathways for leadership growth is equally important. Not everyone leads in the same way, and diverse opportunities, including mentorship programs, are essential for nurturing and empowering future leaders. Finally, facilitating connections and networking is fundamental. Creating a strong community of practice allows school librarians to share best practices, collaborate on innovative projects, and collectively advocate for the essential role they play in student success. Ultimately, this section speaks to me because it recognizes the power of collective leadership to advance the profession and positively impact student learning.

Jessica Thompson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is an honor to run for the Secretary of the AASL ESLS. I have been asked to discuss which part of the AASL strategic plan speaks to me most and why. This was hard, as all parts are essential. I decided upon Leadership Engagement and specifically: “AASL will provide opportunities for school librarians to connect, network, and/or be mentors/mentees.” I have learned so much over the years from my mentors, the conferences I have attended, the publications I have read, and serving on various committees in the organization. AASL does a fabulous job of providing opportunities for those in our profession to network, connect, and to be mentors/mentees. School librarians, library supervisors, school library paraprofessionals, educators of school librarians, and more, learn from one another through AASL’s various opportunities.

The first AASL conference I attended was in Columbus, Ohio in 2015. What a great experience! I learned so much from the concurrent sessions and networking with other school librarians. I met authors and illustrators and went home exhilarated and inspired! The publications from AASL are fabulous for those just starting out as well as seasoned school librarians. Knowledge Quest is always full of interesting articles and the blog is a great way to stay current in the field. I was even lucky enough to have a blog post after attending ALA in Chicago in Knowledge Quest Blog! Serving on the various committees helps us to stay connected, give back to the profession, and network with other like-minded individuals.

As an educator of future school librarians, I see so much value in all that AASL has to offer and I encourage my students to join the organization. As secretary of the ESLS, I would do my best to serve the community of those who educate our future school librarians!