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 a statement. 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 2026 ALA elections will open on Monday, March 9, 2026 and close on Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

The candidates for the Supervisors Section, Chair-elect are:

Len Bryan

Kaycie Hoffman Blaylock

Len Bryan:

I have had the honor to serve as a library leader at the State level as the School Program Coordinator for the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, at the District level in Hillsboro, Oregon, Denver, Colorado, Houston, Texas, and now in Centennial, Colorado. I have served students, teachers, staff, and the community in small, medium, and large school districts over my 28 years in education as a teacher, coach, campus librarian, and district leader. My life has been much like one of my favorite Johnny Cash songs, “I’ve Been Everywhere, Man”. As I have progressed through my career, I have learned many lessons from the library leaders along the way, and one of the most important lessons is connection.

Serving as a school library supervisor brings a unique set of challenges and opportunities specific to system-level leadership. Because we are often the only person in our district, or even our entire region, performing this work, the role can feel isolating. While we manage a high level of responsibility—balancing the needs of our schools with the demands of our systems and communities—I find that we are frequently underserved by traditional professional development. Most conferences focus on the needs of the campus librarian, leaving a significant learning gap for those of us tasked with serving our schools as library leaders.

I believe the AASL Supervisors Section (SPVS) can be a vital bridge across this gap. Our section’s primary purpose is to provide an opportunity for those with system-level responsibility to share common problems and find collective solutions. I am running for Chair because I believe that building and maintaining a robust national network is not just a benefit, but a necessity for strong leaders. We must cultivate consistent spaces where supervisors from every corner of the country can connect, ensuring that no leader has to solve a problem that a colleague three states away has already mastered.

As we continue to implement the revised National School Library Standards, our collective strength is our greatest asset. By fostering a national community of practice, we can work together to:

  • Defend Intellectual Freedom: Stand together against challenges to our collections and the professionalism of our staff.
  • Drive Innovation: Share best practices as we position our libraries as essential community learning hubs.
  • Navigate Emerging Technology: Collectively grapple with the impact of AI and rapidly advancing tech on education.

My vision for SPVS is to serve as a national forum for reflection, mentorship, and advocacy. I have extensive experience in both leading librarians and collaborating with fellow leaders to face these challenges head-on. I would be honored to leverage that experience to strengthen our connections, amplify our voices, and ensure that every school library supervisor has the support and national community they deserve.

Together, we can ensure that our section is not just a membership category, but a vital lifeline for leadership.

 

Kaycie Hoffman Blaylock:

A colleague of mine often says, “The school library is the best place to work in a school.” I believe that wholeheartedly, but I also know it isn’t easy. Supporting students’ love of reading and learning is joyful, meaningful work, yet it can take a toll when we constantly feel like we’re at the bottom of the totem pole. Many of us spend as much time advocating for the existence of our programs as we do nurturing them.

That burden shouldn’t fall on individuals. By coordinating our efforts and proactively addressing policy and funding needs, we can push back against the budget cuts and systemic inequities facing school libraries across the country. It is not acceptable that so many communities lack strong, well-supported school library programs.

One of the most successful strategies in my own work has been acting as a unified group. A single supervisor can be easily overlooked, but an organized, collaborative network with a clear directive is hard to ignore. That is the power we must build together.

To get there, we need intentional communication and shared resources. As supervisors, we can create accessible, on-demand banks of tools, policies, and best practices that strengthen all of our programs. We can advocate from a position of collective expertise rather than isolated effort. We can lift the profession by lifting each other.

I know firsthand how transformative this collaboration can be. It has allowed me to protect and expand my program, champion my librarians, and improve student access. Every time we make progress that directly benefits our libraries, students, and staff, it fuels the optimism and determination required to keep moving forward.

I am running for chair because I believe in this work and in us. Together, we can build the strong, united leadership our school libraries deserve.