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Volume 10, Issue 10
January 2012
Association News
Education News
Resources for School Librarians
Grants & Awards
Partnership News
Member Spotlight
Register for AASL Preconferences at the 2012 ALA Annual Conference
Registration for the June 21-26, 2012 ALA Annual Conference and AASL preconferences is now open! This year’s conference in Anaheim, CA will bring together more than 25,000 librarians, educators, authors, publishers, literacy experts, illustrators and the leading suppliers to the market. As part of this annual event, AASL will offer three exciting preconferences on Friday, June 22:
• The One Day Library Website
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Andy Austin, Christopher Harris, and Brian Mayer present a make-and-take workshop with a fully functional library web portal ready to install on your organization's server. Using Drupal, an open source content management system, the presenters will lead participants through all the steps needed to build and maintain a website.
• Libraries in the Cloud
8:30 am to Noon
Doug Johnson will host this preconference on how libraries can benefit by moving to the cloud and what role librarians can play when staff and student applications become hosted. The session discusses the implication of hosted computer applications and resources on school library programs and the role of the school librarian.
• Leading Professional Development that Matters…and Works
9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Debbie Abilock, Kristin Fontichiaro, and Violet H. Harada will discuss several professional development models for cultivating leadership in school librarians, and explore how schools can be improved from the inside out.
Ticket price information for these AASL preconferences can be found at the ALA Annual Conference Website. For more information on AASL preconferences and sessions at the 2012 ALA annual Conference visit the AASL @ ALA Annual Conference website.
AASL Announces New e-Academy Courses
AASL announces three online courses for its AASL e-Academy this month. Led by experts in the field, the four week courses are designed to isolate and strengthen problem areas, and assist school librarians in developing the skills and techniques needed to bring their programs into the 21st century. The courses include:
• Design for Understanding Meets the 21st Century School Librarian
Jan. 30 – Feb. 24
Facilitated by Mary Keeling, participants will be introduced to the Understanding by Design Curriculum framework known as the Backward Design model.
• From 0 to 60: Implement eBooks in Your Library Program in 4 Weeks
Feb. 6 – Mar. 2
Facilitated by Richard Hasenyager, participants will build an individual e-book implementation plan for their school or district.
• The Path to Collaboration: Making it Happen
Mar. 19 – Apr. 13
Facilitated by Marilyn Heath participants will learn how to identify and analyze the factors that contribute to successful collaborations with teachers.
Detailed descriptions of each course and registration information are available on the AASL e-Academy page.
AASL 2012 Fall Forum to Focus on Transliteracy
AASL will present its 2012 Fall Forum, October 12-13, in Greenville, SC. This year’s theme is Transliteracy and the School Library Program, which focuses on the ability to read, write and interact across a range of platforms, tools and media. Transliteracy and the School Library Program is designed to help school librarians develop strategies for integrating transliteracy skills into subject areas across the curriculum. Discussions will articulate the range of skills known as transliteracy skills and highlight current research on how young people learn and play in the contemporary online environment. For more information on registration, speakers and session facilitators visit AASL’s Fall Forum
Website.
 AASL President Carl Harvey Discusses Support for School Libraries in the Huffington Post
An Op/Ed by AASL President Carl Harvey was recently featured in the Huffington Post. His article, "What You Can Do To Support School Libraries In Crisis" addresses the lack of support for school libraries from federal and local governments, and offers advice on what must be done to ensure that schools have state-certified school librarians who can help students learn the 21st century skills needed to compete in the global marketplace.
AASL Pre-Midwinter Institute Helps School Librarians Create a Powerful Program
AASL encourages members to attend the AASL Pre-Midwinter Institute, "Tools for Transforming Your School Library Program" on Friday, Jan. 20. The Institute offers you a full day of professional development before the ALA 2012 Midwinter Meeting. The program will explore AASL's "A Planning Guide for Empowering Learners" and the School Library Program Assessment Rubric contained in the module. Attendees will learn how to collect and use data to drive their program's improvement. Later, the institute will take attendees through AASL's "Standards for the 21st Century Learner in Action" and new Lesson Plan Database. Both tools can be used to create lesson plans that will elevate the attendees programs by demonstrating the school librarian's connection with teaching and their application of the Common Core Standards. Register today!
AASL Awards Offer More than $50,000 in Opportunities
AASL’s 2012 awards program offers 10 awards totaling more than $50,000. The awards recognize excellence and showcase best practices in the school library field in categories that include research, collaboration, leadership and innovation. AASL personal members are required to fill out applications using AASL's online awards database. The deadline for submitting applications or nominations for most AASL awards and grants is February 1, 2012. All applications will close at 4:30 p.m. CST on the day of the deadline.
Register for a Complimentary Webinar on Releasing Your Inner Leader
AASL is offering members a complimentary webinar on spinning 21st century standards-driven evaluations and professional development into stronger school relationships, Monday, February 13 at 7:00 PM CST. Carolyn Jo Starkey, author of the Jan/Feb Knowledge Quest feature, "Releasing Your Inner Leader" will address how collaborative cultures are transforming professional development in new and inspiring ways. Members must register at the AASL website.
 Caroline Kennedy Honors Librarians at the I Love My Librarian Award Ceremony
Caroline Kennedy, author and daughter of former President John F. Kennedy, was the keynote speaker at the Carnegie Corporation of New York and the New York Times’ I Love My Librarian Award Ceremony. The program, administered by ALA’s Campaign for America's Libraries, honors ten librarians who were recognized for service to their communities, schools and campuses. More than 1,700 library patrons nominated a librarian. Two AASL members, Michelle Luhtala and Jennifer LaGarde were two of the ten librarians selected this year for their contributions. You can read more about them in the Member Spotlight section below. You can also view the entire ceremony on YouTube.
New Appropriations Bill to Fund Literacy and School Library Programs
The U.S. Senate recently approved [by a vote of 67 to 32] the Omnibus Appropriations Bill which includes $28.6 million for literacy and school library programs. A minimum of half, or $14.3 million, must go to low income school libraries while the rest of the money will go to national not-for-profits that work for childhood literacy. The Bill is currently awaiting the signature of President Obama.
CEP Paper Finds Growing Child Achievement Gap
A new paper from the Center for Education Policy Analysis at Stanford University finds the achievement gap between children from high- and low-income families is roughly 30 to 40 percent larger among children born in 2001 than those born in 1976. The income achievement gap (defined as the income difference between a child from a family at the 90th percentile of the family income distribution, and a child from a family at the 10th percentile) is now nearly twice as large as the black-white achievement gap. Fifty years ago, the black-white gap was one and a half to two times as large as the income gap.
Researchers found that the increased achievement gap may be partly due to an increase in the association between family income and children's academic achievement - the difference in family incomes now corresponds to a 30 to 60 percent larger difference in achievement than it did for children born in the 1970s. The paper indicates that the relationship between parental education and children's achievement has remained stable during the last fifty years, whereas the relationship between income and achievement has grown sharply.
NGA Brief Highlights New Models of Educator Compensation
The National Governors Association (NGA) recently released an issue brief, New Models of Teacher Compensation: Lessons Learned from Six States, based on the discussions at a policy academy. The policy academy provided teams with assistance and advice from NGA Center staff, access to other experts and an opportunity to network with other states confronting similar issues and challenges in creating new models of teacher compensation that would reward educators based on their contributions to student learning. The brief recommends governors and states leaders consider:
• Assessment and data systems that measure growth in student learning and link the scores of student assessments to individual educators
• Additional tools and measures for gauging educator effectiveness that go beyond student test scores and using evaluation results to identify opportunities for professional development to help educators improve their effectiveness
• High-level leadership to engage key stakeholders, especially educators and principals, and the organizations that represent them, to develop frameworks, guidelines and details of new compensation structures
• Comprehensive reform employing unconventional resources and lessons from other states to support the state’s reform agenda
Edutopia Offers Resources for Understanding the Common Core Standards
Edutopia offers an educator's guide to websites, organizations, articles, and other resources looking at the new system of standards and how they will be assessed.
YouTube Offers Educational Videos for Schools
YouTube for Schools is a version of YouTube that lets educators access educational YouTube videos from inside their school network. Through YouTube for Schools includes over 400,000 educational videos that can educate, engage and inspire students. These videos come from well-known educational organizations like Stanford, PBS and TED, as well as from up-and-coming YouTube partners. Schools can also customize this service, selecting additional channels accessible only within their school's network.
DOE Seeks Ideas and Resources for Research on Innovation
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology (OET) is convening a panel of research and technology experts to work on developing a broad framework for research on technology-supported innovations that will leverage the state-of-the-art, the emerging field of learning analytics, and the insights of the very best forward-thinking researchers and practitioners. Interested parties are welcome to recommend a resource or submit an idea that may be helpful to the project and read, review, rate, and comment on resources and ideas submitted by others. In late Fall, a framework, along with use cases and practices will be published and shared with the academic research community and the community of entrepreneurs and investors focused on learning technologies.
 Captain Planet Foundation Offers Grants for the Environment
The Captain Planet Foundation funds hands-on environmental projects to encourage youth around the world to work individually and collectively to solve environmental problems in their neighborhoods and communities. The maximum award is $2,500. U.S.-based schools and organizations with an annual operating budget of less than $3 million are eligible. The deadline is January 15, 2012.
C-SPAN StudentCam Documentary Competition
C-SPAN's StudentCam is an annual national video documentary competition that encourages students to think seriously about issues that affect our communities and our nation. Students are asked to create a short (5-8 minute) video documentary on a topic related to the competition theme "The Constitution and You." Documentaries may focus on any section of the Preamble, Articles, or Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The maximum award is $5,000, plus $1,000 in digital equipment for school. Individuals or teams of two to three students grades 6-8 or grades 9- 12 are eligible. The deadline is January 20, 2012.
National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award
The National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award is the nation's highest honor for out-of-school arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America's young people, particularly those from underserved communities. This award recognizes and supports excellence in programs that open new pathways to learning, self-discovery, and achievement. The maximum award is $10,000. Programs initiated by museums, libraries, performing arts organizations, universities, colleges, arts centers, community service organizations, schools, businesses, and eligible government entities are eligible. The deadline is January 31, 2012.
USBBY Offers Bridge to Understanding Award
The Bridge to Understanding Award formally acknowledges the work of adults who create programs that use children’s books to explore cultures around the world in order to promote international understanding among children. These programs should be based in a broad understanding of culture as ways of living and being in the world that go beyond the surface features of food, fashion, folklore, famous people, and festivals. Organizations eligible for this award include schools, libraries, scout troops, clubs, and bookstores. The program may be a one-time event or an ongoing series that serves children ranging in age from kindergarten through tenth grade. The award carries a monetary prize of $1000 and a certificate. The submission deadline for the next award is January 31, 2012.
Christopher Columbus Fellowship Foundation Offers Student Awards
The Christopher Columbus Awards Program combines science and technology with community problem-solving. Students work in teams with the help of an adult coach to identify an issue they care about and, using science and technology, work with experts, conduct research, and put their ideas to the test to develop an innovative solution. The maximum award is $25,000 Foundation Community Grant and an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World to attend the program's National Championship Week, plus a U.S. Savings Bond of $2,000 for each student team member. Middle-school-age (sixth, seventh, and eighth grade) children are eligible. Teams do not need to be affiliated with a school to enter. The deadline is February 6, 2012.
Ezra Jack Keats Foundation Now Accepting Online Submissions for Minigrant Award
This year marks the 24th annual call for grant proposals by the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation. The Foundation, established by renowned author and illustrator Ezra Jack Keats, has awarded over half a million dollars in grants to public schools and libraries in all 50 states and the U.S. Commonwealth since 1987. The deadline for submission of proposals for the $500 Minigrant award is March 15, 2012. Proposals will be read directly after the March deadline, and winners will be announced starting on May 15. Decisions will be emailed to all applicants after May 15. All Minigrant applications are available exclusively online at the Foundation's Website and must be submitted electronically. The foundation also offers a video tutorial explaining the process on its Website.
Next Generation Learning Challenges Announces Third Wave of Grants
Recognizing the need for a fundamental change in the way education is designed and delivered across secondary and postsecondary institutions, Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC) has announced the availability of $12 million in grants for comprehensive whole school and college models that use technology to achieve more personalized learning experiences. Funding is being provided by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Initial applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 8, 2012. Visit the Next Generation website for more information.
Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation Offers Grants to Help Inner-City Educators
The Brown Rudnick Charitable Foundation Corporation's Limited GEO: Grants to Help Inner-City Educators will fund specific, one-time future education-related needs or ideas that promise to improve inner city education within one year. Small, concrete projects that will improve inner-city education in Boston, Hartford, Providence, New York or Washington, D.C. within the coming year are eligible. The maximum award is $2,000 and the deadline is ongoing.
New National Program Recognizes Student Poets
The President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities (PCAH) and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS), in partnership with the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, has created the National Student Poets Program (NSPP) to honor youth poets whose original work exhibits exceptional creativity, dedication to craft, and promise. From a group of national winners of the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, a jury of literacy luminaries will choose five teen poets. Each teen will receive an academic award of $5,000, work with poet mentors, promote the importance of poetry and creative expression through readings and workshops, and will be featured at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, in cooperation with the Library of Congress. To be considered for the NSPP, students must be in grades 9, 10 or 11 and be enrolled in a public, private, parochial, home-school or out-of-school program. Students must also win a gold or silver medal
award in poetry in the 2012 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Deadlines for the scholastic awards vary by region. NSPP Awards will be presented in September 2012.
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AASL a Core Partner in Celebrating Inaugural Digital Learning Day
AASL, working together with the Alliance for Excellent Education and other national educational associations and organizations, is calling on school librarians to participate in the inaugural national Digital Learning Day on February 1. Digital Learning Day will celebrate innovative teaching practices that make learning more personalized and engaging and encourage exploration of how digital learning can provide more students with more opportunities to get the skills they need to succeed in college, career and life.
Free toolkits for Digital Learning Day are now available and include links and references to instructional strategy ideas, lesson plans, sample outreach, ways to collaborate, and resources. There are toolkits for all audiences, grades, and subjects to help you think about how you can contribute to the campaign.
On Digital Learning Day a national town hall meeting will be held to highlight and celebrate participants across the nation. Various webinars, online sharing opportunities, and recognition will also be available that day and throughout the year. Learn more about Digital Learning Day at the official website. You can also read "What a School Librarian Can Do For You," a blog by Robyn Young, member of the Digital Learning Day Educator’s Working Group, which provides leadership on the Digital Learning Day toolkits and outreach
development for teachers and administrators across the country.
 AASL Joins Challenge to Motivate STEM Learning
AASL, an original outreach partner, is proud to once again lend its support to the National STEM Video Game Challenge presented by the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and E-Line Media. The challenge, now in its second year, aims to motivate interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning by tapping into students’ natural passion for playing and making video games.
One of the many ways AASL is putting the focus on educational gaming includes the September/October 2011 Knowledge Quest on Educational Gaming. The issue explores how lessons based on games are currently contributing to school learning standards, what effect educational games have on students, and the ways in which school librarians are helping to develop games as educational tools.
The National STEM Video Game Challenge is open for entries through March 12th, 2012. Finalists for Youth Prizes (Middle School & High School) and Adult Prizes (Collegiate & Educator) will be selected by a distinguished panel of judges. Winners will be announced in Spring 2012. Almost $200K in cash and prizes will be available, with multiple ways to win! Complete guidelines on how to enter are available at the official website.
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 Jennifer LaGarde Receives 2011 I Love My Librarian Award
AASL Member Jennifer U. LaGarde, is one of ten winners of the 2011 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. Jennifer is a school librarian at Myrtle Grove Middle School in Wilmington, NC. You can view a video of Jennifer sharing what winning the award means to her on YouTube and read her nomination by Kate Tayloe at the award website.
 Michelle Luhtala Receives 2011 I Love My Librarian Award
AASL Member Michelle Luhtala, is one of ten winners of the 2011 Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award. Michelle is a school librarian at New Canaan High School Library in New Canaan, CT. You can view a video of Michelle sharing what winning the award means to her on YouTube and read her nomination by Michael DeMattia at the award website.
 Mary Ann Scheuer Talks Book Apps for Kids on National Public Radio
Mary Ann Scheuer, AASL member and librarian at the Emerson Elementary School in Berkeley, CA, was recently interviewed on National Public Radio about the lack of book apps on tablet computers for ‘tweens amidst the growing number available for beginning and young adult readers on tablet computers. You can listen to Mary discuss this topic and view her favorite apps for kids at the NPR website. Mary also writes the "Great Kid Books" blog.
 Sara Kelly Johns Receives NYLA Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award
AASL Member Sara Kelly Johns was recently awarded the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award at by the New York Library Association. Nominated by last year's recipient, Fran Roscello, the award was presented by 2010-11 NYLA President Marcia Eggleston, also an AASL member. Sara is a school librarian at Lake Placid Junior Senior High School, and has been a leader within the library profession for over 30 years at the local, state, and national level.
 Joyce Valenza Receives Lifetime Achievement Award from Edublog
AASL Member Joyce Valenza received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Edublog for her contribution to the world of education technology. Joyce is the school librarian at Springfield Township High School and a technology writer. You can read an interview with Joyce online.or visit her blog, NeverEndingSearch.
We love to brag about our members! Looking to make it into AASL's Member Spotlight? Submit your spotlight to Markisan Naso for inclusion in the next Member Spotlight segment.
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