The award for SLANSW Teacher Librarian of the Year is given to a teacher librarian or team of teacher librarians in recognition of their outstanding contribution to teaching and learning in their school and their engagement with the school library community.
The 2022 SLANSW Teacher Librarian of the Year is Emily Williams, Teacher Librarian at St Georges Basin Public School. Emily has shown passion and commitment to her profession and to her local school community by working across all dimensions of her community to build professional relationships with students, staff, and parents, and by building the profile of both her school library and the position of teacher librarian.
Emily’s practice incorporates highly engaging library programs designed to develop students’ reading and comprehension skills, research skills, and independent reading. As well, these programs have included a heavy emphasis on students’ use of learning technologies and instruction in digital citizenship. Emily has also worked closely with classroom teachers in the design and implementation of inquiry units of work.
Emily’s passion for her work is made clear in the wonderful events and displays she organises for the students. These activities include “Picnic Reads at Recess,” Book Week activities, The Premier’s Reading Challenge, and regular displays corresponding to library-related calendar events. Emily also runs a vibrant Library Leaders Program, hosts an engaging library website, and generally creates an attractive and welcoming physical environment and atmosphere for staff and students.
In addition to working closely with teachers and students, Emily works hard to keep parents informed about, and involved in, library happenings. She writes a fortnightly article for the school newsletter and attends the P&C Meeting each term to advocate for the library. Emily also takes her passion beyond the school community into the broader community by fundraising for causes, such as the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Regarding her own professional growth, Emily is an active member of her local, state, and national professional bodies and regularly attends professional development opportunities offered by these groups. Furthermore, she has given back to these organisations and their members through presentations for SLANSW, ALIA, Shoalhaven Teacher Librarian Network, and the Primary Libraries Creative Collaboration (PLCC), organising events for her local TL network, and sharing her knowledge, skills, and resources via social media.
While it is difficult to articulate all that Emily has done to be recognised as the SLANSW 2022 Teacher Librarian of the Year, perhaps her Principal and Assistant Principal have said it best in their support of Emily’s nomination:
Self-awareness and self-reflection make Emily an exceptional teacher librarian. She is always striving to know better so that she can do better and is flexible and receptive to feedback. You can see that Emily loves what she does and has a commitment to her school. Our library is a magical place because of Emily’s commitment.
This award will be presented at Professional Learning Summit: The Strength of Story on March 4th, 2023.
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