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 2025 SLANSW Teacher Librarian of the Year is Gina Krohn, Teacher Librarian at Glenfield Public School. Gina has demonstrated active professionalism by innovating in all dimensions of her practice to implement outstanding library programs and services and building professional relationships with students, staff, parents, and colleagues.
Gina genuinely enjoys creating age-appropriate comprehensive and engaging programs for K-6 students and, where possible, enhances these programs with opportunities to consolidate their learning in a variety of ways. In all research units she creates, the emphasis is on literacy skill building. As students explore topics that support their classroom learning or are of personal interest to them, she provides explicit and age-appropriate modelling of the skills needed to become independent learners, as well as a variety of ways for students to demonstrate their success in skill acquisition. Within units of work, aspects of digital literacy are explored, as students are encouraged to develop the habit of determining the relevance and veracity of the resources and websites they used.
As a passionate advocate for fostering a love of reading, Gina regularly immerses herself in a wide variety of books, enabling her to recommend titles that resonate with diverse student interests and needs. For the past two years, she has demonstrated her dedication to literacy at a broader level by reviewing more than 40 books for the Premier’s Reading Challenge, reflecting her commitment to supporting readers far beyond her school community. To engage reluctant readers, Gina created the "Backpack Project," a literacy initiative that integrates creativity, collaboration and student-centred learning. Through this program, she has collaborated with 44 authors and illustrators to develop a variety of engaging activities, including literacy challenges and creative tasks tailored to specific books. Each backpack includes multiple access points for students: curated toys, games, examples of peer work, book-specific challenges, and personalised feedback from the contributing "Backpacker”. This initiative has significantly enhanced reading engagement among her school’s reluctant readers, fostering a positive connection to books and literacy. Its success is also reflected in its widespread adoption, with over 192 backpack bookings across schools in NSW, ACT, VIC, SA, TAS, and QLD. The Backpack Project demonstrates Gina’s ability to align resources with diverse student needs, create meaningful learning experiences, and build partnerships that amplify the library's role in education.
Gina is a tireless advocate for the vital role of school libraries in fostering literacy, inquiry and lifelong learning. She regularly promotes the importance of libraries to Department of Education staff, her school leadership and the wider community, demonstrating how libraries empower students as readers, researchers and critical thinkers. Beyond her local community, Gina demonstrates her professional commitment by actively participating in professional learning opportunities, including library conferences, workshops, and webinars. She attends many online Professional Learning sessions, recognising that there is always something to learn and new ways of promoting books and library services and programs from her many talented teacher librarian colleagues. As a mentor, she provides guidance and support to new teacher librarians, helping them navigate their roles and fostering a collaborative professional network. She has also taken the initiative to lead professional development sessions within the Primary Libraries: Creative Collaboration network, empowering colleagues with innovative strategies for library programming and resource management.
Gina’s advocacy for the library’s role in education and her ability to create meaningful connections between students, staff, and the community make her an essential part of Glenfield Public School. Her passion, expertise, and collaborative spirit not only enrich her school’s learning environment but also inspires those around her to recognise and support the transformative power of libraries. Gina’s professional knowledge and commitment ensure that the library remains a cornerstone of student achievement and staff development. Members of the School Library Association of New South Wales congratulate Gina Krohn as the recipient of the Teacher Librarian of the Year Award for 2025.
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