# FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE #
Prince Frederick, MD (April 3, 2019) - Maryland Association of School Librarians (MASL) is pleased to announce the 29 nominees, and five finalists, for the 2019 Maryland School Librarian of the Year award which honors a school librarian for exemplary service and outstanding achievements in the field of school library media. The recipient of the award will be announced at the Common Ground Conference in Ocean City, Maryland ( May 2-3, 2019).
To be considered for this award, nominees met the basic eligibility requirements, including being a current member of MASL, a Certified School Librarian, actively serving as a school librarian in a public, private, or independent school in Maryland that serves any students in grades PreK-12, and serving in the same role/position for three or more years.
The selection committee is comprised of representatives from MASL, Maryland State
Department of Education, McDaniel College, Towson University, and University of Maryland College Park. The selection committee will evaluate the nominees based on the extent to which they exemplify the five roles (administrator, leader, information specialist, teacher, and instructional partner) of a library media specialist as set forth in AASL’s Standards for the 21st Century Learner .
The recipient of the 2019 Maryland School Librarian of the Year award will receive a variety of prizes, including complimentary registration to both MASL’s 2019 Conference and to Common Ground 2019. The recipient will also receive a Maryland themed gift basket donated by Taylor Book Group in Bel Air, MD and a $200 Capstone Books gift certificate donated by Jim Demos and Capstone books. Finalists will receive plaques, and a gift card donated by Scott Loomis from Tech4Learning. The recipient of the School Librarian of the Year will also receive a trophy.
Nominees for the 2018-2019 Maryland School Librarian of the Year (Finalists are indicated by bold italics* ):
*Irene Alliare, Wilson Wims Elementary School, Montgomery County Public Schools
Irene Allaire has worked in education for 18 years, with the last 7 years being a media specialist and the first 11 years as a classroom teacher. Currently she is the Media Specialist at Wilson Wims Elementary School, where she opened the school and built the media program from the ground up. She graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. In 2006, she graduated from Walden University with a master’s degree in Instructional Technology. Three years later in 2009, she graduated with a second master’s degree, this time in School Library Media Sciences from McDaniel University. She is an MCEA member and since becoming a Media Specialist in 2012, she has been a MASL and MCEMSA (Montgomery County Educational Media Specialists Association) member. In 2013, she was elected the President of MCEMSA and currently serves as Membership Chair, Banquet Committee Co-chair, and Sunshine Committee Co-chair. Irene participated in several work groups including a SLMP work group with supervisors and coordinators in MCPS and a manga/anime workgroup with colleagues in elementary, middle, and high school. As a classroom teacher and Media Specialist, she has held team leader positions and been a part of school leadership teams. She has presented at SLMP professional trainings and technology conferences, as well as co-taught credit courses to her MCPS colleagues. She has also trained
classroom teachers on implementing the new NGSS (Next Generation Science Standards) curriculum. Throughout her career, Irene has advocated for the use technology to enhance learning and teaching. She won MCPS’ Best of the Web Award and recently, she became a Seesaw and BookCreator Ambassador. She shares her passion for books, technology, and learning with her staff and students every day.
*Carmen Belanger, La Plata High School, Charles County Public Schools
Carmen Belanger attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania where she received her BA in International Studies in 1991. She returned to IUP to earn her BS in Spanish Education in 1998. She taught Spanish in Prince George’s and Calvert County from 1998 until 2005. During that time, Carmen earned her Leadership in Teaching: Library Media Specialist Masters at the College of Notre Dame. Her first job as a Library Media Specialist was in 2005 at Bladensburg High School when the school opened in their new building. Carmen worked there for two years and then took a year off to spend time with her infant daughter. In 2008, she started working at Dr. Mudd Elementary School in Charles County. Carmen worked there for 5 years and then
transferred to what she calls her “dream job” at La Plata High School where she plans on retiring. This is her 6th year at her school where she is a member of the Leadership Team and the Trainer for the new Student Information Systems. Carmen has run the Library Social Committee for nine years. She is the President of the local Alpha Delta Kappa chapter. Alpha Delta Kappa is an international honorary organization of women educators dedicated to educational excellence, altruism and world understanding. Carmen is the District Chairperson for the Patuxent District of Alpha Delta Kappa, which includes six chapters in Maryland ADK.
*Joshua M. Burchett, Applications and Research Laboratory (ARL), Howard County Public Schools
Josh Burchett has been the Library Media Specialist at the Applications and Research
Laboratory (ARL) in the Howard County Public School System for the past four years. Prior to making the transition to the county’s career and technology education center, he was a Media Specialist, Television teacher, and member of the 9th grade educational team at Howard High School. His Master of Science in School Library Media was earned at McDaniel College, while his Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education, History was earned at Towson University, which he utilized when beginning his career as a Social Studies teacher at Wilde Lake Middle School. Josh is a member of the School Improvement Team and Marketing Committee at the ARL. He is also the Advisor for the school’s student leadership group, Trailblazers. He continues to grow as a professional as he is or has been a member of the HCPSS Library Media / Instructional Technology Steering Committee, Maryland Association of School Librarians, Howard County Education Association and the HCPSS School-Based Leadership
Cohort.
*Kelli Welch, Southgate Elementary School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Kelli Linnell Welch is a media specialist at Southgate Elementary School, an International Baccalaureate school in Anne Arundel County. The 2018-2019 school year marks Mrs.Welch’s fifth year as a media specialist at Southgate. Prior to being a media specialist, Mrs. Welch taught grades K, 1, 2, and 3 and was a home-and-hospital teacher for grades K-12. Mrs. Welch received a BA in English from the University of Maryland/Baltimore County in 1999. She received a MS in Instructional Technology/School Library Media from Towson University in 2004. She holds teaching certificates in Early Childhood Education, Library Media K-12, and Reading. Mrs. Welch is a member of MASL, TAAAC (Teacher’s Association of Anne Arundel County), Phi Beta Kappa, and American Mensa. Mrs. Welch serves as her school’s e-coach and is recognized as an expert in educational technology at the school and district levels. She has collaborated with the AACPS Office of Instructional Technology, is the chair of the school Technology Committee, and serves as the chair of the Southgate Elementary school-based ALPS team.
*Sally Cliff Wolfe, Sunderland Elementary School, Calvert County Public Schools
Sally C. Wolfe has over 30 years of teaching experience in the school library setting. Mrs. Wolfe began her teaching career in 1987 in the Prince George’s County Public Schools. In August of 1992, she was hired by the Calvert County Public Schools and is currently the School Librarian at Sunderland Elementary School, a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School Award winner. Mrs. Wolfe was named Teacher of the Year at Patuxent Elementary School in 1995 and Teacher of the Year at Sunderland Elementary School in 2013. She was named the Washington Post Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher Award winner for Calvert County in 2014. Sally received her MS in library science from the University of Maryland in College Park, Md. in 1991. She received
her BS in sociology from Salisbury University in Salisbury, Md. in 1985. Sally’s mission statement for the Sunderland Elementary School library is to encourage students to understand and effectively use information to communicate ideas; to effectively and responsibly use technology; to provide AASL Standards- aligned lessons that promote inquiry, inclusion, collaboration, curating resources and exploration; and finally, to develop independent lifelong learners with a love for reading and creativity.
Trish Cole , Great Mills High School, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Ann Dahlheim , Pasadena Elementary School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Trayce Diskin , Silver Creek Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools
Marianne Fitzgerald , Severna Park High School, Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Christine Hoffman , Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, Montgomery County Public Schools
Heather Hyatt , Yellow Springs Elementary School, Frederick County Public Schools
Eileen Kirklen , Chevy Chase Elementary School, Montgomery County Public Schools
Lora Koehler , Hammond Middle School, Howard County Public Schools
Kyra Kreinbrook , Hallie Wells Middle School, Montgomery County Public Schools
Lauren Lynn , Huntingtown Elementary School, Calvert County Public Schools
Christy Marshall , Clemens Crossing Elementary, Howard County Public Schools
Brittany Nuse , Valley Elementary, Frederick County Public Schools
Amanda (Mandy) O’ Neill , Chopticon High School, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Mary Owen , Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
Anne Reis , Homewood Center, Howard County Public Schools
Erik Snyder , Aberdeen High Schools, Harford County Public Schools
Phaedra Spencer , Woodson Elementary School, Somerset County Public Schools
Nancy Stearns , Berlin Intermediate School, Worcester County Public Schools
Jessica Suggs , South Dorchester Pre-K - 8 School, Dorchester County Public Schools
Amy Taylor, Queen Anne’s County High School, Queen Anne’s County Public Schools
Heather Taylor , Folly Quarter Middle School, Howard County Public Schools
MariJoel Verlich , Dowell Elementary School, Calvert County Public Schools
Dylane White , Centerville Elementary, Frederick County Public Schools
Heather Wysokinski , Leonardtown Middle School, St. Mary’s County Public Schools
The list of nominees, including their professional biographies, is available on the Maryland Association of School Librarians website.
The general purpose of MASL is the improvement of teaching and learning in Maryland by bringing together individuals who are engaged in the field of school library media and information studies. MASL achieves the general purpose by working toward developing a lifelong love of reading among students in Maryland, developing skills and promoting excellence in print and nonprint media production among students in Maryland, and promoting and providing for the professional development of its members. In addition, MASL encourages the dissemination and sharing of ideas, programs and materials among members through conferences, publications, and other media, and encourages the implementation of state and national standards and guidelines for school library media programs.
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