Learning through Books, Media and Technology

ARTICLES THIS ISSUE:

1996 Administrative Leadership Award for Library Media Services

1996 President's Award Winner

1996 Technology Award

Editorial: Learning Comes in Many Languages

From Cave Writing to Computers

A Theme's the Thing

Primary Languages, Primary sources on the Internet

Update on a Model Library Media Program

Limited? There Are No Limits

A Bilingual Student Population

Cooking Their Way to Literacy

Good Ideas! Home Page

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1996 President's Award Winner

Sandy Schuckett

Each year, the President's Award honors a person who exemplifies the best in what a library media teacher does with students and teachers in the school library. Information Power defines library media teaching excellence in terms of an individual's contributions as a teacher, an information specialist, and an instructional consultant . . . and Sandy Schuckett, library media teacher at Los Angeles Unified's El Sereno Middle School, is a master in all three areas.

In her teacher role, Sandy instructs students at all levels to be literate in the use of information and to be connoisseurs of literature. She teaches students to access, evaluate, and use the many resources in her library through creative treasure hunt orientations, reference material surveys, research technology instruction, and individualized reading guidance. She ensures equal access to information by providing a parallel program for emerging English learners and tailoring programs for special education and deaf/hard-of-hearing students. She provides staff development for teachers on integrating the school library media center and instructional technology into the schoolwide curriculum. She also teaches parent education classes on home reading.

In her information specialist role, Sandy has built collections of print, audiovisual, and electronic resources accessible to speakers of English and other languages. She provides bibliographies and materials to faculty to support their programs and professional development, works with public and university librarians, and keeps her staff up-to-date on current information.

In her instructional consultant role, Sandy collaborates with teachers-individually and in teams-to develop exciting units that integrate library media center resources, the curriculum, and fun. Last year, for example, she worked with sixth grade teachers and students to create Greek Day (with a feast, a marketplace, entertainment, and both academic and athletic Olympics). She and seventh grade teams produced the Ancient Newspaper, and she and the eighth grade collaborated on a prejudice unit using World War II as its vehicle. She mentors teachers and teaching assistants in instructional planning and presentation, and provides professional development at local, regional, and state levels on providing equity to emerging English speakers.

Many of us know Sandy through her extensive involvement in CSLA as legislative vice president or her Leadership for Diversity work; as a presenter at CABE, CSLA, and other conferences; or for her work with the California Library Networking Task Force. Sandy's work as a library activist may well be vital to the future of school libraries, but her day-to-day work as a library media teacher makes the critical difference to the students and staff at El Sereno Middle School. For her exemplary work, the CSLA honors Sandy with the President's Award.

• El Sereno Middle School (Grades 6-8; enrollment 1, 913)
  2839 North Eastern Avenue, Los Angeles 90032; (213) 223-2441
  Raul Moreno, Principal
  Sandy Schuckett, Library Media Teacher
  Los Angeles Unified School District