School Library Media Specialist of the Year Award

The Media Specialist of the Year award honors a full-time media specialist on the basis of exemplary library media programs as well as active participation and service to SCASL and other related professional organizations. Exemplary library media programs are those defined as reflecting the themes of collaboration, leadership, and technology integration as outlined in Information Power: Building Partnerships for Learning (American Association of School Librarians). Qualities of exemplary programs include outstanding and effective support of student learning through well-rounded, innovative, and comprehensive program administration; effective collaborative partnerships with teachers in both teaching and learning; and information access. In accepting this award, the Media Specialist of the Year agrees to make presentations throughout the state to share his/her methods of best practice including presentations at the annual SCASL Conference and the South Carolina Administrator’s Conference. The Media Specialist of the Year also agrees to write at least one article for the Media Center Messenger, serve on the SCASL Awards Committee, and represent SCASL in Columbia on South Carolina Legislative Day.

Purpose:

To recognize a certified school library media specialist who has made an outstanding contribution to school library media service.

Criteria:
1.The nominee (minimum of 5 years experience required) should have made an outstanding contribution to school library media service through
A. Active membership in SCASL and other related professional organizations.
B. Effective collaboration with classroom teachers to integrate materials into a standards-based curriculum.
C. Effective planning and implementation of an exemplary school library media program as a certified, full time employee in a school library media center in South Carolina.

2. Nominations are accepted from members of SCASL, teachers presently working in South Carolina schools or administrators presently working in/with a South Carolina school(s). It is expected that nominated media specialists will fill out their own applications. The application should be written in the first person.

3. Applications should include the following information. Label all sections. Do not exceed space limitations indicated. Font size must be no less than 12 and double-spaced; single sided copies only. Six (6) copies of each application and one (1) copy of the videotape must be completed and postmarked by no later than December 1, 2007. The application should be sent to the Awards Committee chairperson. Please do not use folders or binders. Applications (including videotapes) will not be returned. All applications and videotapes submitted will become the property of SCASL. Email and faxes will not be accepted.

A. Cover Sheet. Please include this information on a cover sheet (use 12 point type throughout the application):
1. Name of Nominee
2. Position
3. Name of School
4. School Address,
5. Nominee's E-mail Address
6. School Telephone
7. School District
8. Nominee's Home Mailing Address
9. Nominee's Home Telephone
10. Years in Present Position
11. Total Years Experience
12. Area(s) of Certification
13. Degrees earned with names of degree granting institutions and years degrees were earned
14. Name of Principal
15. Principal's Telephone
16. Principal's E-mail Address
17. Name of Nominator
18. Position of Nominator
19. Business Address of Nominator
20. Nominator's Telephone
21. Nominator's E-mail Address.
22. Give the Web address of the nominee's school's home page
23. Give the Web address of the nominee's media center's home page. The school library Web pages should be up-to-date; disseminate information for the benefit of the learning community; promote reading, research, and the effective use of ideas and information; and reflect exemplary, effective, and innovative programming

B. School Community and Goals of the School Library.
Explain how the mission statement and the current goals of the school library media program are in alignment wtih the mission statement and specific needs of the school community, including students, teachers and parents. Include the number of students, staff, and your operating budget. (Do not exceed 2 pages for Section B.)

C. Collaboration, Leadership, and Technology Integration.
The media specialist should choose three collaborative projects he/she has completed during the last 12 months that represent the best examples of his/her ability to partner with a classroom teacher(s) to create exciting experiences in an information-rich environment. These examples should highlight how the media specialist serves as a leader in implementing quality teaching and learning by integrating materials, multimedia, research, information literacy skills, and technology into a curriculum-based unit of study from the initial process of setting learning objectives to assessing student learning. Each example should show how the media specialist led by partnering with teachers to create, implement, and assess learning experiences and how these collaborative projects impacted student learning. (Do not exceed 3 pages for Section C.)

D. Creative and Innovative Programming.
Using three examples, explain how the media specialist has successfully met the needs of his/her unique learning community (students, teachers, and parents) by planning and implementing creative and innovative programs and specifically how these programs have impacted student learning. One example should relate to technology to demonstrate how the media specialist has been a leader in the school community's (students, faculty, and parents) technology development over the last three years. A second example should relate to promoting reading and literacy. (Do not exceed 3 pages for Section D.)

E. Videotape.
Include one (1) videotape highlighting the media center's learning environment with narration by the media specialist who is being nominated and also demonstrating how the media specialist is fostering an appreciation of literature with students. The first part of the videotape should include a narrated 360 degree pan of the media center to highlight the collection and organization of materials as well as the general appearance of the media center (not to exceed 2-3 minutes). The second part should be a segment from a single lesson that demonstrates how the media specialist assists students as developing readers to understand and appreciate literature or information literacy skills (not to exceed 15 minutes). Provide a written commentary that provides a context and describes the media specialist's plan for instruction, analyzes the instruction and reflects on the media specialist's ability to foster student appreciation of literature or assist students with information literary skills (not to exceed 2 pages).

F. Professional Service and Professional Development.
List activities/awards that you have received within the last five (5) years that relate to service and professional development in the field of library and information science (i.e. membership roles in professional organizations, National Board certification, presentations at workshops and/or conferences, serving on local and state committees, publications, grants, etc.). Also list any recertification courses, graduate courses, and professional development courses completed or taught by the media specialist during the last three years and how these courses impacted student learning. (Do not exceed 1 page.)

G. Letters of Recommendation.
Submit three letters of recommendation that support the nominee's role as an exemplary media specialist who demonstrates outstanding service in three areas: teaching and learning, information access and delivery, and program administration. These letters of recommendation should describe the nominee's ability to impact student learning by ensuring that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. At least one letter must be from the Principal who works in the same school as the nominee. (Do not exceed three letters.)

H. Finalist Interviews via Conference Call.
The Awards Committee will call finalists to ask questions to substantiate evidence of the finalists' abilities to impact student learning by (1.) ensuring that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information; (2.) demonstrating outstanding service in areas of teaching/learning, and information access/delivery; and (3.) planning and implementing exemplary, effective, and innovative programs.

4. The Evaluation Form.
The evaluation form used by the judges is attached.

School Library Media Specialist of the Year Applicant Evaluation Form

Applicant #________ Judge # _________ Total Score_________

Six copies of the completed application must be mailed and postmarked no later than December 1, 2007 and mailed to Betty Jordan, Awards Committee Chair, 114 Nims Spring Drive, Fort Mill, SC 29715. Please do not use folders or binders. The committee cannot consider any applications postmarked after the deadline. Applications by email or fax will not be accepted. Applications will not be returned.

Finalists will receive written notification in January 2008.

Responsibilities of the Media Specialist of the Year

The recipient of the Media Specialist of the Year (MSOY) award is expected to