Toor Scholarship for Strong Public-School Libraries

Sponsored by the Toor Family, in honor of their parents, Jay and Ruth Toor

Monetary Amount: $1,000 travel stipend

Karen Bentall
Director, Literacy and Libraries, Room to Read
Oakridge Elementary School
Arlington, Virginia

"We are at a pivotal moment in education. The harm that the pandemic unleashed on children's development is increasingly being understood. The potential harm that unrestricted technological developments like AI might unleash on humanity is being debated. In addition, stubborn illiteracy rates, mental health crises, and book banning can feel paralyzingly overwhelming. School librarians are in a powerful position to act. Specifically, story times, book clubs, and community events can build upon humanity’s age-old tradition of passing on wisdom and human connection in a way that gives our children the dispositions, communication, and information literacy skills they need in a complex, confusing and changing world. I am grateful to the Toor Family for their advocacy of strong school libraries. After 16 years as a Virginia certified school librarian, I joined nonprofit Room to Read where we establish school libraries as part of our work to end to global illiteracy."

Harry Robert Brake Jr., Library Media Specialist
Woodridge High School
Greenwood, Delaware

"Librarianship and librarians share the "shelf" of opportunity with many titles that are still unfamiliar to many. Advocacy, safe havens, opportunity, discovery, literacy, freedom, and so many more titles. Educating and involving all stakeholders in what magic occurs between the stacks of all libraries, in all communities is the title page of learning. Analogies of the discoveries that are possible in libraries need to be available at any time, to everyone, by librarians."

Molly Dettmann, Teacher Librarian
Norman Public Schools/Norman North High School
Norman, Oklahoma

"It is an honor to win this so that I can learn from my colleagues from all over at the AASL National Conference. I have worked to use my library's social media as an advocacy tool to raise awareness about the work I do as a school librarian, and I'm excited to share the plans and ideas that others can use in their own school library promotion."

Sheila Michaels, Library Media Specialist
Nixa Public Schools
Nixa, Missouri

"I am so grateful to be a recipient of the Toor Scholarship to attend the AASL Annual Conference. The best PD comes from fellow professionals, and this conference is the premier event to learn from my peers. Orchestrating a large community reading program involves a huge amount of planning and problem-solving. It is my hope that sharing my BookBag program with others will inspire them to undertake similar initiatives. It is also my hope to collaborate with others who can offer ideas to make the program even more effective."

Martha Pangburn, Teacher Librarian
Norman Public Schools
Norman, Oklahoma

"I am honored to receive the Toor Scholarship for Strong Public-School Libraries. The annual Norman High School Creativity and Learning Showcase celebrates the amazing teaching and learning happening at our school, with the Library at the center, while inviting our community to experience it firsthand. I’m thrilled to share our work with others, while also having the opportunity to learn from and connect with colleagues around the country at the AASL National Conference."

Danielle Schwessinger, Media Specialist
Elmer Wolfe Elementary
Union Bridge, Maryland

"I am passionately invested in continuing on the path that proves that school libraries are the heart of the school and believe there is no better way to do that than by continuing to learn and grow as a professional. My school deserves an invested and enthusiastic librarian and I am willing to do whatever it takes to show them that a strong school library can have an immense impact on the lives of children."

Kristen Thrower, School Librarian
Meadowbrook High School
North Chesterfield, Virginia

"I am honored to receive the Toor Scholarship for Strong Public-School Libraries. The Meadowbrook High School Nonprofit Fair was a collaborative effort between local nonprofits and classroom teachers and facilitated by myself, the school librarian. I strive to help students engage in active learning and make real-world connections with their assignments. This annual event has expanded in scope to include volunteer, internship and employment opportunities with the organizations that participated."