NEW YORK, March 30, 2020 /PRNewswire/
-- Cicely Lewis, a
school librarian at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Georgia, has been named the 2020
School Librarian of the Year by School Library
Journal (SLJ) and Scholastic, the global children's
publishing, education and media company. The award recognizes K–12
library professionals for outstanding achievement and the exemplary
use of 21st-century tools and services to engage children and teens
toward fostering multiple literacies.
To learn more about Cicely and the School Librarian of the Year
Award, visit: https://www.slj.com/SLOTY2020.
In her role as school librarian, Cicely creates programming that
celebrates the diversity of her more than 2,600 students and their
240 teachers. She is the founder of Read Woke, an initiative
encouraging students to read books that challenge a social norm or
the status quo, give a voice to the voiceless, have a protagonist
from an underrepresented or oppressed group, or provide information
about a group that has been disenfranchised. The movement has
sparked meaningful conversations schoolwide and has even gone
global, reaching as far as Canada
and Norway.
Cicely encourages her students to be active members of their
library community. They provide one another with reading
recommendations and utilize the media center's modern offerings,
such as exercise bike desks and glass study rooms with projectors,
to learn, collaborate and be creative. Cicely hosts energizing
events throughout the year to engage students, including a book
fashion show that shines a spotlight on powerful reads, Tech Woke
projects where students use technology to learn about social
justice issues, and a virtual reality experience during Black
History Month where students "travel back in time" to learn about
pivotal moments in Black history. Outside of the media center,
Cicely visits districts nationwide to advocate for the importance
of libraries and certified librarians in every school.
As School Librarian of the Year, Cicely is featured on the cover
of the April 2020 issue of
SLJ, and will receive a suite of awards from Scholastic,
including $2,500 cash and
$2,500 worth of digital or print
products for her library, and an invitation to the 2020 Scholastic
Independent Reading Summit, a professional learning conference
designed to provide educators with the latest practices and
research for encouraging independent reading in their schools.
Meadowcreek High School students will also receive free books as
part of a special literacy event with an in-person visit from the
Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs,
John Schumacher (@MrSchuReads), and
a Scholastic author.
Quotes:
Cicely
Lewis, 2020 School Librarian of the Year
"I started Read Woke to help empower my students. I never in my
wildest dreams imagined it would take off like it has. I am so
honored to receive this prestigious award and I plan to continue to
advocate for students who are looking for answers, looking for a
connection, and seeking to find themselves in books. I will use
this platform to tell the world that every child deserves a
certified school librarian in their school!"
Kathy Ishizuka, Editor
in Chief, School Library Journal
"It is our honor
to hold up the work of Cicely Lewis,
who is an extraordinary educator and has made all the difference in
her community by engaging and empowering students. School
Library Journal is pleased to celebrate her stellar work through
the School Librarian of the Year Award, which highlights the
critical role of library professionals in fostering multiple
literacies among our nation's youth."
About the School Librarian of the Year Awards:
The
2020 School Librarian of the Year was selected by a panel of
judges, including the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic
Book Fairs, John Schumacher, and
2018 School Librarian of the Year Ali Schilpp. All entries were
judged based on criteria, such as creativity in programming and use
of content, exemplary service to fulfill the needs of students and
the school community and demonstrated student engagement.
About School Library Journal:
School Library
Journal, a MSI publication, is the premier publication for
librarians and information specialists who work with children and
teens. A source of quality journalism and reviews for more than 60
years, SLJ produces award-winning features and news coverage
on: literacy, best practices, technology, education policy and
other issues of interest to the school library and greater educator
community. SLJ evaluates a broad range of resources, from
books and digital content to databases, in 6,000+ reviews published
annually.
For more information about Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), visit the
Company's media room at http://mediaroom.scholastic.com.
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SOURCE Scholastic