2010-2011 Election Candidate Bios

President-Elect:

Sarah Hill

EDUCATION BACKGROUND (institution, degree, date):
Eastern Illinois University, M.S. Education Administration, 2008
University of Missouri, M.A. Information Science and Learning Technologies, 2002
Eastern Illinois University, B.A. English, 1997

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE  (include dates):
         Current:     Paris Cooperative High School, Paris, IL (2005-current)
         Previous:  Fairfield Community High School, Fairfield, IL (2001-2005)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES (ISLMA):

ISLMA Treasurer, 2008-2010
ISLMA Board of Directors, 2006-2008
ISLMA Virtual Communication Chair 2007-2009
ISLMA Internet Safety Task Force 2009-2010
ISLMA 2010 Conference Steering Committee

OTHER LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES:

2010 ALA YALSA Alex Award Committee Chair
ALA YALSA Alex Award committee member, 2007-2009
served on ISBE’s Assessment of Professional Teaching Review Committee

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS (other than ISLMA):
American Library Association
Young Adult Library Services Association

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS (100 words or less):
As president-elect of ISLMA, I will strive to provide cost-effective professional development to our members and to modernize our organization.  I hope to streamline ISLMA while not cutting quality.  I’ll also stress new member recruitment and getting more ISLMA members involved with the organization.

Treasurer:

Carolyn Kinsella

EDUCATION BACKGROUND (institution, degree, date) 
University of St. Francis – MS Educational Leadership – 2007
University of Illinois – MS Library and Information Science – 2003
University of Illinois – BA English Secondary Education, Library Science Minor, 1977

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:  (include dates)
Minooka Community High School, Minooka, IL – 1986-present – High School Librarian
West Grant Schools, Patch Grove, WI – 1977-1986 – High School English and Elementary Librarian
Wauzeka Schools, Wauzeka, WI – 1976-77 – Reading teacher

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:  (ISLMA)
Conference Presenter - in 2007, 2003, and 1998
Leadership training - 2008
Conference committee - 2009

OTHER LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES:
Minooka Education Association:  Past Secretary, Past Negotiating team, Current Evaluation Committee Chair, Current Leave Committee, Current NCA committee
CCD teacher - past
4-H leader - past

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS (other than ISLMA):
AASL
ICE

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS:  (100 words or less)
Everywhere I go people are talking about the economic problems of Illinois.  Industries are shutting their doors and people are out of work, which means a decrease in school revenues.  Add to this revenue loss the delays in state payments, and schools are truly hurting.  Because librarians and libraries are not “in the classrooms” library budgets are being decimated and librarian positions are being slashed.  ISLMA must continue to educate the decision makers - parents, board members, and legislators - that cutting librarians and library budgets is not cost effective and not good for the students.

Treasurer:

John Moranski

EDUCATION BACKGROUND (institution, degree, date)

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE;  (include dates)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:  (ISLMA)

OTHER LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

At Williams High School in Burlington, NC, I was a member of the committee and the principal author of the report that led to our selection as a National Blue Ribbon School in 1992-93. 

Also at Williams, I was a member of the committee and principal author of the report that led to our selection as the pilot school for a model of teacher in-service seminars sponsored by the National Humanities Center in 1992.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS (other than ISLMA):
IEA, NEA

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS:  (100 words or less)
My time on the ISLMA Board, working with I-SAIL, and as a member of the Linking for Learning Task Force has only reinforced my belief that the school librarian is central to the success of our schools and our students.  But the current fiscal situation is threatening that role, as funding and jobs are being lost.  ISLMA has a vital part to play both in helping school librarians around the state educate their school communities and in educating state and local officials on the fundamental role librarians have in helping our children succeed.

Board Member:

Charles Atteberry

EDUCATION BACKGROUND
Illinois State University

• Bachelor of Science- History (1994)
• teaching certificate for History Education (2002)
•  endorsement for library media specialist (2007)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Master of Library & Information Science (anticipated graduation May 2010)

 EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE
2001-2007       Bloomington Public Library: Library Technical Assistant
2007-Present   East Peoria Community High School: Library Media Specialist
           

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:  (ISLMA)
Attended Leadership Conference held in June 2009 at the Alliance Library System
Member of Scholarships & Awards Committee, 2009-10 school year

OTHER LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES:
East Peoria Community High School Textbook Committee 2009-10

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS (other than ISLMA)
Illinois Reading Council, 2008-present

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS

Currently, the biggest concern for many library media specialists in Illinois would be the current financial situation at the state level and how it will impact school library funding and student achievement.   In the time that I have been a library media specialist I have already come under the impression that when money is tight, libraries at all levels are looked at as possible candidates for cuts in funding or even possible elimination.  With the completion of my Master’s degree this spring, I hope to devote more time to school library advocacy especially on this topic.

Board Member:

Angela L. Green

EDUCATION BACKGROUND (institution, degree, date)
Dominican University, Master of Library and Information Science, 2005
University of Illinois, Bachelor of Arts in Management, 2002
Illinois Central College, Associate in Applied Science (LTA – Library Technical Assistant), 1994

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE:  (include dates)
Alliance Library System, 1994 - Present

• Library Development Consultant - Provide leadership to school and youth services librarians including site visits and continuing education workshops.  Present workshops on a variety of topics related to youth services and school libraries including sharing the value of hiring a certified school librarian. (2005 to Present)
• Various Titles - Provided customer service to all ALS staff and libraries. Served as the human resource manager. Coordinated all administrative projects. (1994 – 2005)

Morton Public Library District, 1993 – 1994

• Intern - Worked on special projects and provided customer service at the circulation desk .

Illinois Valley Library System, 1987 – 1994

• Various Titles - Responsible for customer service and project management.
  

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:  (ISLMA)

• Serving as the ISLMA Professional Development Function Representative (2010-Present)
• Serving on the ISLMA Linking for Learning Task Force (2009-Present)
• Conducting multiple presentations, including at ISLMA and AASL conferences, on the I-SAIL project (2009- Present)
• Presented to ISLMA leaders and potential leaders on “Collaboration” at the ISLMA Leadership Summit (2009)
• Served on the ISLMA Standards Committee that created I-SAIL (2008-2009)
• Served on the 2008-2013 ISLMA Strategic Planning Committee (2007-2008)

OTHER LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES AND HONORS:

• ILA Crosman Memorial Award Recipient (2009)
• Illinois Library Association Youth Services Forum (2006 – Present)
• Illinois Library Association Youth Services Forum Davis Cup and Golden Ticket         Awards Committee Member (2006-Present)
• EBSCO K-12 Nationwide Advisory Panel Member (2008 – Present)
• Illinois State Library Letters for Literature Reader (2008 – Present)
• Presentations regarding the value of certified school librarians to potential administrators (in conjunction with WIU professor Dr. Sandra Watkins, 2007 – Present)
• Illinois State Library Synergy program Graduate (2008)
• Reaching Forward South Conference Chair (2000 – 2001)

 
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS (other than ISLMA):

• Illinois Library Association

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONCERN:  (100 words or less)
I have a strong passion to share the value of school libraries and to advocate for the necessity of certified school librarians to manage and grow library services to students.  I have presented dozens of workshops to potential and current administrators on the importance of school library media programs.  Additionally, I collaborated with school librarians to create I-SAIL, which was adopted by ISLMA in 2009 as a statewide model.  I have a great desire to serve you and to ignite the same passion in others.  We must advocate for our profession as we can make a difference when we stand united!

Board Member:

Erin Drankwalter Wyatt

EDUCATION BACKGROUND (institution, degree, date)
University of North Texas, PhD in Information Science, currently pursuing
Dominican University, MLIS, 2001
Chicago State University, MSEd, 1996
Augustana College (Rock Island, IL), BA, 1993

EMPLOYMENT EXPERIENCE: (include dates)
Learning Center Director. Highland Middle School, Libertyville. 2005 – present.
Virtual Learning Center: http://www.d70schools.org/hlc
Learning Center Director. Palombi Middle School, Lake Villa. 1999-2005.
Teacher, English and social studies. Bowen High School, Chicago. 1994-1998.

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:  (ISLMA)
ISLMA Virtual Communications Committee, 2008
ISLMA Continuing Education Function Representative, 2006-2007
ISLMA Leadership Retreat Participant, 2006
Led professional development sessions for the organization and presented at several ISLMA conferences. Many of these sessions focused on Web 2.0 and school libraries.

OTHER LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES:
Executive Director’s Advisory Council, North Suburban Library System. 2009 – present.

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS (other than ISLMA):
ICE (Illinois Computing Educators)

STATEMENT OF PROFESSIONAL CONCERNS:  (100 words or less)
In my practice I strive to maintain a user-centered focus and build a library program, in both its physical and virtual form, that is an essential destination for students and staff members.

School librarians are on the front lines of moving schools and learners into the future, but current economic hardships are putting school librarians and library programs on the chopping block. Through increasing our advocacy efforts, engaging in continuing professional development, and strengthening relationships within the larger library community, I believe we can become better positioned to serve all of Illinois’ students and teachers.

Board Member: