AASL 2012 Elections

Director-Elect Region 2

Eileen F. Kern

Current Position:

Vice President/President-Elect of Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, 2010

Previous Positions:

Elementary Librarian, Parkland School District, Allentown, Pennsylvania, 1976 to 2009; Adjunct Instructor, Department of Library Science and Instructional Technology, Kutztown University, Kutztown, Pennsylvania, 2006 to 2009; Consultant, Follett Library Resources, McHenry, Illinois, 2000 to 2008

Degrees and Certificates:

Wilkes University,MS Classroom Technology, 2007; Lehigh University, MEd Reading, 1980, Millersville State College, BS Library Science, 1976

ALA and/or ALA-APA Activities:

AASL Affiliate Assembly (member) 2010-present; AASL Learning 4 Life (PA Coordinator) 2010-present; AASL Task Force on the Librarian’s Role in Reading (member) 2008; AASL Conference Concurrent Session Proposal (reviewer) 2011

Offices held in the ALA-APA, state, & regional library associations, and other associations:

Pennsylvania School Librarians Association Vice President/President-Elect, 2010-2012; Treasurer,1992-1996;Board of Directors,1991-1996; 2010-present;Chair, Regional Coordinator Committee, 1988-1990; Chair, Professional Standards Committee, 1990-1992; Chair, Budget and Finance Committee, 1992-1996; Chair, Constitution and Bylaws, 2000-2004; Chair, Conference Chair, 2010-present.

Honors and Awards (library and non-library):

Outstanding Contributor Award, Pennsylvania School Librarians Association, 2006; Selection committee member for the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, 2009; Nominated as Keystone “Technology Integrator” Teacher, Parkland School District, 2005, 2009.

Major Accomplishments:

Chair of the Kutztown University Children’s Literature Conference,1998 to 2008; Writing team member for The Pennsylvania School Library Information Specialist Toolkit for Implementing Information Literacy in Schools, Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1999

Publications:

Kern, E., “Leading the way: becoming a travel agent for the world of information in the 21st century.” Learning and Media. Volume 24, Number 10, 1996.

Statement of Professional Concerns:

School librarians network within our profession. The time has come to be more visible and vocal within the community by spreading the message of what students are really doing in our libraries. Tell the stories not just the numbers!

Evaluation of educators is a key issue. How do you evaluate school librarians? If decision-makers at the state level knew the role school librarians play within the educational community, many of the current issues would be resolved. Strengthening relationship with other educational professional associations is a must!

AASL needs to develop and embrace new models for interacting with learners using innovative technology. The potential of having satellite locations for the 2012 Fall Forum is an excellent example.

School libraries are the information bridge to the future for all of our students. We, as knowledgeable professionals help to build that bridge. AASL is the most valuable engineer for this project.

Member of ALA since:

1985