AASL President, 2008-2009

Ann M. Martin

Education

The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., Masters of Arts in Education, 1995; Radford University, Radford, Virginia, Bachelor of Science, 1969

Current Position

Educational Specialist, Library Information Services, Henrico County Schools, 2004- Present.

Previous Positions

Head Library Media Specialist, James River High School, 1993 - 2004; Adjunct Instructor, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1996 - 2000; Head Library Media Specialist, Bailey Bridge Middle School, 1991 - 1994; Head Library Media Specialist, Hopkins Road Elementary School, 1980 - 1991; History Teacher/Middle School Library Media Specialist, Orono High School, 1969 - 1970

ALA Activities

AASL: President, Board, 2008-Present; AASL: Joint Youth Council Executive Board, 2007-Present; AASL: President-Elect, Board, 2007-2008; ALA: Appointments Committee, 2007-2008; AASL: Member-at-Large, Board, 2006-2007; AASL: Director-Region IV, Board, 2003-05; AASL: Director-Elect-Region IV, Affiliate Assembly, 2001-03; AASL: Chair, Award Committee, 2005.

Offices Held outside of ALA

Virginia Educational Media Association: Immediate Past-President, Executive Board, 1999-2000; Virginia Educational Media Association (VEMA): President, Executive Board, 1998-99; Virginia Educational Media Association (VEMA): President-Elect, Executive Board, 1997-98; Virginia Educational Media Association (VEMA): Treasurer, Executive Board, 1994-97.

Membership in Other Professional and Related Organizations

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), 2007-Present; Supervisors Section of AASL (SPVS), 2007-Present; Freedom to Read Foundation, 2003-Present; Virginia Society for Technology in Education (VSTE), 1996-Present; Virginia Educational Media Association (VEMA), 1980-Present.

Publications

Co-author, "CD-ROM's and the Online Catalog," Media and Methods, November/December 1995; "A Community Reads GO READ: Year 2," School Librarian's Workshop, March 2004; Seven Steps to an Award Winning School Library Program (Libraries Unlimited), July 2005; "Articles, Reviews, AASL Reports, President's Column," VEMA Mediagram, 1998-2004; “The Evolution of the Librarian as Advocate: Are Advocates Born or Developed”, Knowledge Quest, September/October 2007;“Preparing for a Challenge”, Knowledge Quest and KQWeb, November/December 2007.

Honors, Awards, Prizes, Medals, Citations

Longwood University Professionals Who Made a Difference Award, 2008; AASL National School Library Media Program of the Year, 2002; Virginia Tech Excellence in Education Award, 2000; Department of Education Blue Ribbon School Award, James River High School, 2000; Gale's DISCovering Excellence in Education Award, 1998; Virginia Educational Media Association's President Award, 1994; Phi Delta Kappa Chapter 1431 Outstanding Teacher Award, 1991; Virginia Education Association Peace and International Relations Award, 1991.

Accomplishments

Assisted ALA staff with NCLB verbiage seeking inclusion of school library media specialist into NCLB. Served to create an AASL Five Point Plan to Increase Election Participation, Attended the United States Department of Education High School Leadership Summit, October 8, 2003, Served on the AASL Equity of Access Committee, Worked successfully to bring West Virginia Library Association to Affiliate status. Virginia Educational Media Association (VEMA) accomplishments: Directed the establishment of a Future Trends and Issues Committee, Completed a survey and consequent action plan to address the shortage of school library media specialist in the state of Virginia, Initiated a membership drive that resulted in VEMA reaching the highest membership level in 25 years.

Statement

Today's data-driven educational climate requires communication in assessment language to validate school libraries' contribution to student achievement. Disturbing trends that hamper 21st Century skill development include inadequate funding, insufficient technology support, poor training and recruitment efforts, and non-certified staffing of school libraries. As President-Elect I will continue advocating for improving school libraries in the 21st century by focusing on these concerns. I will encourage resolution to issues involving intellectual freedom and equitable access to information for school libraries. Efforts to insert library media specialist into the wording of NCLB require the development of an action plan by AASL to assure that school library media specialist will be available to fill the demand. I will provide leadership for the future of our profession by demonstrating to public officials the importance of school libraries in opening the door to excellence for all students. Together we can Optimize Student Learning @ your library®.