“Cranford Dixie Giants” receives AASL Roald Dahl's Miss Honey Social Justice Award

CHICAGO – The “Cranford Dixie Giants” project from Cranford High School in Cranford, New Jersey, is the recipient of the 2025 American Association of School Librarians’ (AASL) Roald Dahl's Miss Honey Social Justice Award. Sponsored by Penguin Random House, this Award recognizes collaboration between school librarians and teachers in the instruction of social justice using school library resources.

A simple question posed during a visit to the library media center in Cranford High School’s “Sports America” elective class sparked a student-driven, multidisciplinary project that grew far beyond the classroom. What began as a research lesson evolved into a community-wide effort to honor the Cranford Dixie Giants, a long-forgotten semi-professional baseball team with deep local roots. Fascinated by this hidden history, students delved deeper, writing articles and producing podcasts for the school’s news platform, Dialogue. Their work raised awareness and laid the groundwork for a proposal to commemorate the team at the historic site where they once played. Inspired by the students’ enthusiasm, educators and community members joined in, providing resources and opportunities to expand the project. The Cranford Dixie Giants were a testament to resilience and talent in the face of segregation. Through their research and advocacy, students uncovered an overlooked chapter of history and ensured that the legacy of the Cranford Dixie Giants would be remembered for generations to come.

“The committee was deeply impressed by the extensive engagement and meaningful impact of this project,” said committee chair Sarah Sansbury. “Much like the nurturing guidance of Miss Honey, the school library and librarian, Christine Szeluga, provided students with opportunities to learn and grow in a way that felt both organic and deeply connected to the town’s history. By honoring the legacy of the Cranford Dixie Giants, this project shed light on a previously unrecognized group that helped shape their community’s history. The strong sense of community it fostered will leave a lasting impact—not only on the students directly involved but also on future learners and the community as a whole.”

Szeluga emphasized that this project was made possible through a series of collective affirmations from various stakeholders. It began with the Board of Education approving the “Sports America” course and extended to multiple departments and community members supporting student-driven initiatives. From securing research databases through the “AncestryClassroom” grant to obtaining financial backing from the New Jersey Civic Information Consortium for aspiring journalists, filmmakers, and podcasters, each step was met with encouragement. The town’s Mayor and Council agreed to honor the Cranford Dixie Giants, The Cranford Historical Society provided archival documents and research support, while educators across disciplines contributed—woodshop students built a commemorative bench, a film teacher encouraged documentary production, and a journalism advisor facilitated article submissions beyond the school paper. The library media specialist eagerly supported deeper research, while an English teacher seized a teachable moment to prioritize student engagement over a planned lesson. Through these many "yeses," the project became a powerful example of collaboration, curiosity, and community impact.

“Education is an exploratory experience for learners to discover and reflect. Connecting to the AASL Explore Learner Standard took this project and an entire community along on a personal journey to learn about the hidden history within their local area,” said AASL President Becky Calzada. “The lens of social justice these learners, and their community now look through has been changed and will remain with them forever. I commend Christine and the learners involved in this project for the lasting impact they have made in Cranford, New Jersey."

The AASL award winners will be recognized at the 2025 AASL National Conference, held October 16-18 in St. Louis, Missouri.

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