Keely Tolin receives AASL Distinguished School Administrator Award

CHICAGO – Keely Tolin, Principal at Shawnee Middle School, is the recipient of the 2026 American Association of School Librarians (AASL) Distinguished School Administrator Award. Sponsored by ProQuest, the $2,000 award recognizes and honors a school administrator who has made worthy contributions to the operations of exemplary school libraries and to advancing the role of the school library in the educational program.

Cherity Pennington, Director of Library and Media Services and nominator, shared with the committee, “Shawnee Middle School Principal Keely Tolin exemplifies the spirit of the AASL Distinguished School Administrator Award through strategic support of a learner-centered school library. Her leadership has advanced the role of the school library as an essential component of the school’s overall educational mission. Under Ms. Tolin’s leadership, the SMS library thrives as a dynamic hub of learning.”

“The committee could see that Principal Keely Tolin has demonstrated a strong commitment to making the Shawnee Middle School library a central hub for learning by investing in resources, maintaining full library staffing, and encouraging meaningful collaboration between teachers and the librarian across multiple subject areas,” said committee chair Jenn Seebauer. “Her leadership and advocacy have clearly strengthened the library’s role in supporting student learning and innovation.”

Tolin herself stated, “I believe the school library is essential to our educational program. It is the heart of the school where curiosity is sparked, academic inquiry is supported, and every student can access the tools and resources to become a confident reader, researcher, and creator. The library is not a standalone space, but an integral part in teaching and learning that aligns with school improvement goals and supports student achievement across all content areas. Our librarian is an instructional partner and works with teachers to co-create meaningful learning experiences for all of our learners. My philosophy is that a well-resourced, curriculum-embedded library that is led by a skilled librarian and supported by school leadership transforms instruction, amplifies equity, and cultivates lifelong learning for every student."

“Principal Keely Tolin exemplifies the kind of leadership that allows a school library to truly thrive,” said AASL President Amanda Kordeliski. “Her sustained commitment to staffing, technology access, and cross-curricular collaboration has transformed the Shawnee Middle School library into a vibrant hub of inquiry and innovation, ensuring that every learner can engage with the resources, guidance, and opportunities they need to succeed.”

The AASL award winners will be recognized during the 2027 AASL National Conference taking place October 14-16 in Portland, Oregon.

The American Association of School Librarians, www.aasl.org, a division of the American Library Association (ALA), empowers leaders to transform teaching and learning.

ProQuest is committed to empowering researchers and librarians around the world. The company’s portfolio of assets -- including content, technologies and deep expertise -- drives better research outcomes for users and greater efficiency for the libraries and organizations that serve them.