WLMA ELECTIONS

We have an online voting process using Thriva/Active, which is our online membership and conference registration tool. If you already have an account with Thriva/Active from registering for the conference or membership, please use that account. If you do not have an account, you will be asked to create an account login and password during the election process. This is both to identify yourself as a WLMA member eligible to vote and to create an account you will use to register your membership and/or conference attendance online this fall, so please save your login information.

Voting will be open until 11:59PM on June 27, 2010.

Vote

Slate of Officers Nominated for 2010 Election

There is a slate of officers nominated, one per office, per Article 10 in the WLMA Bylaws. For more information about each candidate, see below:

President-elect - Craig Seasholes (Giddens School, Seattle)

Biography: I am a typical librarian. I’ve served 13 years as a classroom teacher and 10 as Teacher-Librarian in an independent school in Seattle. My educational background combines a K-12 Library Media Specialist Endorsement from UW (2001), MA in Human Development from Pacific Oaks College (1998), and BA from The Evergreen State College(1981) with WA State Professional Education Certificate (1984 to present). I’ve served as WLMA List-serve moderator since 2007, and have been a WLMA member since 2000. Married for 25 years, I am the adoptive father of two teens who also finds time to enjoy choral singing, biking, running, skiing, and occasional mountaineering excursions.

Candidate Statement: As activist librarians, the role of WLMA leadership is to invigorate and connect membership with information, professional development opportunities, and ahead-of-the-curve insight into issues that affect school libraries and librarians in Washington State. WLMA provides an array of tools to expand our professional scope and effectiveness in ways that can directly impact our work on issues great and small. My interest in leading this fine organization reflects my enthusiasm for our professional association, my penchant for collaboration, my concern for the administrative and legislative challenges facing school libraries, and my ongoing commitment to supporting others as we ensure that all students are effective and productive users of ideas and information. If honored with your support as WLMA president-elect, I will commit my time, energy and skill to ensure that our association continues to expand our effectiveness state-wide.

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Vice President - Gary Simundson (Evergreen HS, Vancouver SD)

Biography: I have been the Teacher-Librarian at Evergreen High School in Vancouver, Washington ("the other Vancouver") for the past 10 years. Prior to that I taught third and fourth grades and spent a number of years in language arts curriculum and staff development. I chaired the Columbia Gorge region for three years, have served as high school level chair on the executive board, and am the current vice-president. I hope to serve in this capacity for one more year.

Candidate Statement: I believe that connecting Teacher-Librarians to each other is the most powerful aspect of WLMA. As members work together to set high professional standards, they increase their ability to make a real difference in the lives of their students. If elected again, I will continue to represent and support our regional leaders. I feel strongly that these dedicated individuals are the ones who keep our organization alive and active.

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Secretary - Jeanne Staley (West Valley JH, Yakima SD)

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Treasurer - Kate Pankiewicz (Shorecrest HS, Shoreline SD)

Biography: I have the best job in the world. Since 1992, I have proudly worn the Gordon tartan plaid in one form or another as the teacher-librarian at Shorecrest High School, home of the fighting Scots. Our school of 1500 students, grades 9 through 12, serves Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. I received my National Board certification in 2002 and am looking at renewing my certification during the coming year. My Master's in Library and Information Science was completed at the University of Washington (Go Dawgs!) while I earned my undergraduate degree in English education from a cross-town rival, Seattle University.
My first professional job was as a high school English teacher; I have taught all levels of high school, both core and elective courses. I've worked with adolescents for several decades, taking time to raise three of my own along the way, I confess to being a reader but certainly there are worse things to be and worse vices to overcome.

Candidate Statement: I have served as the association's treasurer for the past two years. In that time, the board has seen our comfortable financial reserves fall, along with those of other sectors in this tough economy. I hope to see some outside forces reverse the downturn and help to restore our previous levels.

In the meantime, I plan to work with the board to use our resources in support of the membership services and the goals of our leadership. We need to be clear in defining our priorities and directing our expenditures in keeping with those priorities.

I'd like to see a more detailed accounting of each region's incomes and expenditures while working to keep the yearly budget balanced. I would also like to see our regions work to increase their active membership and thus give themselves the resources to provide meaningful staff development. Thank you for your support.

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Private Schools and Small Districts - Jen Fukutaki (St. Thomas School; Medina, WA)

Biography: Jen has been a librarian at St. Thomas School (PNAIS) since 2003. She is passionate about keeping librarians in our schools.

• MLIS from University of WA

• BS from TCU

Former career in advertising and marketing research.

Candidate Statement: Jen would like to continue to work with local and state contacts in support of school libraries, funding, and reinstating a librarian in every public school.

She would also like to work more closely with other busy librarians in private and public schools to share ideas and curriculum.

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Public Relations Chair - Venta Silins (University of Washington - Bothell; Bothell, WA)

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High school-level Chair-elect - Anne Bingham (University Prep; Seattle, WA)

Biography: This is my 5th year as a high school librarian and I love preparing students for a lifetime of good information usage. I graduated from the UW School of Librarianship in 1992, and began my career in Library Preservation. I worked for 8 years as a bookbinder, letterpress printer, and conservation technician, so I have great appreciation of the physical collections of books. I worked at the UW for 5 years in Suzzallo Reference, Special Collections, and Odegaard Undergraduate Libraries doing reference, digital projects, and lots of committee work and teaching. I was active in WLA for several years as Reference Group chair and Interest Group coordinator. I've presented several times at both WLA and WLMA conferences. I’m just finishing up an online Master in Education with a focus on Technology, which has helped greatly with new ideas for teaching.

Candidate Statement: I’ve learned my best library and teaching tricks from colleagues at workshops, conferences, and behind the desk together. As a high school librarian, I struggle to figure out which of the latest technologies and teaching practices are ready for prime time. I would love help with figuring out the most efficacious way to work with teachers and promote Information Literacy in my school. As a board member of WLMA, I’d like to help librarians across the state to communicate, advocate, and learn from each other.

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Middle school-level Chair-elect - Kelli McSheehy (Frontier MS, Evergreen SD)

Biography: I have spent the entire thirteen years of my professional career in middle school. Before embarking on my dream job as teacher librarian, I was a middle school Language Arts and Social Studies teacher. I have been a teacher librarian for the last four years at Frontier Middle School in Vancouver. I have a special place in my heart for middle school students, and I believe the library is one of the best places to connect with kids of this age.

Candidate Statement: As Middle School Level Chair - Elect, I would like to strengthen communication and collaboration between middle school librarians in the hopes of meeting the specific needs of its libraries and the students it serves.

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Elementary-level Chair-elect - Amy Cook (Canyon View Elementary, Kennewick SD)

Biography: It took me a while to find my path. I earned a double degree in Recreation/Leisure Services and Communication Studies from Eastern Washington University, with a minor in Business Administration. I went on to work in the Health Clubs in the Tri-Cities area for 10 years. Loved that career! Then I found out that being a mom was more wonderful! When my kids became old enough for me to consider going back to work, I decided to follow my own Mom's footsteps and go into education. I earned my Masters in Teaching from Washington State University (Go Cougs!). I substituted after teaching a year in middle school and fell into subbing in the area libraries. Talk about the best kept secret in the world! I fell in love with the whole enchilada! I earned my Library Endorsement through Central Washington University and have been with the Kennewick School District ever since! I became involved in the Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award committee since 2003 - Co-Chair with Kim Guyette since 2008, Three Rivers Regional Secretary 2004-2009, WLMA Conference Presenter 2004 - 2009 and I have barely gotten my feet wet!

Candidate Statement: I have the opportunity to start my statements with "We". As your Elementary Chair, I get to - no WE get to - spread the joy of reading! How exciting is that!? We get to share ideas, put them out there, have other heads get involved and create a fabulous final project! I may not the most brilliant Library Teacher out here...I can think of a dozen others that are far more eloquent than myself. What I do have is the honor of representing our brain pool to the best of my ability. I hope to be your voice, your passion and share your wisdom with others - be they our students, teachers, administrators, and communities. We get to bring those behind the written word to the consumers of the word. Encouraging our students to feel empower to explore, question, find the answers and create high-level thinkers. There-by, creating lifelong readers. As Library Teachers, we have the power to make a difference, one child at a time. One teacher at a time. One community member at a time. I would feel privileged to be your voice as your Elementary Chair. Thank you for your support.