The BC Teacher-Librarians' Association is pleased to announce that Karen Ferguson is the 2010 recipient of the BC Teacher-Librarian of the Year -- Diana Poole Memorial Award. This award honours a practicing teacher-librarian who is making an outstanding contribution to teacher-librarianship at and beyond the school level in British Columbia. Recipients of the award are teacher-librarians who have planned and implemented a school library program of such exemplary quality that it serves as a model and inspiration for others. Karen Ferguson is the teacher-librarian and literacy department head at the largest middle school in B.C., Moody Middle School in Port Moody. At the school level, Karen ensures that the library program is in the school goals. She encourages school-wide daily silent reading and organizes many literacy programs including a yearly Literacy Day (“Literrific!”) and a “One School, One Book” program. She uses technology as part of her literacy work, maintaining a library website with award winning books, library program promotional information, and resources. She also maintains a Destiny library catalogue home page with databases, online encyclopedias, research and citation tools and websites selected to support specific units. Karen Ferguson operates at the nexus of the school and all the students who walk through our doors come to know her and her passion for books and reading.
Karen very successfully collaboratively plans with teachers – units such as Ancient China, Earth Science and Extreme Environments are enhanced through Karen’s leadership and expertise in inquiry, literacy and resources. She has an amazing knowledge of young adult literature and an excellent relationship with Port Moody Public Library, which has included collaborating on author visits (e.g. Kenneth Oppel in 2008-09). Karen also participates on Moody Middle’s technology learning team and uses Web. 2.0 tools such as Jing – e.g. Karen’s story submitted by an impressed teaching colleague at “Stop repeating yourself. Say it again with video”. The expectation at Moody Middle—Karen's expectation—is that
all students will become engaged in the magic and power of reading.
At the district level, Karen has been a member of two District Technology Focus Groups: one on the implementation of the Information and Communications Technology Performance Standards and one that developed the Coquitlam School District K-8 Learning With Technology Plan. She is currently providing expertise to the district as a member of the District Facilities Design Implementation Panel where she is focusing on assisting in the design of three new middle schools (two replacement buildings and one new school) including new libraries/learning commons.
Karen has also made unparalleled contributions through her decade-long work on the HogWild About Reading program that raises money for school library collections in the Tri-Cities. Karen worked with her principal at the time, Ross Davidson, to organize the first few years of the program which has gone on to raise over $140,000. She also was part of the team that originated the the annual Battle of the Books for SD43 middle schools with the support of Port Moody Public Library which culminates in District Finals at Port Moody’s Inlet Theatre. Karen continues to co-organize and to participate in Battle of the Books. Karen is a dedicated professional teacher-librarian who
provides exemplary service to her school and the district.
Karen was a member of the BCTLA 2009 provincial Teacher Inquiry Group (Program for Quality Teaching) examining evidence-based practice in school libraries. She is currently Co-President of the Coquitlam Teacher-Librarians’ Association and was formerly the CTLA’s Middle School Representative. She assists in planning the CTLA’s annual presentation to the Coquitlam Board of Education. In 2008, Karen co-presented about the discrepancy of middle school teacher-librarian staffing and Library Assistant allocations which resulted in some increased staffing.
Add to all this and the responsibility of being the Humanities
department head and one wonders how she divides her time.
Karen is inspirational and supportive. She is a true leader and always willing to give of her time and expertise. She generously mentors new middle school teacher-librarians and seizes opportunities to promote library programs with district administrators, speakers, and community members.
Creative thinker, trusted colleague, willing contributor,
supportive collaborator, literacy expert and in the library and beyond
an invaluable resource and fellow learner.
BCTLA will be honoured to recognize Karen Ferguson as the 2010 recipient of the B.C. Teacher-Librarian of the Year -- Diana Poole Memorial Award at the 2010 BCTLA Conference on Friday, October 22, 2010 at Kelowna Senior Secondary School in Kelowna, B.C.
