2016-17 SUSTAINING LEADERS ACADEMY MENTOR TEAMSAn initiative of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) and the University of Pittsburgh School Library Certification Program funded by a Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant from Commonwealth Libraries (PA Department of Education).  This 2016-2017 collaborative will offer 23 Pennsylvania school librarians who have between 6 and 15 years experience as a school librarian the opportunity to revitalize their leadership competencies. 

The Participants and Staff of the 2016-17 Sustaining Leaders Academy

Hershey Lodge, July 10-13, 2016

Dr. Mary Kay Biagini (center), Project Director, University of Pittsburgh, mentors Kathleen Pagano (left), Council Rock High School North, and Kristin Douglas (right), Hempfield High School).

John Emerick, former School Library Services Director, Commonwealth Libraries, PDE (lower left), mentors Dustin Brackbill (lower right), Mt. Nittany Elementary, State College, Rita Saylor (upper left), Wallenpaupack High School, and Amy Pickett (upper right), Ridley High School.

Carol Heinsdorf (lower center), former school librarian, School District of Philadelphia, mentors Karen Fornari (upper left), O’Hara Elementary, Fox Chapel School District, Sue Dahlstrom (upper center), Wayne Elementary, Radnor Township, and Beth Shenefiel (upper right), Eden Hall Elementary, Pine Richland School District.

Deb Kachel (lower center), Adjunct Professor, Antioch University Seattle, mentors Leah Lindemann (upper left), Blackhawk High School, Cara Woudenberg (upper center), Methacton High School, and Mary Grace Kelly (upper right), Fort Couch Middle School, Upper St. Clair School District.

Sue Long, (upper center) Consultant, Ohio Dept. of Education and retired superintendent, mentors Megan Casey (lower right), Moore & Elroy Elementaries, Brentwood Borough, Jill Millard (lower center), Shaler Area Middle School, and Kristen Crans (lower left), Concord Elementary, Garnet Valley School District.This group is also mentored by Cindy Keller, Adjunct Professor, McDaniel College, Maryland.

D’nis Lynch (lower center), Practicum Supervisor, University of Pittsburgh, mentors Beth McGuire (upper center), Wendover Middle School, Hempfield Area School District, Heather Lesoine (lower left), Centerville and Landisville Elementaries, Hempfield School District, Heather Hedderman (lower right), Wattsburg Elementary, and Krista Leonard (separate photo), H. Austin Snyder Elementary, Sayre Area School District.

Sally Myers (separate photo), Adjunct, University of Pittsburgh, mentors Adrienne Matjasic (left), East High School, West Chester Area School District, Aimee Lin Emerson (center), Fretz Middle School, Bradford Area School District, and Caitlin Varga (right), Wilson Area High School.

Bob McConnell (right), former school librarian, Grove City High School, mentors Graig Henshaw (left), Maple Avenue Middle School and Littlestown High School, and Vickie Saltzer (center), Gettysburg High School.

Mary Kay is awarded the “Queen of the Sustaining Leaders Academy Immersion”!