Pembina Trails earns national recognition for learning commons vision

It is a national award, the first of its kind, and Pembina Trails is taking the top honours home. The Canadian School Libraries (CSL) has named our division as the winner of the first national Leading Learning Award.

“Pembina Trails has led the way in creating and implementing the vision of the school library as a learning commons, as framed in our national document, Leading Learning: Standards of Practice for School Library Learning Commons in Canada,” said Anita Brooks Kirkland, Canadian School Libraries chair.

The award recognizes years of work and a commitment to transitioning our school libraries into learning commons, as well as furthering the role of teacher-librarians. Pembina Trails staff have created inviting spaces that are a hub of activity. Programming such as makerspace, promotes creativity and innovation learning opportunities for all.

Former library media consultant, Heather Eby, explains how the shift was guided and inspired by the Canadian School Libraries Leading Learning document.

“Our teacher-librarians are working hard every day to make the learning commons in their schools places of experiential learning and innovative thinking. Pembina Trails School Division has embraced the Leading Learning document and continues to work towards the ideal “Leading” example within the growth stages of the document to envision not only their school libraries into a learning commons but the role of their teacher-librarians,” said Eby.

Current library learning commons consultant, Jo-Anne Gibson believes the vision and the dedication by staff to support learning are paying off.

“Our library learning commons empowers learners by designing opportunities that allow students to become constructors of knowledge, to find their own voices, to become global collaborators seeking justice and environmental stewardship, and to creatively communicate their learnings and passions with others,” shared Gibson.

Pembina Trails teacher-librarian also recognized on the national stage

Teacher-librarian, Alison Bodner, from Bairdmore School was awarded the Angela Thacker Memorial Award.This award honours teacher-librarians who have made contributions to the profession through publications, productions or professional development activities that deal with topics relevant to teacher-librarianship and/or information literacy.

Bodner has been an educator for 32 years and got her start in our legacy division, Assiniboine South.

“I feel such gratitude for being nominated for this award and for being recognized for something I love to do.  I am so fortunate to work in a school and division that values and supports the role of the teacher-librarian and the library learning commons,” said Bodner.

The awards will be presented as part of the Treasure Mountain Canada Research Symposium and Think Tank in Toronto on January 31 and February 1, 2020.

On behalf of our board of trustees and senior administration, congratulations to all who have supported this vision.