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Michelle Luhtala
  • Female
  • New Canaan, CT
  • United States
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How will you celebrate Banned Websites Awareness Day on 9/28/2011?

Lots of folks have been asking what they should DO on September…Continue

Tags: learning, 21st, century, skills, media-teaching

Started Sep 10, 2011

 

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Latest Activity

Michelle Luhtala left a comment for Mike McQueen
"Posted Open Letter to Librarians Everywhere on Bibliotech.me - Includes an invitation to "Like" Support School Libraries on Facebook! http://mluhtala.blogspot.com/2012/01/open-letter-to-librarians-everywhere.html"
Jan 25, 2012
Mike McQueen left a comment for Michelle Luhtala
"Greetings Michelle, I'm Mike McQueen, teacher librarian and founder of http://www.GettingBoysToRead.com. Like many school districts, we are in a financial crises. Our school board recently proposed to eliminate ALL 20+ middle school…"
Jan 25, 2012
Michelle Luhtala updated their profile
Sep 10, 2011
Michelle Luhtala posted a discussion

How will you celebrate Banned Websites Awareness Day on 9/28/2011?

Lots of folks have been asking what they should DO on September 28th to celebrate AASL's Banned Websites Awareness Day, so we are compiling a list of suggested activities into an…See More
Sep 10, 2011
Michelle Luhtala posted a blog post

Banned Websites Awareness Day

Cross-posted from the AASL blogOn Tuesday, August 9th, the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) published a press release designating September 28th, 2011 as Banned Websites Awareness Day. Embedded in ALA’s long-standing censorship…See More
Sep 10, 2011
Michelle Luhtala joined Irene Kwidzinski's group
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CASL Ning

The professional learning network for Connecticut school librarians.
Mar 18, 2011
Michelle Luhtala is now a member of TLNing
Jan 25, 2011

Profile Information

Hometown:
Westport, CT
What is the name of your school?
Born in Mexico. Childhood split equally between New York, NY, Paris, France and Menlo Park, CA. Undergrad at NYU. Started teaching in Crown Heights, Brooklyn in 1990. Challenging times in a challenging 'hood, but great kids. Forty + kids per class and no classroom - taught, science, social studies, English, special education with as many as six preps per day.

In 1991 took a maternity leave and, after a bit, moved to Connecticut with husband to raise our daughter. Rebooted career in 1996 and took a job teaching social studies in a Bridgeport, CT middle school (Read Middle School - prophetic, no?) - 4 preps, class size cap of 30, my own classroom, and again, great kids.

Enrolled in library science program at Southern Connecticut State University in 1999, and was offered a position as school librarian at New Canaan High School in 2001. Had doubts about leaving classroom, but once I started, I was smitten. Became department chairperson in 2004, just before embarking on a three - year building-wide renovation project that involved shifting and/or moving the library collection four times.

Moved back into gloriously renovated NCHS library in 2007, spent the last few years experimenting with emerging technologies to improve student achievement and embed 21st century skills across disciplines. Joined Connecticut Digital Library Advisory Board's Database Committee in 2009.


The 2009-2010 school-year was spectacularly rewarding (see kudos page). In the spring of 2010, joined the Consortium of School Networking's (CoSN) Awards Committee, and started facilitating a free online webinar series at edWeb.net called Using Emerging Technology to Improve Your School Library Program.


Recently joined Connecticut Digital Library Advisory Board. Writing some. Having fun. Was recently asked about what I was passionate. My answer follows:

Knowledge: “Knowing is not enough; we must apply.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Innovation: “Separate space + radical autonomy = innovation” Curtis W. Johnson
Productivity: “Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.” Franz Kafka
School or professional website:
http://bibliotech.me

Michelle Luhtala's Blog

Banned Websites Awareness Day



Cross-posted from the AASL blog…


Continue

Posted on September 10, 2011 at 6:29am

Comment Wall (1 comment)

At 1:45am on January 25, 2012, Mike McQueen said…

Greetings Michelle,

I'm Mike McQueen, teacher librarian and founder of http://www.GettingBoysToRead.com. Like many school districts, we are in a financial crises. Our school board recently proposed to eliminate ALL 20+ middle school teacher librarians and also cut all 90+ elementary schools to half time. Since we are the biggest district in all of Colorado, we worry this will cause other districts to follow suit. We launched an online movement and are going to do our best to put up a good fight. If possible, please visit our Facebook page and "Like" us http://www.facebook.com/SupportSchoolLibraries . Adding a positive comment and sharing with your friends would help our morale as well. The board finalizes the budget soon so your timely support would be greatly appreciated!

Sincerely,

Mike McQueen

Teacher Librarian at McLain HS

Lakewood, CO

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Mansfield University Scholarship Program – Begin in January 2012

In an ongoing effort to recruit a new generation of school library leaders, Mansfield University recently received a fifth Institute of Library and Museum Services (IMLS) grant to fund scholarships for its totally online School Library & Information Technologies Master of Education degree program with school library certification. If you know of an educator or non-certified librarian seeking school library certification, please pass along the news that we are still accepting applications for the spring 2012 semester.

The Master of Education program, ideally suited for working educators
with no time to drive to a university, offers a convenient and effective path to school library certification. For detailed information and contacts please refer to the Fulfilling the Promise homepage, at http://libweb.mansfield.edu/promise/, or contact Cynthia Keller, Department Chair ckeller@mansfield.edu

717-816-6995

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