HSTA’s 2019 S.T.A.C.Y. Award recipient is one of two librarians recognized by the School Library Journal and Scholastic
Posted: March 22, 2021
Molokai High School librarian Diane Mokuau was named 2021 School Librarian of the Year, the School Library Journal (SLJ) and Scholastic announced Monday. Mokuau joins Amanda Jones, teacher-librarian at Live Oak Middle School in Watson, Louisiana, as this year’s award recipients.
Each year, the School Librarian of the Year Award recognizes K–12 library professionals for outstanding achievement and the exemplary use of technology and services to engage children and teens toward fostering multiple literacies. This recognition is especially important as librarians nationwide have undoubtedly stepped up to support students, families, and educators through a year unlike any other.
According to Scholastic, “Amanda and Diane have gone above and beyond to keep opportunities for literacy at the center of their students’ lives while navigating the many unforeseen challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“I am deeply humbled and greatly honored to receive this prestigious award. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen!” Mokuau said. “This highlights the wonderful things that are happening in our schools and our communities and especially spotlights our tight-knit community on Molokai. I plan to share our challenges and successes and the need for every student to have certified librarians in their schools.”
In an article published Monday, the “On Our Minds” blog highlighted Mokuau’s impressive accomplishments:
Diane is a dedicated high school librarian who has been supporting her rural town for more than 20 years, where her student population is primarily Native Hawaiian. Throughout her career, Diane has focused on making her library a safe and welcoming place, where all community members, including students from other local schools and their families, can access resources for academic and social emotional learning, including e-books, audiobooks, and DVDs, while participating in special events including ohana (family) nights, author visits, poetry slams, and book fairs.
Diane’s favorite part of her job is sharing the joy of reading with students to build meaningful community connections. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Diane’s library would be filled with students and faculty, using e-readers, flip tables, and balance ball seats, often times with standing room only! Once the pandemic struck, Diane’s library was forced to close temporarily, and it now serves multiple purposes as both a library and classroom space for four teachers and their students. But Diane knows firsthand how essential collaboration and teamwork are for supporting students to empower the entire community.
Diane has received numerous recognitions for her work, including being named the first National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) librarian in Molokai, NEA Foundation’s Hawaii Teacher of the Year Award in 2019, and a Golden Key Award recipient from the Hawaii Association of School Libraries in 2016. Diane has spearheaded a number of initiatives for her school, including the Molokai College and Career Tour Club, which was founded with a colleague to provide Molokai students, many of which are first generation college students, with opportunities to travel, tour offices, and experience arts and culture in New York City and Washington, D.C. Students must fundraise to go on the trip and share what they learned with their community upon returning home. Many students who have participated in the program have gone on to four year colleges to pursue education.
As for the future of her library, Diane dreams of giving her students a makerspace, increased access to technology, and continuing to forge partnerships with local and nationwide organizations that provide opportunities for her students to learn. Diane believes in the power of education and meaningful learning opportunities to prepare students for overcoming challenges and determining their own success.
The 2021 School Librarian of the Year Award
The School Librarian of the Year Award honors a K–12 library professional for outstanding achievement and the exemplary use of 21st-century tools and services to engage children and teens toward fostering multiple literacies. This year’s award was judged by 2020 School Librarian of the Year Cicely Lewis, Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs John Schumacher, Superintendent of Schools at Brigantine Board Of Education Glenn Robbins, and a panel of SLJ editors. As the 2021 School Librarian of the Year Award winners, Amanda and Diane will be featured on the cover of the April 2021 issue of School Library Journal. They will also each receive a suite of awards from Scholastic, including a $2,500 cash award and $2,500 in-kind digital and/or print products for their libraries, in addition to a visit from John Schumacher, the Ambassador of School Libraries for Scholastic Book Fairs, who will gift one book to every student, and a Scholastic Book Fairs “Mr. Schu’s Picks” collection of books for each school’s library. Learn more >