Heather Stoness, of Emily Carr Public School, receives provincial Teacher-Librarian of the Year Awar

Awarded by the Ontario Library Association to recognize leadership in implementing school library programs. The Halton District School Board is proud to recognize Heather Stoness for being awarded the Teacher Librarian of the Year Award from the Ontario Library Association (OLA) for 2020. This award honours a teacher-librarian who has demonstrated leadership in the implementation of school library programs through Collaboration and Inquiry–based learning. Projects, programs and activities exemplify the OLA’s vision of, Together for Learning in their School Library/Learning Commons. Stoness received her award during a ceremony this past weekend in Toronto. Stoness says she is honoured to receive this award and that it is a reflection of the dedicated staff she works with everyday at Emily Carr Public School in Oakville who help bring the school’s Library Learning Commons to life. “It felt amazing to receive this award knowing that the colleagues at my school and in my Board recognize and appreciate our Library Learning Commons. This award would have never been possible without them,” she says. “It is only by working together that we are able to make the Library Learning Commons a place where students can succeed, push their imagination and find their passions.” Cynthia Snowdon, Principal of Emily Carr Public School, says the school is thrilled with this recognition. “The staff and students at Emily Carr are very proud of Heather for receiving this award. She encompasses all of the characteristics and criteria for this honour,” Snowdon says. “She has worked diligently to ensure the library is a place where students and staff alike are welcome to explore. She has created a library which invites all staff and students to enjoy literature, integrate technology, to create in a makerspace environment, along with building inquiry skills and encouraging innovation with research.” Stoness relishes her role as a teacher-librarian in the Halton District School Board. “What I love most about being a teacher-librarian is being able to co-teach with different staff and connect with all of our students,” she explains. “I appreciate being able to create and innovate with my students and I love that every day brings something different when we gather in the Library Learning Commons.”