Kate Johnson-McGregor, teacher-librarian at Brantford Collegiate Institute in Ontario’s Grand Erie District School Board, is the 2018 recipient of the Patti McCleister Memorial Award. The annual award recognizes a board employee who exemplifies outstanding leadership, inspires others, and is a driving force in realizing the board’s goal of Success for Every Student.
The award was presented at a board meeting on September 24. “Kate is leading the way, in Grand Erie and at the provincial level, in transforming libraries from the traditional repositories of information they used to be into active, innovative, inclusive learning commons that meet the needs of 21st century learners,” said Brenda Blancher, Director of Education. “She’s removing barriers, and ensuring students have access to equitable services and diverse resources that prepare them to be critical thinkers and global citizens.”
Kate’s leadership extends far beyond the school district. For the past several years she has been a leader provincially, now serving as the Past President of the Ontario School Library Association. She is a sought-after workshop presenter, and we are very pleased that Kate is also a member of the CSL Journal Editorial Board. Kate’s activities within her school district, provincially and nationally, raise awareness and celebrate the contributions of the school library learning commons in the wider education community.
Read the Grand Erie District School Board’s news release about the award.
GEDSB Principal Leader for Student Success introduces award recipient Kate Johnson-McGregor.
We are very pleased to share Kate’s award acceptance speech, below.
I’d like to thank the Grand Erie District School Board, Director Blancher and the senior administration, as well as Chair Anderson and the trustees for inviting me this evening.
School libraries have changed a lot in the past generation. There’s so much less shushing and so much more active learning and collaboration in the library learning commons today! When I was in high school I joked that my dream job was to be “Julie McCoy, Cruise Director” – offering pottery painting by the pool and shuffleboard on the Lido deck – and it turns out teacher-librarian is the closest thing to cruise director you’ll find in a high school. We host Music Mondays and book clubs and Skyped lessons with experts and digital literacy classes and LEGO challenges and lessons on citation and board games… In the BCI Library Learning Commons, every day I am able to realize and support all of the indicators of Grand Erie’s vision of success for every student: Achievement, Well-Being, Equity, Environment, Technology and Community. It is a magical place to work.
I need to thank so many extremely supportive BCI principals – Gail Lovett who put me in this role, Frank O’Connor, Shayne Mann and Ann Myhal who nominated me for this award. For our students, the school library is a beacon, a safe space, a place of fun and a place to explore ideas – visionary administrators see the potential power in a school library and invest accordingly. I couldn’t do all that I do without the unflagging support of my principals and VPs. I am grateful to my colleagues – to my partner in the BCI Library, my tech and right hand woman, Sara Haddow. To my predecessor and friend Bobbie Henley who told me I’d love this role – she was so right!!
As a teacher-librarian, I have the opportunity to collaborate and create with so many inspirational teachers at BCI and across the Grand Erie District School Board, both elementary and secondary. And I need to thank my dear friend, colleague and Ann’s co-nominator, Hilary Daboll for being my rock for so many years.
I need to recognize my friends and colleagues at the Ontario Library Association, The Association of Teacher Librarian Consultants of Ontario, Ontario Teachers Federation and Canadian School Libraries for inspiring my desire to learn everything and always try new stuff!
My family – my mom and dad, who taught me that there is no limit to generosity of spirit, and my amazing husband Michael and my two fantastic daughters, Maggie and Natalie – for supporting me and loving me even when I tell you I’ve taken on another new project – I am blessed.
Patti McCleister was a beautiful person, and her leadership and kindness touched so many lives. This award means so much because helping other people is what brings me the most joy and matters the most in my life. I cannot express how honoured and humbled am to receive it.
Thank you.