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Scott Bacon, principal of Blue Valley high school in Stilwell, Kan., is the 2013 recipient of the American Association of School Librarian’s (AASL) Distinguished School Administrators Award. Sponsored by ProQuest, the $2,000 award honors a school administrator who has made worthy contributions to the operations of an exemplary school library and to advancing the role of the school library in the educational program.

Bacon was nominated by school librarian Ken Stewart, who wrote “During Scott Bacon’s nine-year tenure as principal of Blue Valley High School, he has continually supported and promoted the library program for the value it brings to our students’ academic success and personal growth. I believe that Scott sees us (the library) as a highly positive means to integrate current and future trends (through an active library program) in education into the daily instruction of our students.”

A proponent of collaboration, Bacon leads by example. At the beginning of each school year, Bacon schedules meetings between the school librarians and teachers new to the high school in order to facilitate content collaboration. This allows new teachers to see the library program in action and witness the impact of library collaboration firsthand. The library department is also actively involved in curriculum planning and development, both within the school and throughout the district.

Bacon also promotes the school librarians’ roles as teachers and collaborators to students, staff and parents. “The library has the opportunity to be the heartbeat of a school,” Bacon said. “When structured in an invitational manner where learning is a focus and customer service is the norm, it has the opportunity to be the most frequently sought and used resource by students, staff, and patrons alike. Multiple resources and professional guidance create a learning environment where research, collaboration, creativity, and development of ideas/products can flourish. Ideally, the library is a place viewed by its users where learning and doing happen at a level beyond what they ever anticipated.”

“Our selection committee found much to be impressed with in Scott Bacon,” said Paul Whitsitt, award committee chair. “In partnership with his librarians, Principal Bacon has exhibited regional leadership in demonstrating the school librarian's role in assuring that students graduate college and career ready, involves his librarians in curriculum development and leadership teams at the school and district levels, and sets the expectation with every incoming teacher that they will collaborate with the librarians. Furthermore, he understands the importance of the library facility and resources, generously investing in technology to expand the library beyond its walls, and to reconfigure the physical space to enhance collaboration, creativity, and idea generation.”