It’s a great day to be a KASL member! I’m excited to be this year’s KASL President and promote the librarian profession across the state. I’ve been in education 16 ½ years with 11 of those years working in the library. I currently work at Paul Blazer High School in Ashland, KY as the library media specialist. I have earned a Rank I as an Educational Specialist and additional certifications in Library Science and Secondary Education with a concentration in English. I’m a proud alumni of Morehead State University and Eastern Kentucky University. I’m passionate about all the services the library can provide. I always enjoyed going to the public library and school library as a child. That passion carried over into my adult years. I love working with students to instill a love for reading and grow their information literacy skills. I became a KASL member when I was attending graduate school at EKU. I didn’t fully appreciate or know what all KASL did until I became the Eastern Kentucky representative for KASL in 2014. That experience helped me grow in my professional knowledge, become more confident as a librarian, as well as meet and establish lifelong friendships. Finding others to support you is key, which is what makes KASL so special. I hope you will join us this year as we seek & discover all the hidden treasures found in KY Libraries.

I'm starting my 6th year as a school librarian, all of which has been at Eminence Independent Schools in Eminence, KY. We are a k-12 school, which means I serve high school, elementary, and middle, all in the same space. My library space is really heavy on making, so I get to work with kids on 3D printing, laser cutting, shop tools, coding, graphic design, etc. beyond the traditional research and literacy that I promote. I have literally NEVER been bored at work! I recently became certified to teach high school computer science and have been working to open a computer science pathway at my school because I feel strongly that kids need exposure to that field. I am currently serving as KASL's president-elect and have been involved in KASL in some capacity since I became a school librarian. I love getting to know my fellow librarians and leaning on them for help when I need it.

I'm headed into year 24 as an educator this year. Eleven of those years have been as a library media specialist. Although I started as an elementary LMS, I am currently the LMS at Daviess County High School in Owensboro, KY. Prior to becoming a LMS, I taught 7 years as an ELA teacher in both the middle and high school settings. Additionally, I worked 5 years in higher education. I have taught every level from preschool to adult learners except eighth grade. I currently serve as the KASL secretary. Prior to that, I sat on the KASL board for 9 years as the GRASL district (formerly 2nd district) president. I am currently pursuing my Rank I through GRREC ED Academy, where I will focus on literacy. My memberships in GRASL and KASL helped make this possible as one of the 2021 recipients of the Jeanne Cleveland Memorial Grant and the Eleanor W. Simmons Memorial Grant. While I love my career, my true passion comes from being the mother of two girls. In addition to being a mom and educator I enjoy traveling, reading, eating great food, attending UK football and basketball games, and going to concerts and music festivals.

My Name is Fred Tilsley. I’m a retired Librarian from Jackson County. I was Librarian for 27 years and had a total of 33 years in Education all at Sand Gap Elementary. I have been retired since 2010 and love staying current with my service to the KASL Board. I’m currently the Treasurer of KASL and also serve as the Educational Organizational Liaison. In both of these positions I strive to serve members to the best of my ability. The reason I love KALS is the opportunity for both professional and personal growth

I am proud to be the librarian at Simpson Elementary School in Franklin, Kentucky. I absolutely love what I do! As a school librarian, I get to be a learner ever single day. I get to journey alongside students as they search and discover information. I get to explore with students as conduct research, engage in project-based learning, and explore new possibilities. I get to help students apply what they learn from our collection to the creation of their own digital products. It’s a dream job! The library profession has provided me with many opportunities. I have pursued National Board Certification, served on KASL’s Board, presented at conferences, and engaged in field-based PD to Antarctica, Finland, and Bahrain. Ultimately, though, my students’ curiosities and passions are what motivate me to never stop learning and improving. I credit much of my growth as a librarian to YOU, the Kentucky Association of School Librarians. Thank you.