Bettie Estes-Rickner

When this humbling recognition came my way last spring, I asked my daughter, who is also a school library media specialist, what she considered my most significant contributions to libraries and librarianship. She mentioned development of libraries in schools through School Library Media Improvement Grants, work with school administrators to help their understanding of the function of school libraries in student achievement, and the many hours of professional development all over the state during the eight years I worked at the State Dept. of Education.

As a young child, my daughter traveled throughout the state with me in the summer to many of these workshops. No wonder she became one of us.

To her recollections, I would add the expansion of Encyclo-Media to be recognized as one of the best state-level school library staff development opportunities in the country; accreditation standards improved to require a certified library media specialist in every school; establishment of the Polly Clarke Award for outstanding school library media specialists to be recognized by their peers; and an ongoing message that library media specialists do impact accomplishment of the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act.

I would also hope to be remembered as a leader in education who is always available to help schools.