Melissa P. Johnston named
Georgia Media Specialist of the Year 2006!
By Susan K.S. Grigsby
It was with great pride that the GLMA Library Media Specialist
of the Year committee named Melissa Johnston as Georgia’s
Library Media Specialist of the Year. Eleven districts submitted
candidates for the award so the competition was stiff this year.
Melissa presented a stellar application. In the 10 years she
has dedicated to this profession she has edited the GLMA NewsLeader,
served as the GLMA president, become an AASL delegate and Region
V director, her school’s Teacher of the Year, and Exemplary
Media Program winner, and served on several committees with both
GLMA and AASL. Her library has a completely flexible schedule
and she has been pro-active in creating a collaborative environment
in her school. She meets with her teachers and administrators
to go over standardized testing data to develop media center
programs that will truly reinforce classroom strategies. She
works closely with her school’s Instructional Technology
Specialist to make sure that technology is integrated not only
in her program but in classroom instruction as well. Melissa
is a dynamic Library Media Specialist deserving this year’s
designation as Georgia’s Library Media Specialist of the
Year. Congratulations, Melissa!
This year’s district winners are:
- Dr. Deborah F. Touchton, Appling Middle School, Bibb County
- Rebecca
Amerson, Woodstock High School, Cherokee County
- Cawood Cornelius,
Sonoraville High School, Gordon County
- Shannon Robertson,
Southeast Bulloch Middle School, Bulloch County
- Michelle Beaufort,
West Gordon Elementary School, Valdosta City
- Linda Davis,
Needwood Middle School, Glynn County
- Jennifer Harkleroad,
Thomas Crossroads Elementary, Coweta County
- Dr. Virginia Harrell,
Jackson Elementary, Clayton County
- Suzanne Mittenzwei, Duchtown
High School, Henry County
- Jennifer Newton, Thomson High School,
McDuffie County