DGN Librarian Mariela Siegert has been named “2021 School Librarian of the Year” by the Association of Illinois School Library Educators (AISLE) in recognition of her outstanding service and leadership in the school library profession.
“Mariela goes above and beyond for our students every day,” said Dr. Courtney DeMent, North High principal. “It’s validating for an outside organization to recognize her talent and contributions.”
AISLE representatives wrote that Siegert is “a school librarian who makes a difference in the lives of her students and instills the love of the library... Mariela creates a space where readers feel represented, challenged, inspired, and most importantly, welcomed.”
Siegert is starting her second year at North High School in Downers Grove. Previously, she worked for 12 years at Westfield Middle School in Bloomingdale, Illinois as a librarian and as an eighth grade English Language Arts Teacher at Burlington Central School District for 3 years. She also teaches future school library educators at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois.
“We are so lucky to have Mariela on our team--she is a star!” said Library Department Chair Allison Bava.
Siegert will be formally recognized in Champaign, Illinois in early November. To learn more about the Association of Illinois School Library Educators, please visit https://www.aisled.org/.
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