SL&IT Faculty

Helen Adams (hadams@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Adams is a past president of the American Association of School Librarians, and a former library media specialist/technology coordinator for a small rural district in Wisconsin. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (B.S. in Education), Western Michigan University (MSLS), and the University of Wisconsin-Stout (Master's in Media Technology). Ms. Adams is a frequent conference presenter and author of articles and books on technology planning, Internet search tools, library automation, school library policy development, and privacy. She teaches Access and Legal Issues (LSC 5545).

Janet Amann (jamann@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Amann earned a B.S. in Art Ed. and Library Science, and an M.S. in educational media and elementary education from the Univ. of Wisconsin–La Crosse. She is currently completing a doctorate in Urban Education / Educational Media and Technology at UW Milwaukee. She served as an elementary librarian for over 20 years; has taught for the Univ. of Wisconsin and Viterbo Univ.; has written two books, several articles, and numerous grants; and has presented at state and national conferences. She serves on the Executive Board of the Wisconsin Educational and Media Technology Assoc. and was the Wisconsin Media Professional of the Year in 2000. She teaches Information Searching, Retrieval and Presentation (LSC 5540).

Veanna Baxter (vbaxter@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Baxter earned a B.S. in Library Science from Millersville University and an M.S. in Instructional Media and a Media Specialist Certification from West Chester University. She also completed a Supervisor Certification program at Millersville University. She worked for 8 years at the elementary level in Eastern Lancaster County SD and 24 years as the high school librarian in the Conestoga Valley SD, where she supervised the Conestoga Valley Library Program for 17 years. She is a Past President of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association and a Library Consultant. She teaches Information Literacy and Academic Standards (LSC 5535) and Instructional Collaboration (LSC 5501).

Catherine Beyers (cbeyers@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Beyers earned a B.S. in elementary education with a minor in library science from the Univ. of Illinois, an M.S. in educational media from the Univ. of Wisconsin-La Crosse, and completed courses in technology education at Viterbo University. She has served as an elementary school librarian for the La Crosse S.D. for 23 years. Her library at Spence Elementary was honored as the first elementary school to receive the John Cotton Dana Award and Southern Bluffs Elementary was named School Library Media Program of the Year in 1995. Ms. Beyers received Kohl and Fulbright Fellowships and taught educational media courses at the Univ. of Wisconsin-La Crosse for 10 years. She teaches School Library Advocacy (LSC 5530).

Candace Blessing (cblessin@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Blessing earned her B.S. at Millersville University and completed an M.L.S. at Drexel University in 1996. She has been employed at the Ephrata School District since 1988 as the School Library Media Specialist. She has been the secretary of the Pennsylvania School Librarians Association and received the Professional Development Award from PSLA . She is a frequent conference presenter and cataloging consultant for school districts. She teaches Cataloging and Classification in an Electronic Environment (LSC 5520).

Jane Fenn (jfenn@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Fenn has earned a B.A. from Wellesley College, a master's degree from Stanford University, and an M.L.S. from University of California at Berkley. She has been a School Library Media Specialist in the Corning-Painted Post Area School District, N.Y. since 1983. In addition, she works occasionally as a Reference Librarian at Mansfield University and has worked part-time at Elmira College. She teaches Core Resources for the School Library (LSC 5505), Strategic Library Management (LSC 5525) and the culminating Seminar (LSC 5564).

Suzanne Franklin (sfrankli@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Franklin graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.S. in Education and an M.L.S. Her twenty-two years in Texas school libraries encompasses all aspects of K-12, including district library coordinator. Since 1999, she has worked as a library consultant, providing cataloging services and workshops; presenter at national, state and regional conferences; and trainer for two library software companies. She is an active member of the Texas Library Association's Cataloging Focus Group, which is responsible for maintenance of the statewide library database. She teaches Cataloging and Classification in an Electronic Environment (LSC 5520).

Nancy Henry (nhenry@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Henry earned her B.S. from Millersville University and an M.L.S. from Drexel University. She has been employed at Ephrata Area School District as a school library media specialist. She has co-authored several publications and workshops for Pennsylvania Department of Education, Commonwealth Libraries. Ms. Henry teaches Collection Management in the Electronic Age (LSC 5515).

Sara Kelly Johns (skjohns@gmail.com)

Ms. Johns has been a media specialist at Lake Placid Middle/High School since 1999. From 1990-2006 she was an adjunct professor at SUNY Plattsburgh where she won the Excellence in Teaching Award for Adjuncts in 1999. She is a Past President of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) , Associate Editor for Knowledge Quest, and will be the AASL L4L Coordinator for the Standards for 21st Century Learner in New York State. Sara served on the Regents Commission on Library Service for the 21st Century and is a member of the Regents Advisory Committee on Libraries, the New York Library Association (NYLA) Legislative Committee, the Intellectual Freedom roundtables for NYLA and ALA, and the American Library Association (ALA) Advocacy Committee. She teaches Access and Legal Issues (LSC 5545).

Debra Kachel (dkachel@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Kachel received a B.S. from Millersville University and an M.L.S. from Drexel. She has published numerous articles and authored a monograph on collection development. She is also the 2001 recipient of the PSLA Outstanding Contributor Award. Ms. Kachel teaches Collection Management in the Electronic Age (LSC 5515), School Library Advocacy for Administrators (LSC 6600) and directs the Scholarship Program.

Cynthia Keller (ckeller@mansfield.edu) - Program Director

Ms. Keller earned a B.S. degree in Elementary Ed. and Library Science, an M.L.S., and a Supervisor's Certificate from Shippensburg University. She has written several articles and co-authored two Library Skill Books. Her experience extends to K-12 libraries, supervision, distance learning, grant writing, curriculum development, storytelling and technology. As Library Supervisor for the Chambersburg Area School District she coordinated 22 libraries and was the 2003 recipient of the PSLA Outstanding Contributor award. She previously taught for Penn State and Clarion Universities and now serves full time as department chairperson, program director and instructor of the final culimating courses, Seminar (LSC 5564) and Practicum (LSC 5562) in School Librarianship.

Jim Lauritsen (jlaurits@mansfield.edu)

Jim Lauritsen earned a B.A. in literature from Biscayne College (now St. Thomas University), an M.A. in literature from Barry University, and an M.S.L.S from Shippensburg University. He taught high school English for 15 years and recently retired as the Gettysburg High School librarian and Gettysburg Area School District Library Department Chair. He has served as an Instructional Technology Specialist, school district liaison to the Instructional Technology Advisory Council of the Lincoln Intermediate Unit, SPIES Co-Director, and is a member of the Executive Committee of the South Central Library Consortium of Pennsylvania. He taught Library Science at Shippensburg University for eight years and now teaches Electronic Delivery Systems (LSC 5510.)

Jolen Neumann (jneumann@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Neumann earned her B.S. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an M.L.S. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She has over 14 years of K-12 experience as a kindergarten/first grade teacher for the Milwaukee Public School District and as a middle school library media specialist for the Madison Metropolitan School District. She has served as secretary of the Madison Chapter of Beta Beta Epsilon; member and chair of AASL’s Salute to the Schools committee; and member of the Michael Printz Award committee. She is currently serving on the Charlotte Zolotow Award committee and teaches Access and Legal Issues in the Information Age (LSC 5545).

Kathleen Odean (kodean@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Odean has a B.A. in English from Carleton College and an MLS and MA in Folklore from U.C. Berkeley. She chaired the 2002 Newbery Award Committee, and served on previous Newbery and Caldecott committees. She is the author of Great Books for Girls, Great Books for Boys, Great Books about Things Kids Love, and Great Books for Babies and Toddlers, all published by Ballantine. A children's librarian since 1982, she reviews books for Kirkus, Booklist, and Teacher-Librarian. She teaches Core Resources for the School Library (LSC 5505).

Judy Pezzuolo (jpezzuol@mansfield.edu)

Judy Pezzuolo earned a B.S. in library science from Slippery Rock University, an M. Ed. in reading from Westminster College, and has completed substantial coursework in the Ph.D. program in Instructional Systems at Penn State University. She has0served as high school librarian, technology coordinator and currently elementary librarian and technology teacher for Union Area School District (PA). For a short time she was a sales representative for Follett Software. Ms. Pezzuolo has presented at state and national conferences, was founding director of the Beaver County Library Consortium, and currently serves as a member of the Access PA Advisory Council. She teaches Information Searching, Retrieval and Presentation (LSC 5540).

Larry Schankman (lschankm@mansfield.edu)

Larry came to MU in 1993 as a reference librarian, responsible for Government Documents, Electronic and Web Resources, and coordination of the Virtual Reference Desk, which served over 100,000 Pennsylvanians for seven years. Besides Bachelors in Classics and Economics he has an MLS from the University of Washington, a Masters in Instructional Design from Bloomsburg University and a Ph.D. in Instructional Design for Online Learning (Education) from Capella University. He serves full time as Instructional Designer/Technical Coordinator and adviser for the SL&IT program. He teaches the Introductory (LSC 5500) and culminating Seminar (LSC 5564) courses.

Robin Schreiter (rschreit@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Schreiter graduated from Drexel University in 1981 with an M.L.S. and earned a M.Ed. in Education Technology at Lesley College, MA in 2001. It is important to note that this degree was offered online. She has over 20 years of experience as a school librarian in all aspects of the K-12 environment and is now responsible for curriculum delivery at the Manheim Township High School. Ms. Schreiter teaches Instructional Collaboration (LSC 5501).

Jean Tuzinski (jtuzinsk@mansfield.edu)

Ms. Tuzinski graduated from Millersville University and earned a master's degree from Kutztown University in 1972. She has had varied professional experience which includes: Tamaqua Area Senior High School Librarian for 21 years, one year as an ACCESS PA Support staff member, School Library Development Advisor at the Pennsylvania Department of Education, and is currently retired from the West Shore School District where she was a School Librarian and Chairperson for the School Library Media Services for the district's 16 school libraries. She designed and teaches Information Literacy and Academic Standards (LSC 5535).