Brian Bahnisch Award

Purpose: A biennial award to recognise and encourage collaborations and partnerships involving teacher-librarians, teachers and other members of the school community.

The Brian Bahnisch Award has as its focus positive learning outcomes for learners. The learner is central to the school and to the work of teachers. Influencing the school and the work of teachers is the role of the teacher-librarian as curriculum leader and information specialist working collaboratively with teachers in a school community to achieve positive learning outcomes for students.

Award winners -- Stanthorpe State High School (2008) | Aquinas College (2006) | Kurwongbah State School (2004)

 

Criteria

• The teacher-librarian must be a current financial member of SLAQ by virtue of personal or school membership.
• The application reflects a partnership over a significant period of time involving the teacher-librarian, classroom teacher/s and/or other members of the school community.
  • There is evidence of a collaborative process in the planning of the project.
  • There is evidence of a collaborative process in the implementation of the project
• The project has life beyond the current team members
• The activity has potential for broader impact beyond students and school to wider educational community.
• There is evidence of a positive impact on student learning outcomes, e.g. testimonials from teachers, students; qualitative and quantitative data. The evidence may be in oral and/or written form.
• Demonstrates excellence in teacher-librarianship for others in the profession:
  • Teacher-librarian as curriculum leader:
    • Evidence of innovative pedagogical ideas
    • Evidence of resource-based learning
  • Teacher-librarian as information specialist:
    • Evidence of integration of information literacy skills
      

Process

• This award is made biennially, in the conference year.
• Applications must be received by the last day of the month, 2 months prior to the date of the SLAQ conference (In 2008 the date is 31 July).
• Schools on the shortlist will be advised 4 weeks before the date of the conference (In 2008 the date is 31 August).
• The award winning school is announced at the conference dinner.
• The award winners - the teacher-librarian/s, teaching partners and the school will each receive a plaque presented at the conference dinner.
• The principal of the winning school will be invited to nominate the teacher-librarian for the ASLA Teacher-librarian of the Year award for that year.
• Nominations for the award that are unsuccessful may be considered for a commendation certificate at the discretion of the judging panel.
• The winning school's nomination will be the basis for an article for the SLAQ Newsletter and/or Access journal, and the group will be invited to present a session at the next biennial conference on the subject of their entry.

Award Committee

The Award Committee will consist of a minimum of 3 people / maximum of 5 people drawn from the following:

• principals representing different levels of education
• a representative from a tertiary institution
• a representative from Education Queensland; BCEC; QSITE; ASIQ; CBCQ or other related professional association
• SLAQ President (or nominee/delegate from SLAQ Executive).

The selection of the winner rests solely with the Award Committee. If no applications sufficiently meet the criteria to be deemed worthy of the award, the award may be held in abeyance or the committee may reopen the application process.

Nominations

Nominations may be made by peers, administrators, teachers or other members of the school or educational community.

A nomination form is available by clicking here.

Last updated 28 September 2008