Polson educator receives scholarship
Francy Moll receives scholarship for MSU Indigenous Perspectives in School Librarianship program
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By Anne Cantrell, MSU News Service
MONTANA — Fifteen educators who work in Montana and Alaska have been selected to receive scholarships that will help them complete a Montana State University library media certificate program infused with Indigenous perspectives. In Polson, Francy Moll received the scholarship.
The scholarship recipients were selected based on their commitment to serving Indigenous populations, becoming school librarians and enacting culturally relevant pedagogies, according to Deborah Rinio, assistant teaching professor and program director for the library media certificate program. They were chosen from among 60 applicants.
“We believe these students have great potential to positively impact their schools and communities by becoming school librarians who are ready and able to develop diverse and inclusive libraries that meet the needs of their entire school community,” Rinio said.
She added that, in some cases, the educators are working in schools where there is currently no school librarian, which creates tremendous opportunity.
Funding for the scholarships comes from a three-year, $574,910 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Laura Bush 21st Century Librarian Program, which is funding the program known as Indigenous Perspectives in School Librarianship. As part of the grant, Rinio, Ann Ewbank and their partners have redesigned MSU’s library media certificate program curriculum to be culturally relevant and prioritize Indigenous perspectives in alignment with Montana’s Indian Education for All initiative as well as Alaska Standards for Culturally Responsive Schools. The redesigned curriculum also follows the newest standards for school librarian preparation programs, Rinio said.