Tuesday Author Keynote Speaker

We are happy to announce Varian Johnson as our Tuesday Author Keynote Speaker! For more WEMTA Conference information, please click on this link and also fill out this short survey if you know of a company who would make a great WEMTA Exhibitor.

Exhibitor Registration is Open!

We are pleased to announce that our annual conference will take place at the Kalahari Convention Center in Wisconsin Dells, WI. WEMTA (Wisconsin Educational Media and Technology Association) is an independent professional organization serving school library media and instructional technology educators. Our annual conference draws approximately 700 attendees for three days of professional development. Our exhibit hall is open on Monday and Tuesday, April 1st & April 2nd, and has three dedicated exhibit times including a Monday afternoon dessert break in the exhibit hall. Please click on our Sponsorship page for opportunities to further promote your company/products. We would like to extend an invitation to you to exhibit this year!

PERKS OF BEING AN EXHIBITOR AT WEMTA

• Promote your product to a targeted audience, increase visibility, and showcase your product to decision makers
• Three dedicated exhibit hall times to talk with conference attendees
• Access to emails of attendees for post-conference marketing (WEMTA Business members, we do not offer lead retrieval)
• Ability to present a session during concurrent sessions*
• Monday boxed lunch included (one per booth, additional lunches available to purchase before the conference)

*your presentation title, description and presenter information must be given to program@wemta.org by the stated deadline, slots are not guaranteed except for Sponsors

Exhibitor Registration

https://www.wemta.org/events/exhibitors.cfm

How do you use student learning data?

@ISTE and @projunicorn want to hear from educators! Tell us how you use (or don't use) data in your professional practice and be entered to win a grand prize package that includes ISTE19 registration for you and a colleague! Find out more at https://info.iste.org/project-unicorn-and-iste

Register for ISTE 2019 and book your housing now!

Now is the time to register for ISTE 2019 and reserve your housing in Philadelphia. Use this link to book as part of the WEMTA housing block: https://registration.experientevent.com/showSTE191/?bkgId=2499&regGrpId=2571 by January 31, 2019. 

Fwd: Hey there school librarians going to SLATE!

Let's talk AASL!

(American Association of School Libraries)

A networking social to explore and share ideas

Tuesday December 4, 2018 @ 6:00pm

Wisconsin Brew Pub

located near the far end of the Resort Side Wing, just before you enter Tom Foolerys Adventure Park

Monica Treptow -  DPI School Library Media Education Consultant

Christine O'Regan - AASL Liaison for WEMTA

How do you use student learning data?

ISTE has partnered with Project Unicorn to better understand how student learning data and privacy issues impact educators in their daily practice. Fill out this brief survey and be entered to win one of five awesome prize packages including free registration for you and a colleague to attend ISTE19! Learn more!

Keynote Speaker

We are happy to announce Patricia J. Brown will be the Keynote Speaker at #WEMTA19. Ms. Edtechie is the Technology Specialist at Ladue School District.

Keynote Speaker

We are happy to announce Patricia J. Brown will be the Keynote Speaker at #WEMTA19. Ms. Edtechie is the Technology Specialist at Ladue School District. For more information, check out her website: www.msedtechie.com

Hey there school librarians going to SLATE!

Let's talk AASL!

(American Association of School Libraries)

A networking social to explore and share ideas

Tuesday December 4, 2018 @ 6:00pm

Wisconsin Brew Pub

located near the far end of the Resort Side Wing, just before you enter Tom Foolerys Adventure Park

Monica Treptow -  DPI School Library Media Education Consultant

Christine O'Regan - AASL Liaison for WEMTA

#WEMTA19 Call for Proposals

Last call! The deadline for proposals is this Friday, November 16th! Don't miss out on your chance to present March 31 - April 2 in Wisconsin Dells at the Kalahari Resort. We have new discount pricing this year for presenters. 

Poster session	$15 off for primary presenter or $30 off for primary presenter if presenting at both poster sessions
1 session	$50 off for primary presenter
2 sessions	$100 off for primary presenter
3 sessions	$150 off for primary presenter
4 sessions	Free for primary presenter

You can find the complete directions for submitting your proposals here. Questions? Email program@wemta.org. 

Don’t be a turkey!

Recognize an administrator you know who has demonstrated individual excellence to the library, media, or educational technology profession through service to students, teachers, and the community with an Administrator of the Year Award at www.wemta.org !  

Battle of the Books Season Has Begun!

The Battle of the Books team met to select the questions that will be used throughout this years' Battle season. The goal of these volunteers is to have the questions available to you by December 1st. Haven't registered yet? Remember the Early Bird deadline, $15, this year, is December 15th. Registrations will not be accepted after January 15th. Thanks to the over 300 teams that are already registered. Happy Reading!

 2018 11 Battle Meeting.jpg

Thankful for the gift of reading!

Thank the librarian in your life who made an impact on your love of reading by nominating them today and showing them your thanks at www.wemta.org    

ISTE elections are November 5-26. Make your voice heard!

Help us serve you by electing two board members who will work to rethink education and empower all learners!

Learn more about the elections here.

Who can you nominate this Halloween?

As we celebrate Halloween, do you ever wonder if the Boogeyman had been recognized for his good deeds, would he have become a kinder, gentler person?  Don't forget to recognize those library, media and educational technology leaders with a nomination for the WEMTA Professional of the Year Award! www.wemta.org  

Volunteers Matter to WEMTA

The WEMTA organization is made up of many great members including several volunteers.  Thanks to our volunteers, we are able to organize a fantastic conference, advocate for our profession, learn through professional learning opportunities and encourage leadership throughout the state.

The WEMTA board is looking for people to step into some of these volunteer positions. Taking on a leadership role gives you a voice and provides many opportunities to meet colleagues from around the state who are also passionate about digital learning and information literacy.  If you are interested in running for a position, please complete the 2018 - 2019 Board Interest Form.  Elections will take place after the beginning of the year.  

Exhibitor and Sponsor Recommendations

Do you have a suggestion for an exhibitor or sponsor for our conference? Please fill out this form to submit their contact information.  Thanks!

https://goo.gl/forms/RSUbS6c9C3Iui4ZF3

Nominating someone for an award shouldn’t be scary!

Help lift up the professionals in our field and recognize them for the amazing work they do with staff and students! You can find everything you need to know about the types of awards and the process to follow to nominate someone on the WEMTA website under Awards!  www.wemta.org   

Fwd: Join the #DigCitCommit movement during Dig Cit Week!

Are you committed to Digital Citizenship?

Are you committed to Digital Citizenship? It's Digital Citizenship Week and educators worldwide are celebrating by joining the #DigCitCommit movement! It's all about creating a personal pledge to teach and model digital citizenship in your classroom on an ongoing basis — focusing on the "do's" of digital citizenship instead of the "don'ts." Some are countering cyberbullying by creating a tsunami of kindness. Others are using tech to connect with communities beyond their classrooms in a positive way. What will you do? Let ISTE help you #DigCitCommit and, together, we'll create a world full of responsible digital citizens! COMMIT NOW P.S. Once you share your pledge, we'll periodically check on your progress and send you tips and inspirational resources via email! International Society for Technology in Education Oregon: 621 SW Morrison Street, Suite 800, Portland, Oregon, 97205 USA Virginia: 1530 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 730, Arlington, Virginia, 22209 You have received this email at the address iste@wemta.org as part of the ISTE Resources mailing list. Manage your ISTE email preferences here.

#WEMTA19 Call for Proposals - Deadline October 31st

#WEMTA19 is happening March 31st - April 2nd in Wisconsin Dells at Kalahari Resort and we want you to present! Have more than one idea for a session? New this year, if more than one of your sessions are selected, you will receive a bigger presenter discount. 

Poster session	$15 off for primary presenter or $30 off for primary presenter if presenting at both poster sessions
1 session	$50 off for primary presenter
2 sessions	$100 off for primary presenter
3 sessions	$150 off for primary presenter
4 sessions	Free for primary presenter

You can find the complete directions for submitting your proposals here. Questions? Email program@wemta.org. 

A Lifetime of making an impact!

Recognize someone who is retired or who left the profession for the impact they have had and the contributions they have made to our organization. Gather two additional WEMTA members to submit letters of support for your nominee for a Lifetime Achievement Award. www.wemta.org   

Moving our profession Forward!

Consider nominating a certified Teacher/Librarian with an exemplary school library media program for the Forward Award. This is an individual building program award recognizing an individual for the amazing work that has been done through their library program.  www.wemta.org   

Fall is here!

Do you know of any "Good Apples" who we should pick to receive a WEMTA Award this year?  Nominate someone today! www.wemta.org   

Applications Open for 2019 AASL Awards

Applications for the 2019 awards season are now available! AASL members are encouraged to nominate a colleague or themselves to be lauded for their outstanding talent and dedication to the profession as part of this prestigious program. AASL awards and grants recognize excellence and showcase best practices in the school library field in categories that include collaboration, leadership and innovation.   Awards

National School Library of the Year Award, sponsored by Follett Awards $10,000 and a crystal obelisk, to a school library that meets the needs of the changing school and library environment and is fully integrated into the school's curriculum

Distinguished Service Award, sponsored by Rosen Awards $3,000 to an individual member of the library profession who has, over a significant period of time, made an outstanding national contribution to school librarianship and school library development.

Affiliate of the Year Award Awards a $1,000 stipend to the AASL Affiliate most active and dynamic in achieving the goals of AASL at the state and local level.

Collaborative School Library Award, sponsored by Upstart Awards $2,500, to a partnership between school librarians and educators in meeting goals outlined in AASL's "National School Library Standards for Learners, School Librarians, and School Libraries" through joint planning of a program, unit or event in support of the curriculum and using school library resources.

Distinguished School Administrator Award, sponsored by ProQuest Awards $2,000 to a school administrator who has made worthy contributions to the operations of an exemplary school library and to advancing the role of the school library in the educational program.

Frances Henne Award, sponsored by ABC-CLIO Awards a school librarian with five or fewer years in the field $1,250 to attend an ALA Annual Conference or AASL National Conference for the first time.

Intellectual Freedom Award, sponsored by ProQuest Awards $2,000 to the recipient and $1,000 to the school library of the winner's choice, in recognition of upholding the principles of intellectual freedom as set forth by AASL and ALA.

Roald Dahl's Miss Honey Social Justice Award, sponsored by Penguin Random House Awards $8,000 in funds and books to AASL members who have collaboratively designed a lesson, event, or course of study on social justice exemplified by a character from Roald Dahl's books.

Grants

ABC-CLIO Leadership Grant, sponsored by ABC-CLIO Awards up to $1,750, to a school library association that is an AASL affiliate for planning and implementing a leadership program at the state, regional or local levels

Innovative Reading Grant, sponsored by Capstone Awards $2,500 to fund literacy projects for grades K-9 that promote the importance of reading and facilitate literacy development by supporting current reading research, practice and policy.

Inspire Collection Development Grant, sponsored by Marina "Marney" Welmers Awards up to $5,000 to public middle or high schools to extend, update, and diversify their book, online, subscription and/or software collections in order to realize sustainable improvement in student achievement.

Inspire Special Event Grant, sponsored by Marina "Marney" Welmers Awards up to $2,000 to public middle or high schools to create new or enhance existing extracurricular activities in order to increase student academic achievement.

Past-Presidents Planning Grant for National School Library Standards,  sponsored by Roger & Susan D. Ballard and Cassandra Barnett Annually awards $2,500 to three AASL affiliates to plan and execute an event, initiative, or activity focused on the implementation of the new AASL "National School Library Standards." Grants are presented in honor of AASL past-presidents.

The Ruth Toor Grant for Strong Public School Libraries, sponsored by Jay Toor Awards $5,000 in funding and travel for the creation and implementation of a local public awareness/marketing campaign that promotes and positions their school library as a necessary resource in the community.