Mill Creek Towne Elementary School Principal Robyn Shinn and Assistant Principal Rachel Cravath have won the Nancy C. Walker Award for Outstanding Support to a Library Media Program for the 2025–2026 school year. They were nominated by school media specialist Bonnie Hines. This award is presented annually by the Montgomery County Educational Media Staff Association (MCEMSA) to highlight the role of administrative leaders in supporting library media centers.
Each year, Shinn and Cravath allocate additional funds to the media center from their instructional materials fund. This includes additional inclusive books to support the curriculum. Hines notes: “I have always been trusted to select the resources our school needs without question.”
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Shinn and Cravath actively look for opportunities to collaborate to showcase library resources. Three years ago, the school used grant money to institute schoolwide lessons that would foster community and a love of reading amongst students and staff. They centered the lessons on the book All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold. They collaborated to create quarterly schoolwide lessons using the book to focus on community, identity, reflection and celebrating our strengths.
“Few libraries are lucky enough to have the full support and trust of one administrator in a school, so I am incredibly lucky to have two,” Hines said. “Robyn Shinn and Rachel Cravath are true champions of the library, advocating for our library program every chance they can.”
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