Cohort 7
Amanda Struckmeyer EDUCATION • M.A. in Library and Information Science
University of Wisconsin-Madison • B.A. in Elementary Education College of Saint Benedict
ENROLLED • Cohort 7
LOCATION • Madison, Wis.
Amanda Struckmeyer is an educator serving as a Library Media Specialist at a Madison-area elementary school. She has been a classroom teacher in rural Alaska, a volunteer in several countries, and a wilderness canoe guide in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Having worked with individuals from diverse backgrounds, Amanda recognizes the need for culturally relevant reading materials for young readers and the importance of decolonizing the library. She believes that when we see ourselves and our identities reflected in books, we feel a deeper sense of belonging in the world, and our connection to literacy, reading, and the world as a whole is strengthened. Amanda earned her B.A. in Elementary Education from the College of Saint Benedict (St. Joseph, Minn.) and her M.A. in Library and Information Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. During her education, she became aware of the need for reading materials featuring diverse characters and the lack thereof. As an educator, she has seen firsthand the ways books and representation affect students’ self concept and confidence. Having served on both the Newbery and Caldecott Award committees, Amanda is aware of trends in publishing for young readers. She is encouraged by the growing number of widely available books featuring diverse characters. Connecting students with books is Amanda’s passion; she does this through individual student book choice in the school library and also through providing teachers with new, diverse materials to complement classroom curriculum.
UW-Stevens Point
88
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