JoAnn Jonas, Secretary
I have been a Montessori teacher, MLS librarian, children’s literature and early childhood education specialist, and managed both Montessori schools and Youth Services in public libraries. I have also been in charge of selecting all youth materials for the San Diego County Library System. Currently I am reviewing children’s and young adult books and writing for professional library publications. I earned a BS degree from the University of Minnesota in Experimental Education and Child Psychology and received a Montessori teaching credential from the American Montessori Society. My Masters Degree in Library and Information Science is from Pratt, in New York City, where I worked for The New York Public Library.
I was the Director of the Early Childhood Resource and Information Center (ECRIC) for NYPL offering workshops and resources for parents, students of early childhood education, and professionals in the field of early childhood education.
Love of reading children’s literature has given me the opportunity to serve on the Newbery, Caldecott, Wilder, and Ezra Jack Keats New Writer award committees, a highlight of my library career.
Sharing my love of reading with students, children, and their families is the most joyful work I can imagine. The gift of reading is a priceless and essential skill for all human beings.