Southeast Missouri State University alumna Heather Hufstedler recently was honored with the Outstanding Library Program Award by the Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) at its annual spring conference.
Hufstedler, who holds a Master of Arts in English from Southeast Missouri State University, serves as a librarian in the West Plains R-7 School District in West Plains, Missouri. The Outstanding Library Program Award recognizes exemplary school library programs that demonstrate strength in foundations, learning environment, teaching and learning, collaborative partnerships, advocacy and outreach, and leadership, and is modeled after the American Association of School Librarians’ National School Library Program of the Year Award. Hufstedler has worked in education for 19 years, including 14 years as the librarian and “techbrarian” at West Plains Middle School.
She reports feeling fortunate to facilitate learning for approximately 600 middle school students in collaboration with a flexible and supportive faculty and notes that working at the middle school level offers new challenges and experiences each day. In addition to her degree from Southeast, she holds a Master of Science in Library Science and Information Services from the University of Central Missouri. Hufstedler has expressed enthusiasm that libraries are increasingly recognized as hubs for collaboration, creativity, technology, and exploratory learning.
Hufstedler lives in West Plains with her husband and three young sons. She previously received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Missouri Staff Development Council in 2015 and continues to develop an innovative library program. Her professional service includes a three-year appointment representing school libraries on the Secretary of State’s Library Development Council, serving as sitting director for the Missouri Association of School Librarians, and acting as president of the Southern Region Association of School Librarians.