Tag Archives: Award

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Congratulations Paul Beckermann, Dassel-Cokato Schools!

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Paul Beckermann
Media & Digital Learning Specialist

We’ve Learned that CMLE member Dassel-Cokato Schools (ISD#466) is recognizing Paul Beckermann, Media and Digital Learning Specialist, who has been selected as a semifinalist in the 2013 Minnesota Teacher of the Year program!

This annual program honors excellence among Minnesota educators. Now in its 48th year, it is the oldest and most prestigious recognition program for the State. The Minnesota Teacher of the Year represents the profession as an advocate for education and spokesperson for teachers. The program chooses one teacher to represent Minnesota’s thousands of excellent educators. To learn more, go to Education Minnesota‘s website!

Congratulations to Paul!

School Media Specialist

Paul Beckermann Selected as 2012 Outstanding Minnesota High School AV/Media Coordinator

CMLE’s Governing Board President, Paul Beckermann, has won another award for his outstanding service to students, faculty, and staff at Dassel-Cokato High School!! Congratulations to Paul for this exciting honor!

From Alpha Video….

Minneapolis, MN, December 14, 2012 – Alpha Video is pleased to announce that Paul Beckermann, Media and Digital Learning Specialist at Dassel-Cokato High School, has received the 2012 Outstanding Minnesota High School AV/Media Coordinator Award.

Beckermann was recognized for the effective and innovative implementation of audio, video and media technology. He has 18 years teaching experience as an English instructor plus seven years experience as the Media and Digital Learning Specialist. Some of his accomplishments include:

  • Acting as coach and advisor for DCTV – a weekly TV news broadcast, produced by students for students.  Paul_AVaward
  • Designed technologically equipped classrooms to include mounted LCD projectors, interactive whiteboards and updated computers with document cameras, microphones, headphones and an improved software collection.
  • District Trainer in Moodle.
  • Introduced eBooks to the school library collection.
  • Current President Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange.
  • Chaired or participated in numerous technology committees for the school district.

Beckermann received his award on December 9, 2012 at the annual TIES Education Technology Conference during the Technology Leadership Awards Banquet.  Scott Tronson, Alpha Video Marketing Manager, presented the award to him.

Commenting on the award, Beckermann said, “I have had the opportunity to meet other high school AV/Media coordinators from schools across the state, and I’m continually impressed with how they have effectively and innovatively implemented audio, video and media technology in their schools. Their leadership and hard work is helping to transform classrooms and to provide students and staff with the tools and training needed to be successful. It’s an honor to receive this award and to represent this great group of professionals.” He also thanked his wife, Pamela Beckermann, who works at the Dassel-Cokato Middle School as a Digital Learning and Media Specialist.

The program was sponsored by Alpha Video, CastNET, Bosch/ElectroVoice, Kramer Electronics, Samsung, Panasonic and VBrick.

About Alpha Video
Alpha Video & Audio has been a professional video systems provider and integration specialist since 1970. Alpha specializes in products, systems and services for video and digital media content creation, distribution and management. Alpha Video is headquartered at 7711 Computer Ave, Edina, Minnesota 55435. (800) 388-0008 or (952) 896-9898. www.alphavideo.com

Academic, Check this out:, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Paul Beckermann, Media Specialist of the Year

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At the Friday luncheon at last week’s MEMO Conference, our own Paul Beckermann, school library media specialist at Dassel-Cokato High School, received the prestigious Media Specialist of the Year award. Paul has also served  on the CMLE Governing Board for a total of six years, and as President for the past four years.

Paul has many strengths and accomplishments, most of which might not be evident under his quiet humility. Due to this humility, it was only after I reviewed his many accomplishments that I fully understood what a huge contribution Paul has made to the field. Paul is quite simply outstanding, a master of his craft as teacher/media specialist/tech integrationist.  He is  worthy and deserving of this prestigious award and we know this will not be the end of Paul’s greatness! We are lucky to have professionals like Paul in our 12-county Central Minnesota region. Well done Paul!

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

We’ve Learned: Staffing News and Updates from Around the Region

We’ve Learned… is designed to keep our readers informed about news concerning personnel in CMLE libraries/media centers. Please keep us informed of any “happenings” regarding staff members in your area so that we can include them in the next write-up! Happenings can include: changes in staffing, awards, honors… you get the idea!

  • Robin Ewing, Associate Professor & Reference Librarian at SCSU,  received the 2012 MLA President’s Award at this year’s MLA Conference. Way to go, Robin! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to the organization.
  • Please use the comments area to let us know if there are updates in your library or media center!
School Media Specialist

Apply Today for a $4,000 National School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming!

The ALA Public Programs Office is now accepting nominations for the 2013 Sara Jaffarian School Library Program Award for Exemplary Humanities Programming. School libraries, public or private, that served children in any combination of grades K-8 and conducted humanities programs during the 2011-2012 school year are eligible. Applications and award guidelines are available at www.ala.org/jaffarianaward. To be considered, nominations must be received by the ALA Public Programs Office by December 15.

The award consists of a $4,000 honorarium and a plaque. Additionally, the winning program will be promoted as a model program for other school libraries on www.ProgrammingLibrarian.org, a library programming resource center. To be considered, applicant libraries must have conducted a humanities program or program series during the prior school year (2011-2012). The humanities program can be focused in many subject areas, including but not limited to social studies, poetry, drama, art, music, language arts, foreign language and culture. Programs should focus on broadening perspectives and helping students understand the wider world and their place in it. They should be initiated and coordinated by the school librarian and exemplify the role of the library program in advancing the overall educational goals of the school.

To help you find inspiration for your application, ALA Public Programs Office and ProgrammingLibrarian.org present an online learning opportunity especially for school librarians:

Who Are We?: An award-winning humanities program model for school libraries

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

4:00 p.m. CDT

Francis Feeley, school librarian of Inter-American Magnet School in Chicago, Ill., and winner of the 2012 Sara Jaffarian Award, will present his winning model for humanities programming in the school library. The program, titled “Who Are We?” challenged seventh- and eighth-grade students to explore the individual and collective behavior of human beings in the past and present in a series of quarterly research projects. Following the presentation, Feeley will discuss elements of his award application that lead to his selection, and give tips to prospective applicants to help get their applications started. Registration for this event is required, and can be found at: http://www.programminglibrarian.org/online-learning/who-are-we-an-award-winning-humanities-program-model-for-school-libraries.html.

With questions, please contact the ALA Public Programs Office, publicprograms@ala.org or 800-545-2433 x5045.