Michell Wright Jumpp has been named the 2021 New York Library Association’s School Librarian of the Year.

Ms. Jumpp is the School Library Media Specialist at Horizons on the Hudson’s elementary school.

The award is given to a librarian who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and service within the library community over the past 12 – 18 months. Librarians at any stage in their careers are eligible for this award. The criteria for the award required the recipient has made a significant contribution by any of the following:
- Demonstrating the value of school libraries
- Enhancing the image of school librarians and/or school libraries

- Promoting an accessible and positive climate in the library
- Advancing community relations
- Initiating a new library service or program

Kate Clarke, parent and former PTO president for Horizons on the Hudson shared this about Ms. Jumpp, “In any given year, the reach of Michell’s love for her scholars and teaching, passion for literature, dedication to racial and social justice, belief in empowering scholars, boundless creativity, and extraordinary work ethic reach beyond the four walls of her library and this year was no exception - though it did require some innovation.”

Noting specific programming that Ms. Jumpp has developed, Ms. Clarke shared: “Virtual programs featured scholar contributors and hosts, HOH family members and staff, and community members. The largest undertaking was Dig Deeper and Reach Beyond “I Have a Dream,” a month-long program for Black History Month - one book, oral history, or story that celebrates black culture presented every night in February.

Other events included Celebrate Women’s History Month (15 women, past and present, who have made a difference in Newburgh were honored, including Daniela Portillo, Newburgh’s first Hispanic female police officer), Learn More About Ramadan & Eid, Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom (presenters included an alumna).  (Program videos can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/3tathx8j)

Another way Ms. Jumpp fosters a sense of community at HOH is by celebrating our school’s diverse population, through different author studies, helping scholars express themselves through different forms of poetry, having scholars share family traditions, and housing a large collection of books in the native languages of our ESL scholars to name a few. In addition to all this, she has created and maintains an incredible, expansive online library for scholars and families. This K-5 library features current and local events, monthly celebrations, holidays, cultural traditions, authors and illustrators of diverse ethnicities, a section dedicated to work created by scholars for scholars, virtual field trips, access to local and NYPL digital cards and resources, access to online books including COVID-19 eBooks, technical help for families, and family engagement tips.”
Robert Glowacki, principal of Horizons on the Hudson celebrated Ms. Jumpp’s accomplishment by sharing, “This is a well deserved honor for Ms. Jumpp! She enhances the lives of our scholars everyday here at Horizons on the Hudson! We are lucky to have her!  Congratulations! She is a vital member of our staff who makes our scholars wonderful critical thinkers and inquiries! Ms. Jumpp embodies what it means to have passion for education and excellence for our students. We are honored to have Ms. Jumpp as part of our HOH family.”

The NYLA Awards Committee noted Ms. Jumpp’s community collaboration through REACH, “Strive for Five Membership Drive” to increase educator attendance at PTO meetings, and her work to promote racial equity and inclusion, and her work on a curriculum writing team to align the Empire State Information Fluency Continuum with NYSED’s Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education Framework. Ms. Jumpp will receive an engraved plaque, recognition at NYLA’s Annual Conference and/or NYLA’s Section of School Librarians’ Conference, and recognition in the NYLA Awards Banquet pamphlet. Ms. Jumpp will also be acknowledged at the Awards Banquet at NYLA’s Annual Conference, on NYLA’s website, and in the NYLA Voice

“I must give credit to our PTO & REACH team (Raising Equity, Access and Culture at Horizons) for making possible, extraordinary collaborative work that prioritizes access, equity and inclusion. I want to dedicate this award to my parents, Aston and Hilda Wright who were tireless advocates of education and underserved communities, and my sister, Leleith (Wright) Smith, who influenced my career choice. As my first librarian on a bookmobile in Jamaica, West Indies, she introduced me to stories from around the world.  She was an exemplary public, academic and school librarian who worked in the Peekskill CSD for 29 years before she passed away.” Michell Wright Jumpp, 2021 NYLA School Librarian of the Year, School Library Media Specialist for Horizons on the Hudson elementary school.