McKendree Elementary School media specialist Nicole Duque has been selected as the 2023 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Library Media Specialist of the Year. The annual award honors a K-12 library media specialist whose program is exemplary in collaborative partnerships, development of research skills, incorporation of technology, and the promotion of reading. “Nicole creates instructional opportunities to inspire and support literacy,” McKendree Elementary Principal Tyese Scott shares. “She leads teachers in the implementation of a schoolwide reading program, engages students in podcasting, coaches the Readers Rally team, and builds student literacy and technology skills through media lessons.”

Ms. Duque has redesigned the media center to create a unique space that is welcoming to all students and staff, and one that encourages learning, exploration, and creation. Her vision for the media program is to support teaching and learning through multiple resources and technology. According to Ms. Duque, “The school library is a student-centered space. Collaboration and partnership should be visible when you walk in the front doors.” In McKendree’s media center, students can be found self-selecting a book, reading while sitting on the soft seating, completing an activity in the makerspace area, conducting research, or visiting the affirmation station for encouragement and support. 

Ms. Duque celebrates diversity and inclusion through literature by ordering books based on student interests and enlisting students to read aloud to younger students. She forms instructional partnerships with teachers by designing research lessons, teaching digital citizenship skills, and encouraging critical thinking with standards-aligned games. In recent weeks, Ms. Duque and her students recorded their first episode of the Eagle Talk podcast. Ideas for the podcast are generated by students, and her students write and produce each episode. By creating the podcast, students strengthen their skills in research, writing, and collaboration. In addition to all that her space has to offer during the school day, Ms. Duque partners with the local branch of the Gwinnett Public Library to host “Meet Me at the Library” events to share the public library’s resources that are available to students and parents outside of school hours. 

Julie Saunders, GCPS Director of Media Services and Technology Training, says Duque is an example of the best GCPS has to offer. “In addition to leading, teaching, and supporting, Nicole is intentional about the media center where all students belong, and all students choose what they want to read.” Ms. Duque has served as a mentor to first-year media specialists, is a member of the GWINNETTedge committee, supports the GCPS Book Mobile program, and continues to share her passion and knowledge by presenting to district, state, and national audiences. This spring, Ms. Duque will compete for the Metro Area Library Media Specialist of the Year award which is sponsored by the Georgia Library Media Association.