INFOhio Spence White Service Award Recipient for 2011, Judy Swerline

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INFOhio Spence White Service Award, 2011
Judy K. Swerline, INFOhio / Educational Technologist, NWOCA

Judy K. Swerline, Educational Technologist and primary INFOhio support staff member at the NorthWest Ohio Computer Association (NWOCA), has been selected as the 2011 recipient of the INFOhio Spence White Service Award.
Judy has been employed by NWOCA since 1997. In addition to her INFOhio support role, she assists participating member districts with library automation and training, assists in providing training to the personnel of subscribing districts and assists districts in funding issues through grants. Beginning with two building libraries in 1997, today NWOCA has 81 school libraries automated from 28 northwest Ohio school districts. These library automation services provide essential resources to 48,141 students. Swerline has assisted in writing LSTA grants that have yielded over $852,000 for automating Ohio school libraries. Judy is also an INFOhio ICoach.

Picture credit: Swerline/PhotoBooth

John Myles, Library Media Specialist for Liberty Center Local Schools, who nominated Judy for this year's White Award, notes Judy's dedication to her role as NWOCA service provider. "Throughout her tenure with NWOCA, Judy has been the face of INFOhio and a tireless voice advocating for the promotion of INFOhio's services to all educational stakeholders in our region," Myles wrote. "She never misses an opportunity to share the INFOhio message of the right resources for the right user at the right time with librarians, teachers, administrators, parents and the general community."

Kay Cleland, Media Director for Montpelier Schools, concurs. "Judy has been key in assisting me and my staff as we automated our three library media centers and then guiding us as we consolidated into one K-12 media center." Cleland goes on to explain, "Our school has benefited in Judy's skill in grant writing during two phases of our automation process and, most recently, as part of a LSTA Full Grant for Virtual Connections to Support 21st Century Learning Skills."

Judy's efforts are recognized by her NWOCA colleagues. Carol Schwartz, NWOCA Instructional Technologist, attests to Swerline's dedication to her users. "Just as INFOhio is committed to providing outstanding information resources, Judy is committed to providing outstanding customer service to help teachers and students become proficient in using 21st century tools for learning," Schwartz stated. "All of Judy's work and service is accompanied by a warm smile and gentle patience. She is always willing to assist colleagues, answer questions and offer encouragement."

"Judy is up-to-date with the latest information, which she shares freely at regional [NWOCA] meetings which she helps coordinate," according to Denise Hathaway, Springfield High School Library/Media Specialist. "She has accomplished all of this with grace and a smile. She is truly unflappable and always cheerful."

Hathaway concluded her comments by evoking the award's namesake. "Like Spence White, Judy's commitment to the growth of the INFOhio program will be a legacy we will celebrate and hold as a standard of excellence in Northwest Ohio," she wrote. "School library/media specialists, other educators and students in Northwest Ohio were fortunate when Judy Swerline understood in the beginning stages of the INFOhio project how beneficial the program could be for us. We are truly grateful that she forged ahead to make that possible."

Judy earned bachelor's and master's degrees from Bowling Green State University, majoring in Special Education and Special Education Administration. From 1974 to 1988, she taught developmentally handicapped students in various northwest Ohio districts. After service as Special Education Supervisor for the Northwest Ohio Educational Service Center from 1988-1997, Judy began her tenure at NWOCA.

In addition to membership in the Ohio Educational Library Media Association, Phi Delta Kappa and many other professional organizations, Judy is active in the Henry County Humane Society.

The 2011 INFOhio Spence White Service Award will be presented during OELMA's award luncheon at this year's conference in Columbus when Judy will receive a commemorative memento from the INFOhio Governing Board.

Presenter's Remarks, Theresa M. Fredericka

Acceptance remarks

Award background
The INFOhio Spence White Service Award recognizes exemplary service provided to the INFOhio community by ITC personnel. The recipient demonstrates a dedication to the vision of INFOhio and outstanding support for the delivery of the INFOhio project.