Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award Judges

2024 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Karla M. Schmit, Chair; Penn State education librarian emeritus and director emeritus of the PA Center for the Book (Oakes, ND)
Erlene Bishop Killeen, retired school library coordinator, Stoughton Area School District (Stoughton, WI)
Meagan Lenihan, librarian, Lincoln School (Providence, RI)
Samrat Sharma, doctoral candidate, Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Margaret G. Simon, teacher of gifted students, Iberia Parish Schools (New Iberia, LA)

2023 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Dr. Colette Slagle, Chair (Springfield, IL)
Danielle Higley, children's book author (Boise, ID)
Dr. Shelly Ratliff, associate professor of education, director of field experiences and president of West Virginia Reading Association (Glenville, WV)
Marilyn Robbins, children's program coordinator and children's book buyer for BookBar and The Bookies Bookstore (Thornton, CO)
Arpita Sarker, doctoral candidate, Penn State University (University Park, PA)

2022 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Lynn Rutan, Chair; reviewer/blogger, retired school librarian (Holland, MI)
Korey Erickson, library coordinator (Sioux Falls, SD)
Dr. Jason J. Griffith, assistant professor of education at Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Kathleen Kuo, program manager, Nevada Humanities (Las Vegas, NV)
John Micklos Jr., author (Newark, DE)

2021 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Cindy Dobrez, Chair; Bookends Blog Co-author (Grand Haven, MI)
Tony Medina, Professor of Creative Writing at Howard University (Hyattsville, MD)
Marilyn Nelson, Poet, translator, children's book author (East Haven, CT)
Karen O’Connell, Coordinator of the Arkansas Center for the Book (Little Rock, AR)
Suzanne Walker, Indiana Young Readers Center Librarian (Indianapolis, IN)

2020 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Marjorie Maddox Hafer, Chair; Professor of English and Creative Writing, Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, PA)
Michelle F. Bayuk (Springfield, NJ)
René M Rodríguez-Astacio, doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction (Children's Literature), Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Junko Sakoi, Teacher Educator, Tucson Unified School District (Tucson, AZ)
Bina Williams, MLS, Bridgeport Public Library, North Branch Librarian II, Youth Services (Wallingford, CT)

2019 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Maggie Bokelman, Chair; Librarian (Mechanicsburg, PA)
Lester Laminack, Author/Consultant (Dillsboro, NC)
Mary Russell, Director, Center for the Book at the NH State Library (Concord, NH)
Suzi Steffen, Freelance Arts Journalist and Writing Instructor, Wenatchee Valley College and Linn-Benton Community College (Eugene, OR)
Sue Parsons, Associate Professor and Jacques Munroe Professor of Reading and Literacy, Oklahoma State University (Stillwater, OK)

2018 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Libby Snyder, Chair; teacher-librarian (State College, PA)
Barbara Chatton, professor (Laramie, WY)
Irene Latham, poet (Birmingham, AL)
Ed Spicer (Allegan, MI)
Jorge Argueta, poet and winner of the 2017 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award (San Salvador, El Salvador/San Francisco, CA)

2017 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Ernie Cox, Chair; Teacher-Librarian, Prairie Creek Intermediate School (Iowa City, IA)
Dr. Emily Aguiló-Pérez, Lecturer, English, The Pennsylvania State University (State College, PA)
Katie Sue Buchholtz, Children’s Librarian, Bellevue Branch of the Nashville Public Library System (Nashville, TN)
Dr. Carolyn L. Cook, Associate Professor, Mount St. Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD (Shippensburg, PA)
Margarita Engle, Author and winner of the 2016 Hopkins Poetry Award for Children (Clovis, CA)

2016 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Christopher Lassen, Chair; Youth Material Selector, BookOps, New York Public Library/Brooklyn Public Library (New York, NY);
Cynthia Alaniz, School Librarian, Cottonwood Creek Elementary (Coppell, TX)
Kwame Alexander, Author, Poet, and Educator (Potomac Falls, VA)
Paul W. Hankins, ELA Teacher, Silver Creek High School (Floyds Knobs, IN)
Pamela Michael, Director, Center for Environmental Literacy at Saint Mary's College of California, Co-founder of River of Words (Clayton, CA).

2015 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Tim Wadham, Chair (Puyallup, WA)
Kathy Barco, Library Consultant, Retired Children’s Librarian/Early Literacy Coordinator (Albuquerque, NM)
Andrea Cheng, Author/Poet/Teacher, Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (Cincinnati, OH)
Cindy Judd, Education Librarian, Team Leader Learning Resources Center Eastern Kentucky University Libraries (Berea, KY)
Heather Roney, Owner of Sweets 'N Stories (Oakes, ND)

2014 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Ellysa Stern Cahoy, Chair; Education Librarian and Assistant Director of the PA Center for the Book (State College, PA)
Amanda Adkins, Youth Services Librarian (Niles, OH)
Thom Barthelmess, Curator, Butler Children’s Literature Center/ lecturer, Dominican University (River Forest, IL)
Kate Coombs, Poet (Bountiful, UT)
Rocco A. Staino, Contributing Editor, School Library Journal/Director, Empire State Center for the Book (New York, NY)

2013 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Dr. Sue C. Kimmel, Chair; assistant professor, school libraries, Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA)
Joyce D. Dietrich, elementary librarian, Greencastle-Antrim School District (Chambersburg, PA)
Dr. Marianne Follis, librarian, Irving Public Library System, Valley Ranch location (Grapevine, TX)
Mike Skarp, 5th grade teacher, Eden Prairie, MN Schools (St. Louis Park, MN)
Lee Wardlaw, children's book author (Santa Barbara, CA)

2012 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Marg Foster, Chair; AASL affiliate representative (Pittsburgh, PA)
C.M. Millen, poet/writer/teacher (Ottawa Hills, OH)
Ellen Hunter Ruffin, curator, de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection (Hattiesburg, MS)
Dr. Patricia Stohr-Hunt, chair, Education Department, University of Richmond (Richmond, VA)
Dianne White, children's author and elementary school teacher, Newhall School District (Newhall, CA)

2011 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Catherine Posey, Chai; Instructor of Children’s Literature, Penn State University (Bellefonte, PA)
Beth Enochs, Librarian, Fort Worth Independent School District (Fort Worth, TX)
Alice Schertle, Poet and Children’s Author (Plainfield, MA)
Dr. Eloise M. Long, Associate Professor and Department Chair, Kutztown University Department of Library Science (Topton, PA)
Rob Arneson, Elementary Teacher (Fargo, ND)

2010 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Dustin R. Brackbill, Chair; Librarian, State College Area School District (State College, PA)
Rebecca Kai Dotlich, Poet and Children's Author (Carmel, IN)
Janice Dysart, K-12 Library Department Chairperson, Central Columbia Middle School Librarian (Bloomsburg, PA)
Carol Sibley, Curriculum Librarian/Professor, Minnesota State University Moorhead (Dilworth, MN)
Dr. Sylvia Vardell, Professor, Texas Woman's University in Denton (Dallas, TX)

2009 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Karla M. Schmit, Chiar; Education and Behavioral Sciences Librarian and Assistant Director Pennsylvania Center for the Book (University Park, PA)
Jaime Adoff, Young Adult Novelist and Poet (Yellow Springs, OH)
Cheryl Fredenburg, Past President, North Dakota Reading Association (Edgeley, ND)
Eileen Kern, School Librarian, Kratzer Elementary, Parkland School District, Allentown, PA (Whitehall, PA)
Michael Leonard, Instructor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Dominican University (River Forest, IL)

2008 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Carole D. Fiore, Chair; President, Training and Library Consulting (Tallahassee, FL)
Randall Enos, Youth Services Consultant, Ramapo Catskill Library System (Middletown, NY)
Helen Frost, Poet and one of last year’s honor award winners: The Braid, Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux (Fort Wayne, IN)
Rebecca H. Frost, Retired Elementary School Library Media Specialist (Bloomsburg, PA)
Patricia M. Wong, County Librarian/Chief Archivist, Yolo County Library (Woodland, CA)

2007 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Elisa Hopkins, Chair; instructor of children’s literature, Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Susan Bloom, professor emerita, Simmons College (Framingham, MA)
Jonathan Hunt, library media specialist (Hughson, CA)
Joyce Sidman, author/poet and last year’s award winner (Wayzata, MN)
Marge Tassia, professor emerita, Millersville University (Lancaster, PA)

2006 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Monica O'Cilka Wagner, Chair; Elementary School Teacher, State College Area School District (State College, PA)
Barbara Kiefer, Charolette S. Huck Professor, The Ohio State University (Columbus, OH)
Marilyn Singer, Author/Poet (Brooklyn, NY)
Luann Toth, Managing Editor, Book Review, School Library Journal (New York, NY)
R. Sylvia Firth, Retired Librarian (Morgantown, PA)

2005 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Mary Napoli, Assistant Professor, Penn State Harrisburg, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (Harrisburg, PA)
Nina Lindsay, Librarian (Oakland, CA)
Glenna Sloan, Professor, School of Education, Queens College, CUNY (Queens, NY)
Hope Anita Smith, Poet (Beverly Hills, CA)
Monica O'Cilka Wagner, Elementary School Teacher, State College Area School District (State College, PA)

2004 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Richard Flynn, Professor of Literature, Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA)
Liz Rosenberg, Professor of English, SUNY Binghamton (Binghamton, NY)
Janice M. Del Negro, Director, The Center for Children's Books, GSLIS/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL)
Mary Napoli, Assistant Professor, Penn State Harrisburg, College of Education and Behavioral Sciences (Harrisburg, PA)
Anita C. Ditz, Children's Services Librarian, Schlow Library (State College, PA)

2003 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Richard Ammon, Associate Professor of Education, Penn State University - Harrisburg (Harrisburg, PA)
Amy McClure, Professor of Education at Ohio Wesleyan University (Delaware, OH)
Debbie Reese, Post Doctoral Research Associate, University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign (Champaign, IL)
Kristine O'Connell George, Author / Poet (Agoura, CA)
Anita C. Ditz, Children's Services Librarian, Schlow Library (State College, PA)

2002 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Bev Gallagher, Chair; 3rd grade teacher, Princeton Day School (Princeton, NJ)
Richard Ammon Jr, children's book author and Associate Professor of Education and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State University - Harrisburg (Harrisburg, PA)
Karen Breen, Children's Editor, Kirkus Reviews (New York City, NY)
Floyd Dickman, specialist in children's literature & Adjunct Professor of Library and Information Science, Kent State University (Kent, OH)
Marjorie Maddox-Hafer, poet and Professor of English, Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, PA)

2001 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Bev Gallagher, Chair; 3rd grade teacher, Princeton Day School (Princeton, NJ)
Steven Herb, Director, The Pennsylvania Center for the Book, Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Linnea Hendrickson, Instructor, University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM)
Jazan Higgins, children's book consultant (New York, NY)
Hazel Rochman, Editor of Young Adult Books, Booklist Magazine (Chicago, IL)

2000 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Daniel Hade, Chair; Associate University Professor of Children’s Literature (University Park, PA)
Georgia Heard, Poet/Author (Enterprise, AL)
K.T. Horning, Children’s Book Center Director (Madison, WI)
Pat Enciso, Assistant University Professor of Teaching & Learning (Columbus, OH)
Steven Herb, Education Librarian (University Park, PA)

1999 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Lisa Murphy, Chair; High School English Teacher (Harrisburg, PA)
Daniel Hade, Associate University Professor of Children’s Literature (University Park, PA)
Kathryn Mitchell Pierce, Elementary School Teacher & Adjunct Professor of Teaching Reading & Writing (St. Louis, MO)
Violet Harris, Curriculum & Instruction Department Head (Urbana-Champaign, IL)
Barbara Elleman, Children’s Book Editor (Chicago, IL)

1998 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Joyce Pinkerton, Chair; Children’s Librarian (Camp Hill, PA)
Susan Martin (Lancaster, PA)
Robin Moore, Storyteller (Springhouse, PA)
Elizabeth Nace, (Duncannon, PA)
Jil Oliver (Hanover, PA)

1997 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Carol Eklund, Chair; Elementary School Teacher (Millerstown, PA)
Jack Cassidy, University Professor of Reading Education (Lancaster, PA)
Karen Fleeger, School Librarian (Harrisburg, PA)
Joyce Pinkerton (Camp Hill, PA)
Sue Wolfe, School Librarian (Harrisburg, PA)

1996 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Vicki Laudenslager, Chair; Children’s Librarian (Lykens, PA)
Carol Eklund, Elementary School Teacher (Millerstown, PA)
Wendy Lukehart, Children’s Literature Administrator (Harrisburg, PA)
Pat Spielbauer, Reading Supervisor (Boiling Springs, PA)
Sara Willoughby-Herb, University Professor of Early Childhood Education (Shippensburg, PA)

1995 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Carolyn Patt, Chair; Elementary School Teacher (Harrisburg, PA)
Steven Herb, Education Librarian, Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Vicki Laudenslager, Children’s Librarian (Lykens, PA)
Diane Lehman Shenk, Children’s Literature Council Editor (Hummelstown, PA)
Diane Skiffington, State Department of Education Administrator (Harrisburg, PA)

1994 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Lin Welsh, Chair; School Librarian (Red Lion, PA)
Richard Ammon, Associate University Professor of Education (Middletown, PA)
Gloria Mader, Elementary School Librarian (Hummelstown, PA)
Lisa Murphy, Children’s Literature Administrator (Middletown, PA)
Sue Ellen Snyder, Elementary School Teacher (Willow Street, PA)

1993 Lee Bennett Hopkins Award Judges:

Nancy Edwards, Chair; Reading Consultant (Hummelstown, PA)
Barbara Glenn, Elementary School Teacher (Harrisburg, PA)
Jack Meehan, State Department of Education Administrator (Harrisburg, PA)
Lin Welsh, School Librarian (Red Lion, PA)
Rosemary Winkeljohann, Professor of Library Science (Lancaster, PA)

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