A school librarian at Morley Elementary received a big surprise Monday morning.
What Stephanie Kinnaman thought was a regular school assembly turned out to have a surprise ceremony at the end. There, she was revealed as the third-ever Nebraska School Librarian of the Year, an honor she wasn't expecting.
Stephanie Kinnaman
COURTESY PHOTO
In fact, she didn't even know she had been nominated for the award.
"It was a complete surprise," she said. "I had no idea."
The Nebraska School Librarians Association chooses an exemplary librarian to honor each year through a nomination process. Kinnaman was nominated by the Library and Media Services team at Lincoln Public Schools.
"It's such an incredible honor to even be nominated. There's so many wonderful librarians that I get to work with at Lincoln Public Schools who work so hard every day," Kinnaman said. "It's just such an honor to receive this."
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Last year, Doug Keel at Omaha Public Schools won the award, and Sara Friest from Lincoln Southeast was chosen in 2021, the award's inaugural year.
The association heavily considers how individuals have displayed both creativity and innovation in their work when choosing a winner.
Kinnaman, who has worked at LPS for 16 years, six of which have been spent at Morley, often collaborates with teachers and helps create engaging lesson plans using library resources.
"I feel like my work is being seen and valued and showing how important libraries are in the school," she said.
Top Journal Star photos for December 2023
St. Teresa Catholic School students Ephram Rutledge (center) and Paul Johnson (right) sing Christmas songs outside the Governor's Mansion during the inaugural "Hometown Christmas" celebration Sunday.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Nebraska's Lexi Rodriguez (right) places the Nebraska logo on a ticket to Tampa after winning in an NCAA Elite Eight match against Arkansas on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Rabbi Mendel Katzman, executive director at Chabad of Nebraska and a member of the Omaha Police Department Chaplains Corps, uses the shamash to light a second candle of the menorah on Tuesday during a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda. In Hebrew the word "menorah" translates to lamp.Â
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Laney Choboy (6) dives into head coach John Cook as she tries to save the ball from going out of bounds in the third set, during an NCAA Regional Semifinal match held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2023, in Lincoln.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Wearing his black Stetson cavalry hat, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph "Joey" Prichard of Omaha embraces his wife Samantha Prichard on Thursday at the Nebraska National Guard base in Lincoln. This was the second deployment for Prichard, with the first in 2010 to Afghanistan. "It's always a surreal moment. It doesn't hit you until you see them, you know you're coming home," he said. "I couldn't fight the tears. I did it on my first deployment too. I cried when I said goodbye to her, and now when I come home." A total of 91 Nebraska Army National Guard soldiers in the Troop C, 1-134th Cavalry returned to Nebraska on Thursday after a 10-month deployment to the Middle East.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Guests walk by the newly completely hangar-style addition at Lincoln North Star High School during an open house Monday. The $5.4 million expansion will house the school's aviation focus program.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
The Journal Star Super-State first team includes (from left) Papillion-La Vista South's Lauren Medeck, Papillion-La Vista's Faith Frame, Bennington's Olivia Mauch, Grand Island's Tia Traudt, Lincoln Southwest's Malayah Long, Papillion-La Vista's Mia Tvrdy and Norris' Anna Jelinek.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
The Career Academy students Amber Ortega (left) and Kameron Beckler cook during the annual Lincoln Public Schools culinary competition on Wednesday at The Career Academy.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Creighton's Trey Alexander makes a dunk against Nebraska's Rienk Mast on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 during the second half of a game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Hana Sindi, from Lincoln, holds a sign and chants alongside fellow protestors on Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023 during a Justice for Palestine march on the pedestrian bridge at Pinnacle Bank Arena. “I support Palestinian liberation and freedom from illegal occupation,†Sindi said.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
11-year-old Dima al-Shorman (left) and her sister, Huda al-Shorman, 12, arrange a miniature farm at a play station on Saturday during the opening day of the new Here We Grow exhibit at Lincoln Children’s Museum.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Nebraska's Kennedi Orr checks her phone as teammate Bekka Allick takes a rest in the locker room after an NCAA Elite Eight match on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska's Ally Batenhorst (14) slams down a kill against Georgia Tech's Tamara Otene during an NCAA Sweet 16 match Thursday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Jeremy Charging Hawk (left) counts a handful of dollars he made panhandling with his friend, Calvin, on Friday near 13th and on O streets in downtown Lincoln. A new partnership between CenterPointe and the Lincoln Police Department is designed to keep people experiencing homelessness out of jail.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Bride-to-be Taylor Schulz peruses the wedding dresses on sale at the former location of Dream Dress Express and Tip Top Tux on Saturday in Lincoln.Â
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
University of Nebraska-Lincoln assistant professor Aziza Cyamani (second from right) listen as students Wijdan Almamari (right), Will Janecek (from left) and Said Al Mahrouqi discuss their design concept for the Old City Hall on Friday.
JUSTIN WAN, Journal Star
Nebraska's Merritt Beason (13) and Bekka Allick (5) celebrate after a block against Missouri in the second set during a second-round NCAA Tournament match on Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska’s bench erupts as Alexis Markowski is fouled making a basket against Georgia Tech on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, during the second half at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Pius X's Ava Markowski (40) and Millard North's Izzie Galligan (22) fall to the floor as they chase down a loose ball in the first quarter at Lincoln Pius X High School, on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Bia Espinoza, owner of Susa's Sweets & Balloons, stands at her pop up shop located inside Union Bank Place on Thursday.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Nebraska's Allison Weidner (left) joins her teammates on the bench as they celebrate a point against Florida Atlantic in the third quarter on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Amanda Docter of Lincoln uses a torch to heat the beginnings of a handmade glass ornament, or "glaskolben," while studio manager Matt Losee watches on Monday during a holiday workshop at Lincoln Hot Glass.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
A near-full-moon rises over Memorial Stadium on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023 in downtown Lincoln.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
The first snow of winter falls over the Nebraska State Capitol on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023 in downtown Lincoln.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE Journal Star
Nebraska players, including Quinton Newsome (6), emerge from the tunnel before the game on Friday at Memorial Stadium.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Nebraska's Tamon Lynum (left) watches as Iowa players, from left, Tory Taylor (9), Luke Lachey (85), and Steven Stilianos (86) lift kicker Marshall Meeder (92) to celebrate Meeder's game-winning field goal on Friday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Jaylen Lloyd (right) celebrates his second quarter touchdown against Iowa with teammate Chubba Purdy on Friday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Nebraska's Nouredin Nouili (63) embraces his family, including mother Melanie Ragaller (left) and sister Luna Ragaller (right), during the Senior Day activities before the Iowa game on Friday at Memorial Stadium.
KENNETH FERRIERA, Journal Star
Robert and Stefanie Kirkland from Lincoln sport turkey costumes during the 5K portion of the YMCA of Lincoln Turkey Trot on Thursday in downtown Lincoln.
ARTHUR H. TRICKETT-WILE, Journal Star
Nebraska's Keisei Tominaga celebrates after scoring from beyond the arc in the first half at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023.
KENNETH FERRIERA Journal Star
Reach Jenna Ebbers at 402-473-2657 or jebbers@journalstar.com .
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