Stellar exemplars of creative programs and inspired leadership, underscoring a broad call for librarians to take action in an evolving learning landscape. That’s a big-picture view of the 2015 School Library Journal (SLJ) Leadership Summit in Seattle, WA.

More than 200 registered attendees gathered in the Emerald City for the 11th annual event, held September 26–27. This year’s theme: “Teaming Up to Support the Whole Child Pre-K to 20.”

Keynotes by Marnie Webb, CEO of Caravan Studios; Perri Klass, national medical director of Reach Out and Read; and author Wes Moore offered inspiration, while local leaders from Bellevue, Vancouver, and Tacoma, WA, showed how on-the-ground innovation works in the dynamic Northwest region.

Rapid-fire fast learning sessions, an author panel, a preconference “Hackathon,” and a sing-along with children’s poet Jack Prelutsky, were among other highlights.

The event was sponsored by Capstone (platinum sponsor); gold sponsors Follett and Lerner; and silver sponsors ABDO, Gale Cengage Learning, Junior Library Guild, LEGO Education, Mackin, Rosen Publishing, and Scholastic.

Enthusiastic attendees at the 2015 SLJ Summit.
All Summit Photos by ©Karen Ducey Photography

Evan St. Lifer, VP strategic initiatives/new business development at
Scholastic Library Publishing, Kristina Holzweiss, 2015 School Librarian of the Year and
Rebecca Miller, SLJ editor-in-chief

Group work at the Saturday breakfast hackathon.

“Becoming Essential” panelists Mike Eisenberg,
Mark Ray, Tara Jones, Colet Bartow, and Jeani Littrell-Kwik.

Sabrina Urquhart, Bezos Family Foundation, presents a fast-learning session.

Smart stakeholders panel.

Author Leslye Walton greets attendees at the book signing.

Priscille Dando, coordinator of library information services, Fairfax County, VA.

Greg Benner, executive director, University of Washington-Tacoma’s Center for Strong Schools.