Valerie Edwards

Recently retired, Val Edwards served as the HS IMC Director in the Monona Grove School District, where she became a nationally certified teacher, and as District Library Teacher Leader for the Madison Metropolitan School District. Professional experience includes decades spent serving on the Board of the Wisconsin Educational Media & Technology Association (WEMTA) and in several roles for the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) including Division Councilor. Currently, Val is serving on AASL’s Bylaws and Organization Committee. She is trained and certified as a Conflict Mediator.

Val has considerable experience presenting and writing for the school library audience. This work includes:

PUBLICATIONS

Prepared Libraries, Empowered Teams ALA Editions June 2024

Permission Granted: Energizing Your Professional Journey School Library Connection (Aug/Sept) 2022

Conflict and Book Challenges: Is Your Team United? School Library Connection (Oct) 2022

Alone in Your Library? School Library Connection (Nov/Dec) 2021

Conflict Advantage “We Wish We Had Known” Madison Area Business Consultants, 2021

PRESENTATIONS

Prepared Libraries, Empowered Teams: Putting Words into Action 2024 ALA, San Diego, CA

Using Conflict for Positive Change Keynote Address, 2023 NJ State Library Experienced Directors Summit, Flemington, NJ

Is Your Library Challenge Ready? 2023 ALA, Chicago, IL

Conflict Becomes Collaboration: Managing Professional Relationships 2021 AASL, Salt Lake City, UT

Conflict & Inclusion: What’s In Your Toolkit? 2021 ALA Annual, Virtual

In addition, to serving as a UWM Preceptor, Val reviews business books for Booklist and enjoys traveling with her husband, David, and hanging out with her dog, Josie. Fingers crossed there will also be time to read the books that accumulated on her TBR pile over the years.