Massachusetts School Library Association
            MEMBER PORTAL                
​Join or Renew     Member Directory​
  • Home
  • About Us
    • MSLA Leadership 2022-23
    • Executive Board Meetings
    • Joint Statements: MLA, MassCUE
    • Spotlight Archive
    • Strategic Plan 2016-22
    • MSLA Constitution
  • Membership
    • Member Portal
    • Join or Renew Your Membership
    • Members Map
    • Email List
    • Regions >
      • Boston
      • Northeast
      • Metrowest
      • Southeast
      • Central
      • West
  • Conference
    • MSLA and PDPs
  • Resources
    • DESE Rubric
    • Certification & Licensure
    • Program Standards & Rubrics
    • Job Description: School Librarian
    • Job Listings
    • MLS Strategic Planning
    • Intellectual Freedom
  • Advocacy
    • MA School Library Study for Equity & Access
    • Everyday Advocacy
    • ESSA
    • Exemplary Programs
  • Newsletter
    • 2023 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2023
    • 2022 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2022
      • May 2022
      • October 2022
    • 2021 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2021
      • May 2021
      • October 2021
    • 2020 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2020
      • May 2020
      • October 2020
    • 2019 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2019
      • May 2019
      • October 2019
    • 2018 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2018
      • May 2018
      • October 2018
    • 2017 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2017
      • May 2017
      • September 2017
      • October 2017
    • 2016 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • February 2016
      • May 2016
      • October 2016
    • 2015 MSLA Forum Issues >
      • April 2015
      • November 2015
    • MSLA Forum 2002-2013
  • Awards
    • Judi Paradis Memorial Grant
    • Archive: History of Awards
    • 2019 Awards Pictures
    • 2018 Awards Pictures
    • 2017 Awards Pictures
    • 2016 Awards Pictures
    • 2015 Awards Pictures
  • Bookmark Contest
    • 2023 Winners
    • 2022 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 and 2018 Winners
    • 2016 and 2017 Winners
    • 2012 to 2015 Winners
    • 2009 to 2011 Winners
    • 2004 to 2008 Winners
    • Bookmark Judges

A Tribute to Judi Paradis

5/7/2019

6 Comments

 
Anita Cellucci is the Teacher Librarian at Westborough High School

“We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.
But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” – Mother Teresa
​

This past week, we lost a beloved colleague, mentor, and leader much too soon. The hearts of school librarians in Massachusetts and beyond will never be quite the same. She found the positive in every person she met and had the ability to make each one of us feel seen. Words do not do justice to all the good that she did - for school libraries, for librarians, and with great love, for her students. The school library is often said to be the heart of the school, a place where everyone feels welcomed. Providing that safe space for our communities is often deeply embedded in our vision. No one embodied this more than Judi Paradis.
There is so much that I will miss about our colleague, our inspiration, our friend. Here are just a few things:


  • Her incredible knowledge and understanding of politics, social justice and how all of this intersects with being a good human - all while making everyone around her want to do better
  • Her passion for all things library
  • The way that she connected people
  • The stories... of her family, her travels and adventures, and especially her students
  • Her innate ability to see the beauty around her and to articulate it in a meaningful way
  • The way her laughter could make our hearts lighter  

Remembering Judi will be easy, honoring her easier still. Put your whole heart into life, help others and throw a lot of love around - because that’s what Judi did and it’s what she would want in her memory.

Rest in Power our friend, we will do good for you.
6 Comments
Amy Short
5/7/2019 10:21:39 pm

This is a beautiful tribute to Judi. Thank you for writing this, Anita.

Reply
Robin Cicchetti
5/14/2019 11:25:38 am

This is perfect and beautiful, Anita. Thank you for honoring Judi.

Reply
Patsy Divver
5/14/2019 11:38:10 am

Judi was an unforgettable person in the library world. Thank you for putting our feelings into words, Anita.

Reply
Dorothy Kramer
5/14/2019 09:10:36 pm

Judi was one of those rare people who make everyone around her feel special and treasured and necessary—when the truth of it was that she was ALL of that and more. As Anita said, she led by example. And what an incredible example she has set for us all. I feel honored to have known her.

Reply
Kristie Hanley
5/22/2019 09:53:38 pm

Well said!

Reply
Liz Phipps Soeiro
5/23/2019 07:37:27 am

thank you for this tribute. what would judi do? xo

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Forum Newsletter

    Co-Editors
    Reba Tierney and
    ​Luke Steere

    Reba is the School Librarian at Waltham High School; Luke is School Librarian at  Wilson Middle in Natick

    Click to set custom HTML

    Categories

    All
    AASL
    Academic
    Advocacy
    ALA
    Authors
    Book Bans
    Book Challenges
    Book Trailers
    Cataloging
    Censorship
    Column
    Conference
    Copyright
    Culture
    Databases
    Dewey
    Digital Citizenship
    E Books
    E-books
    Elementary
    ESSA
    Ethics
    Evaluation
    Graphic Books
    Graphic Novels
    Inquiry
    Leadership
    Learning Commons
    Legislation
    Literacy
    Maker Space
    Nonfiction
    Orientation
    Planning
    PLN
    President's Remarks
    Professional Development
    Reading
    Research
    Science
    Secondary
    Standards
    Technology
    Union
    Volunteers
    Weeding

    Archives

    February 2023
    October 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    May 2021
    February 2021
    October 2020
    May 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    October 2018
    May 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    October 2016
    May 2016
    February 2016
    November 2015
    April 2015

    MSLA Forum Past Issues:
    January 2015
    April 2015
    ​
    2002-2015 MSLA Forum
The Massachusetts School Library Association  works to ensure every school has a school library program that is fully integrated at all grade levels across the curriculum and has a significant and measurable impact on student achievement….Read more…..and Learn more about MSLA

Contact MSLA:
Emily Kristofek, Office Manager/Event Planner
P.O. Box 336. Wayland, MA 01778
ekristofek@maschoolibraries.org
​
508-276-1697 

Massachusetts School Library Association. All Rights Reserved.  Copyright 2023.