Courtney Pentland

Biography

Courtney Pentland is Coordinator of the School Library and Instructional Technology Leadership Programs and a member of the Library Sciences faculty at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She brings more than two decades of experience in K–12 education, having served as a high school English teacher, school librarian at both the secondary and elementary levels, and lead teacher/research librarian for large urban district. A nationally recognized leader in the field, Pentland served as President of the American Association of School Librarians (2023–2024) and has held multiple leadership roles within the Nebraska School Librarians Association. Her work focuses on instructional collaboration, inquiry-based learning, equitable access to resources, and professional learning for educators. She is a frequent presenter at national and state conferences and a widely published author in professional journals, including Knowledge Quest, School Library Journal, School Library Connection, and Teacher Librarian. Pentland holds a Master’s degree in Secondary Education from UNO and is certified as a Curriculum Supervisor and K–12 School Library Media specialist.

Service Summary

Curriculum Connection Editor for School Library Connection (2020-2022); Podcast Host – One Lesson at a Time for School Library Connection (2021-2022) https://schoollibraryconnection.com/Content/Article/2271286; American Association of School Librarians –Knowledge Quest Blogger (Jan 2020-Dec 2020) https://knowledgequest.aasl.org/

Awards and Honors

Hollie Bethel Distinguished Alumni - Distinguished Service Award, Service, Professional - 2025

Education

BS, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, Secondary Education, 7-12 English, 2001

MS, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, NE, Secondary Education, PK-12 School Library, 2009

Licensures and Certifications

Nebraska Teaching Certificate PK-12 School Library, Nebraska Department of Education, 08/24/2006 - 08/31/2029

Selected Publications

Pentland, Courtney. 2026. School Library Collection Management, Knowledge Quest, 54, 4.

Pentland, Courtney, Moreillon, Judi, Lester, Kathy, Strong-Beebe, Tricina, Ward, Laura. 2022. The Advocacy Efforts for School Librarian Staffing during the Pandemic, Knowledge Quest, 50, 3.

Pentland, Courtney. 2017. Inquiry every day in every classroom, School Library Connection, 30-33.

Pentland, Courtney. 2018. Six simple steps to successful collaboration, School Library Connection.

Pentland, Courtney. 2017. What to “look for” in your school library, School Library Connection, 31-32.

Department, College, and University

Literacy Graduate Committee, Committee Member, Work within a group of colleagues to provide insights related to the Graduate Literacy Program at UNO., 09/01/2025 - 09/30/2025