Provo Way Recipient: Robin Stokes, Westridge Elementary Librarian and Media Specialist

February 20th, 2024 /
Spencer Tuinei /
Elementary School, News, Recognitions and Awards, Schools, Westridge

“I nominated her because she’s been here as a steady presence for years and years for all the kids at Westridge Elementary School,” said Emily Johnson, Westridge Elementary Library Media Supervisor. She’s talking about Robin Stokes, Westridge Elementary’s Librarian and Media Specialist, whom Emily nominated for the Provo Way award.

The Provo City School District and Board of Education offer Provo Way Awards each month to celebrate the positive things students, teachers, administrators, parents, and staff do for the community.

This week, we congratulate Robin for receiving the Provo Way Award.

An experienced elementary school librarian does so much for so many: they curate experiences and texts, shepherd students into a lifelong love for reading and know each by name, enrich their community by tailoring resources to those in need, promote literacy initiatives, and stand as mentors to students and colleagues alike.

The best librarians feel like surrogate parents. Their libraries become little pockets of safety. You know they’ve built a little corner of the school just for you and they want you to succeed.

Robin Stokes is that librarian. She tends to her students and community with the steady hand of a gardener, ensuring that everyone around her grows to their potential. It’s all laid out in the rest of Emily Johnson’s nomination:

“She knows every book at this library. She knows just what the kids want to read. If I could, I’d name the Westridge Library the Robin Stokes Library in honor of her. I would be lost without her because of her wealth of experience. She’s such a good friend, and I’m so grateful she works here.”