“We were trying to find someone who represents the multitudes of who we are as a school community. … Whatever Waleska brings to the building, it’s vast.” — Principal Derek Shea

AMHERST — Art from Indigenous tribes, Hawaii, Nepal, Mexico and Chile, among other places, lines the walls of Crocker Farm School library, a room where various cultural events are also staged that give children an opportunity to wear traditional Korean hanbok dresses, perform a Chinese dance and make Japanese Kokeshi dolls.

And this fall, as part of Latinx Heritage Month, students will take part in the Crocker Library Book Festival, reading works by Duncan Tonatuh, a Mexican American author and illustrator known for “Princess and the Warrior: A Tale of Two Volcanoes.”

The global atmosphere inside the library, with shelves filled with culturally relevant picture books and where all texts have a purpose, is curated by librarian Waleska Santiago-Centeno, who said having the library feel a bit like the United Nations is an intentional way to broaden the experience of all students, including those whose families come from around the globe.

“My venue is engaging children in age-appropriate conversations about the world they live in,” Santiago-Centeno says. “I’m here to share things with them and expose them so they can be critical thinkers.”

“A library holds knowledge, and knowledge is special,” she adds. “How do I create critical thinkers for inquiring about the world?”

For her continued work, Santiago-Centeno is the recipient of this year’s Roger L. Wallace Excellence in Teaching Foundation Award. The 10th person to win the prize, Santiago-Centeno will be celebrated at a dinner at Valentine Hall at Amherst College Oct. 6 at 5 p.m.

The award is given annually to a teacher at an Amherst or Pelham elementary school in recognition of Wallace, who retired in June 2012 after teaching for nearly 40 years at Fort River. Among criteria is a commitment to social justice, promoting equity, and having a passion for learning.

Santiago-Centeno came to Crocker Farm in 2017 after two years at a Springfield school, finding freedom in Amherst to largely design a program that meets the school’s strategic plan that focuses on access, identify, equity and social justice. She appreciates she isn’t constrained by the learning taking place in the regular K-6 classrooms.

“I wouldn’t be able to do this without the support of my principal, the district, colleagues, friends and family,” Santiago-Centeno said. “We don’t do this alone.”

The award, she said, validates what is done in the building and her encouragement of arts and culture.

Her nomination was made by Principal Derek Shea and Assistant Principal Alicia Lopez, who wrote that Santiago-Centeno has created “a library that is a cultural hub for the school community that includes hundreds of new books that span age ranges, topics, cultures and interests.”

Shea said Santiago-Centeno has brought joy and wonderful work through books and culture. “We were trying to find someone who represents the multitudes of who we are as a school community,” Shea said. “Whatever Waleska brings to the building, it’s vast.”

“Waleska is a talented 21st-century school librarian who uses her museum studies and picture book research background to inform her lessons and book picks for her library,” Lopez said. “The library is a colorful, welcoming space that is also culturally affirming and celebratory.”

Growing up in Puerto Rico with English as her second language, Santiago-Centeno came stateside to study art history and museum studies, going to Mount Holyoke College as a Frances Perkins scholar. She then graduated from Harvard University with a master’s degree in museum studies and a minor in ethnic studies.

From Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, Latinx Heritage Month, she has a number of projects, having the children make Mexican amate paper similar to how it was constructed from bark by the native people.

But she also delves into the complicated history of Codex, books made from that paper, which were destroyed by Spaniards coming to the New World. Codex that survive are now in museums in France and Italy, allowing her to discuss the topic of repatriation and compromise, giving children critical thinking skills on whether those texts should be returned to Mexican natives.

This month she is also inspired by Pura Belpre, the first Puerto Rican to serve at the New York City public library. “This is my role model,” she said.

Her work is applauded by families. Gillian Freeman said that her oldest child is in sixth grade and Santiago-Centeno has been a presence throughout his schooling, vibrantly weaving art into the curriculum and bringing excitement and joy for learning.

“What really strikes me is Miss Santiago’s energy and passion,” Freeman said. “Kids see her enthusiasm and it makes them excited to dig into cultures.”

Santiago-Centeno is meticulous in cataloging her curriculum and documenting all that happens, with a website that is available to students and their families. “In this library, we are doing things,” Santiago-Centeno said.

She also builds a culture of kindness and respect from the first day of school, with children asked their interpretation, on index cards, of kindness. What they drew shows people holding hands, hearts and animals and umbrellas.

The students also got to read the picture book “You are My Friend” about Fred Rogers, the host of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood, and then viewed a video of his connection to local illustrator and author Eric Carle during a segment filmed in Northampton.

The library recently got copies of Carle’s “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” in multiple languages; has enhanced the gender identity and LGBTQ collection; and as a conduit to give voice to other cultures, is building up its collection of Native American picture books.

Thank you notes and cards from students and families surround Santiagio-Centeno’s desk. “The library is a special place,” reads one of these, which she will hold onto. “Whatever they give me is important to me,” she said. “All the letters mean a lot. I say that from the bottom of my heart.”

Unlike classroom teachers, she gets to work with most students for the whole of their elementary years. Around 80 parents visited during a recent open house.

“My commitment to parents, students and staff in being a creator comes with a big responsibility,” Santiagio-Centeno said. “I build a deep relations with students, treat them like they are human, see them as both groups and individuals.”

Tickets for the dinner, which are $30, can be purchased via Venmo at bit.ly/WallaceTickets or by check or cash at any school or the district central office, or from a Wallace Foundation member.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.