Congratulations to Episcopal School in Texas

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

AUSTIN — St. Andrew's leaders honored

The principal and board chairwoman at St. Andrew's Episcopal School were honored by the American Library Association for refusing a $3 million gift from a parent who objected to the use of the short story "Brokeback Mountain" as reading material in a 12th-grade English class.

Lucy Collins Nazro, head of the school, and Kathryn Runnells, chairwoman of the board of trustees, received the association's John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award for Intellectual Freedom.

They "represent the daily struggle that librarians and administrators face in building inclusive curriculum and collections," said Immroth Award Committee Chairwoman Laura Koltutsky. "By keeping 'Brokeback Mountain' in the curriculum, they have represented the ideals of their school and their profession."

The Immroth Award honors "intellectual freedom fighters in and outside the library profession who have demonstrated remarkable personal courage in resisting censorship." The award consists of $500 and a citation.