Elissa Malespina

Elissa Malespina is a nationally recognized school librarian, author, board-certified special education advocate, and educational consultant who helps educators, librarians, and school districts navigate the intersection of equity, technology, and innovation. With over 25 years in public education, she's built a career championing inclusive access to information, integrating AI tools into K–12 instruction, and defending the freedom to read. Elissa is the author of "AI in the Library: Strategies, Tools, and Ethics for Today’s Schools, a practical guide to navigating artificial intelligence in educational settings, and "The Educator's AI Prompt Book: Copy-and-Paste Prompts for Lesson Planning, Libraries and Learning." Elissa also writes The AI School Librarians Newsletter, where she shares hands-on tools, ethical insights, and ready-to-use lessons for librarians and educators working with AI. As a contributing author to Trouble in Censorville: The Far Right’s Assault on Public Education and the Teachers Who Are Fighting Back, Elissa advocates nationally for intellectual freedom and inclusive school libraries. She also works directly with families as a board-certified special education advocate, helping them navigate IEPs, 504 Plans, and out-of-district placements to ensure students receive the services they are entitled to. Through her consulting firm, Educational Equity Advisors, Elissa supports schools in launching AI policies, designing makerspaces, building inclusive programs, and delivering professional development that is actionable, equity-driven, and future-ready.