INCLUDE: Interview with Gina Causey from Alston Middle School

Gina, my cooperating librarian, has become a dear friend to me. When I think about getting to know her over the last few months, she has such a giving heart that includes everyone. Then when reading through the shared foundations, “Include” just fit her. She opens her library and her heart to everyone. With the covid restrictions, it has been difficult for her to really do that effectively, then with the added pressures of managing technology, relationships have been on the back burner. She always roots for the underdog and its apparent in how she treats everyone all the way down to the books she chooses for her collection. She has been allowed in the last few weeks to create a student counsel. She had students apply and choose from the list. It was a diverse group of students. She also had them collecting can goods for Thanksgiving food drive. So not only are they diverse but they are helping the less fortunate. Middle school functions a tad different than elementary so her flexible schedule allows her the freedom to push into classes for research lesson or to have teacher send students done for book check outs. There was never a time I felt like she excluding any group and she always used teachable moments as opportunities to grow the students. Like I said above, her biggest challenge is being pulled in so many different directions and not being able to establish relationship the way she used to pre-covid. She looks forward to the day when her library can be the hub it once was.

Below I found how one can grow as a librarian in each Shared Foundation.

“School librarians have a pivotal role in facilitating opportunities for learners to under and participate in activities that honor diversity and embrace inclusion. It is imperative that the school librarian be well-versed in a variety of perspectives and strategies that foster inclusion School librarians’ celebration of the diversity and commonality of humankind helps learners contextualize the ideal of inclusion.” (AASL, National School Library Standards, p. 148)

COLLABORATE: Interview with Donna Skipper from SPANN Elementary

In a normal year, Donna allows students to work in pairs or groups when tasked with an assignment to help build their collaboration skills. She also assigns role in groups hoping leaders to come forward. She is brushing up on her technology skills and trying to incorporate more use of the programs available for students now that they each have a device. She plans weekly with teachers by going to their planning times after school and getting their pacing guides for each subject area. Currently she is facing the same challenges we all are, our libraries are not open and technology support has become difficult to manage while trying to create and promote a successful school library program.

Below I found how one can grow as a librarian in each Shared Foundation.

“Collaboration is integral to school librarians’ work as educators. Being skilled in collaboration and practicing coteaching positively affect learners’ learning. The adage, ‘Two heads are better than one,’ applies here. Having a wide repertoire of collaborative planning strategies helps foster this disposition throughout the school community. Seeking out other educators and discussing ideas and information with them serves as an exemplar of collaboration that elevate all member of the faculty.” (AASL, National School Library Standards, p. 148) 

CURATE: Interview with Laura Smith from Alston Bailey Elementary

Laura seemed like a master at resources when we spoke, so it just seemed natural to me to ask her questions about curation. She creates pathways for students to use. She also creates resources lists on Destiny for teachers to reference. She is very tech savvy, so she does a lot to incorporate the use of district programs that students have access to. She is a very project-based teacher when she can be without all the covid guidelines. One of her biggest challenges is the number of devices she has to manage in a days’ time. She is also struggling with Destiny because of her resource lists are not saving when she creates them. Laura was extremely helpful and has offered to help me learn how to create the resources lists. She also wants to help me with some Destiny basics that I have had to learn on my own so far. She certainly seems like an asset to her faculty and our districts librarian group. Her other comment to me was to take it one day at a time and to learn one thing at a time. Building a successful school library program takes time, which was a wonderful reminder.

Below I found how one can grow as a librarian in each Shared Foundation.

“Curation, an area of expertise for school librarians, supports self-growth and is critical in creating a knowledge base and cultivating best practices in the area of school librarianship. Curating as an endeavor to personalize professional learning is as the root of creating a thriving and effective school library. Seeking out research and scholarly information about school librarianship, teaching, and learning helps school librarians formulate ideas and make connections that enhance their practice.” (AASL, National School Library Standards, p. 149)

EXPLORE: Interview with Angie Ackerman from Sires Elementary

 

Explore

Angie is a firecracker who speaks her mind and tells it to you straight. I chose “Explore” as her Shared Foundation because she has a whole are of her library devoted to “Makerspace.” She collects paper towel rolls and cardboard and plastics for students to explore. When libraries were fully open, she would task students with a STEM activity for part of their library time. She is still wrapping her head around all the technology we have at our fingertips for students but is not against using it as a resource. She works alongside teachers by meeting with them regularly and reinforcing lessons taught. She checks their team notes weekly and plans accordingly. Her biggest challenge right now is that students miss the makerspace. Her lessons have had to be virtual or mobile and its incredibly difficult to make that happen in those realms. She is also very frustrated that the district piled all of the technology support on librarians/media specialists. She said that although the “balance is getting better it has forever changed the role she has in the school.”

Below I found how one can grow as a librarian in each Shared Foundation.

“School librarians encourage learners’ exploration and innovation at all levels in all curricular arears and in areas of personal interest. School librarians are adept at supporting learners when they fail and encouraging them to modify their processes and persevere to improve their learning. As learners themselves, school librarians must participate in learning activities without fear of failure. School librarians, like all learners, must be free to try new ideas and reinvent ideas. It is acceptable to not know everything. The journey-The process used to gain knowledge- is paramount and must be systematic, responsive and comfortable.” (AASL, National School Library Standards, p. 149)