March 2020 seems like ages ago. It’s September, school has started for everyone–either virtually, in a hybrid model, or fully face to face. The coronavirus is still running rampant across the country and is increasing in some areas, while decreasing… Read More ›
I have been a member of the Nebraska School Librarians Association (NSLA) since the beginning of my school library career (and even before that as I joined as a grad student). A few years later, a mentor of mine asked… Read More ›
Where did summer go? Whether you find yourself teaching from home or returning to school in person, September means back to school. It also means election season. As teachers, school librarians play a unique role in connecting student learning to… Read More ›
The COVID-19 pandemic brings exceptional challenges to school districts nationwide. Do schools reopen to students in-person, online, or as a hybrid model of blended learning? And a decision made one day could change the next. Most importantly, working in a… Read More ›
One year ago, our ALA Emerging Leaders group presented our project, “Developing Inclusive Learners and Citizens Activity Guide.” We had no idea at that time that just a year later our country would be in crisis with nation-wide shutdowns due to… Read More ›
I am starting a new position in a new school in a new district this fall after working for 16 years in my previous district. With safety guidelines related to the global pandemic, I know that the way I have… Read More ›
Underappreciated and Vulnerable “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not going to take it anymore!” This line from the 1976 movie Network is spoken by a character who is losing his sanity. And yet, it is a line that continues… Read More ›
Introduction This month, I have the honor of sharing an interview that was done with Kristi Starr before the COVID virus. I have been saving it for months. Now is an excellent time to share it because we are at… Read More ›
“When people look slowly, they make discoveries.” –Austin Kleon, Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Good Times and Bad (2019) The “School Librarian Role in Pandemic Learning Conditions” document focuses on the five important roles of a school librarian–instructional… Read More ›
How are things going in your state and district? In North Carolina, we’ve been waiting–waiting to hear what the governor would say and then waiting to hear how districts would respond. Anticipating a need, the Friday Institute developed a course… Read More ›