If there is one thing I’m looking forward to in 2025, it’s the AASL National Conference in St. Louis. If you’re already making New Year’s Resolutions, why not add- present at AASL? The call for proposals is open, and there are a variety of ways to share your expertise and ideas. Ready to level-up your leadership? Submitting a proposal for a session, poster, or IdeaLab is the perfect opportunity to take that next step.

In her book Dare to Lead, Brene Brown writes about the vulnerability leaders face. I get it. Sharing your ideas with your colleagues can be daunting, but rest assured, everyone wants to see you succeed! Thousands of school librarians from across the country will be coming to experience a conference designed just for them, to learn from peers who know what it’s like to walk in their shoes, and to be immersed in a variety of ideas. Your voice matters, and your ideas and expertise will be an important contribution.

Not only will sharing your work help others grow, but the personal growth you will experience as a result of presenting will be even more rewarding! Diving in deep to a topic from your very own practice, examining it from all angles, and thinking about how to share it with others creates an opportunity for immense reflection. You will discover insights about your own work that you didn’t think possible. And, it comes with additional perks! It not only looks fantastic on your resume, but your school community will be proud that you are featuring the excellent work you provide for them each and every day! Their very own school librarian is speaking at a national conference!

If you’ve read this far, and you still have doubts, rest assured that no idea is too big or too small. We want it all at AASL! Let’s take a moment to brainstorm together. What are your tips and tricks to creating equitable scheduling? How are you building reading culture and igniting a passion for reading in your school? How do you find the time to collaborate when core curriculum teachers seem so busy? How do you incorporate a MakerSpace into your programming? How have you and your colleagues confronted challenges to intellectual freedom? How do you build relationships with students, staff, and families? What’s your secret to successful author visits or literacy events? Trust me. School librarians are coming hungry and ready to learn it all!

Still not convinced? You don’t have to present alone. Is there a colleague in your district or one you’ve met through your state chapter who will present with you? Perhaps there are several who are also on the fence about presenting, but together, you will make it happen. Not ready to present? Volunteer to be a program reviewer. Reviewing proposals gives a sneak peak into programming at the conference as well as great examples to learn from as you consider submitting a proposal for the next AASL National Conference.

The bottom line is you won’t know until you try. Simon Sinek writes, “The joy of leadership comes from seeing others achieve more than they thought they were capable of.” In my day job, I support 130 librarians and 40 clerks. It brings me profound joy to watch them shine. When a librarian takes that next step in their practice to take the spotlight and share their expertise, I am over the moon! So, know that I am rooting for you to take this next step. You’ve got this. You can absolutely do hard things, and I am excited to see you rise and elevate your leadership!