About Me
Mission
The Library Learning Common's Mission is to be a welcoming and inclusive environment that promotes and supports the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students. We strive:
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to provide access to engaging, accurate, up-to-date, diverse and inclusive print and digital resources
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to encourage curiosity and creativity
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to ensure that students and staff are effective and ethical users of ideas, information, and technology
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to support student achievement of curricular goals and objectives
Vision
The Library Learning Common’s Vision is to be the center of literacy, learning, critical thinking, creativity, and community support.
Personal Statement
When I was a kid, I loved playing outside; if I was going to spend time indoors, my favorite places were school and the public library. At school, I loved learning new things and I found security in my elementary classrooms. On the weekends, I would ride my bike to the library seeking the same safety and comfort my teachers offered during the week. I can remember sitting on the floor in the stacks, devouring books in both the children and adult collections. It took me a while to find my path in life, but a few things have remained constant: my love for school, learning, and books. In my early adult life, I was trying to figure out what to do with my passion. Initially I thought I would go into the publishing industry, but that plan was cut short after 9/11 when the small magazine that finally took a chance on me as a copy editor closed its doors so the owners could move back to New York to be with family. I was living with my grandmother at the time, a well-respected educator in Broward County. She helped me get a job as a substitute to supplement my income while I looked for a new job in publishing, but on my third day at Nova High School, the principal asked me if I was familiar with debate. Their assistant coach had just walked off the job, and if I was willing, I could start in the position the following Monday. I figured why not, and my career in education began. I was working on a provisional license those first two years, and while I look back and cringe at some of my teacher-practices during my untrained time in the classroom, I will never forget those early groups of students. I didn't know what I was getting into, but those first students were incredibly diverse and passionate about their community and the world around them. I quickly learned that the Nova High School Debate Team was a national powerhouse, and within my first month, I found myself traveling with a group to the Berkeley Debate Tournament while our head coach took our varsity team to Harvard. Talk about trial by fire. I have never been afraid of a challenge, and while I didn’t know it yet, my career as an educator truly began on that trip; however, I would still ignore my destined calling for several years. I was in the process of completing teacher certification classes at the local community college my second year at Nova when I was offered the opportunity to work as a personal chef. Throughout college and my early adult life, I supplemented my income waiting tables and bartending. One of my regulars was a professional baseball player, who would often come in with his wife. They knew I was working as a teacher and paying my way through college and would always ask questions when they came in, but one night in February 2003, they offered to pay for culinary school if I would come work as the wife's personal assistant and cook dinner most nights. Much like my introduction to teaching, I said why not, and after finishing the school year, I started a new adventure that was full of travel and luxury. But through it all, I missed being in the classroom. Initially, I thought I would work my way up to being a corporate trainer in the hospitality industry, but in 2006 I was presented with the opportunity to teach culinary arts at North Cobb High School in Cobb County. I loved teaching culinary, but I soon learned I would need additional certifications to maintain that position, so when I was offered an opportunity to teach English and create a debate team for the school, I quickly enrolled in a graduate program that included certification and finally settled into a career in education. Since 2006, I have worked with all levels of students in various schools, and I have truly loved serving each community. But I knew pretty early in my career that my favorite place in the whole school was the library, and I was inspired by the potential of those spaces. Eventually, I went back to school again, and in 2018, I accepted the position as Smitha Middle School's Library Media Specialist. Since being at Smitha, I have continued to learn about and lean into what school libraries should look like in the twenty-first century. I have implemented a Creative Corner, a Recording Studio, a Calming Corner, and a Bluetooth security system that allows us to monitor multiple spaces with minimal staff. I have also developed a Library Science connections class, and every year I monitor about a dozen students while guiding them through independent projects and regular tasks that elevate and support our library media program. I believe strongly in meeting students where they are; I also believe that student voice and choice is a crucial component of any school library program. School libraries should serve their communities, and student input is the most important part of serving communities successfully.
Philosophy
My philosophy of school librarianship is framed by my years of experience in education; ongoing professional development through literature, webinars, conferences, and collaboration; and guidance from professional organizations like the Georgia Library Media Association (GLMA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). In accordance with AASL’s Core Values (“AASL Governing Documents,” 2019), I believe that the most important components of school library work “reflect...learning; innovation; equity, diversity, inclusion; intellectual freedom; and collaboration.” AASL also advocates for learner-centered educational policies and equitable access to resources. I agree and have sought to always center my work on learning and support for learners. All members of a school community should feel safe and welcome in the library and should have access to resources that reflect their lived experiences while also exposing them to different cultures and ideologies. A diverse and inclusive collection should include resources that are relevant and factual and should serve the interests and curriculum needs of the community.