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Library
Information Services |
Spring Branch Independent School District |
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2005 School Administrators' Mini-Conference--Strong Libraries, Strong Scores--Comments |
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Our building principal and our district superintendent attended last year’s program. The noted impact is more of the intangible sort you mentioned. I believe Mr. Cooper and Dr. Zemlicka have a better understanding of the value of libraries and librarians. Our building principal, Ben Cooper, continues to advocate that the library is the focal point of the school, and he supports this viewpoint through funding, staffing, technology, and allowing us to try new endeavors for the benefit of the students. We are not to the “ideal” level in any of these aspects, but Mr. Cooper is open and willing to listen. I believe the conference was well worth the time and money. Thank you, Jane Atwell Librarian, Willis High School |
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My administrator had to cancel at the last minute due to family health problems. I think the fact that he was nominated & invited to attend had a positive affect on him even without attending. It gave me several opportunities to talk about the library program. He is now district athletic director. My new principal is planning on going. Susan Fishman, Librarian, Weis Middle School, Galveston |
| The principal at Lehman High School, Elsa
Hinojosa attended that conference last year. Prior to the conference, I
already felt respected as a professional. However, I was less successful at
getting teachers to use the library and use it effectively.
As a result of the conference and my follow-up discussions, Ms. Hinojosa started requiring that all core area teachers use the library once per semester. I told her at the time that I was not sure that this was the best approach, but I agreed. I also had a chance to speak for 30 minutes at the start of this school year on the topic of collaboration. The results were mixed. Some teachers did use the library just to use the library and fulfill the requirement. However, I did work successfully with 4 or 5 teachers that did not use the library much in the previous year. I am working at getting our administration to raise the bar by banning topical research reports, so that have have the weight of their authority when I decline projects and work on modifications to bring them up to standard. The most important part of the conference in my opinion was Dr. Loertcher's presentations, which he gave to both librarians and the administrators. Since Dr. Loertchser spoke to both audience, we had a common basis for a discussion. He was also an outstanding presenter, probably the best I've seen at any TLA conference. Thanks for asking for my feedback. Neil Krasnoff Librarian Lehman High School Kyle, TX |
| When I nominated my Principal for the
opportunity to attend the Administrator Conference last year, I knew he
would gain much insight about the jobs school librarians do every day.
Fortunately my principal has been a wonderful supporter of our library
program at O'Connor High School, but the conference boosted his
understanding of our library program. He invited me to present a workshop to
the entire faculty on sensory rich lesson design. He has asked for
presentations on utilizing United Streaming and our Microsoft video editing
program. I have always felt my principal truly cared about our library, but
now his support is priceless. In February of 2006, he gave permission for us to open our Book Bistro in our library. We serve over two hundred and fifty cups of Starbucks coffee, hot chocolate, or hot tea to our students and faculty every morning from 7:30 a.m. until 8:49 a.m. The remarkable thing about the Book Bistro is the drinks are absolutely free. My Principal sees me as the "go to guy" on campus. He allows me the freedom to operate my library program because he sees the positive effects it has on our students. He includes me on our Sight Based School Management Team and Department Coordinators Meetings. After my principal attended the Administrators Conference last year at TLA, I have found his door is always open to me to discussion positive ideas for educational change and growth on our campus. I feel so bless to have such an incredible administrator who values school libraries and librarians. Jack Alton Strawn Sandra Day O'Connor High School Library Northside I.S.D. |
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All three of my nominations left the Mini-Conference with a new outlook on libraries and librarians. They were impressed by the statistics and information given correlating libraries to TAKS scores. They were also amazed at the numerous professional workshops going on during the conference. One of the immediate effects of the conference was that Mr. Alfaro, Associate Superintendent, decided that he would really push for principals to allow their librarians to attend future conferences.
During the summer Mr. Alfaro moved to Las Vegas to become a superintendent there, and while his attendance at last year's conference may not have helped my district, I am sure that he is utilizing the information in Nevada.
Sharon Callahan, the director of Special Education chose to retire last July.
As for my principal, Joseph Zatarain. This is my sixth year with Mr. Zatarain, and is very supportive of the library and of me. It is because we have an open communication that I was able to convince him of the necessity to attend last years conference. He in turn was instrumental in convincing Mr. Alfaro to attend.
Mr. Zatarian has attended various meetings and has been known to quote the statistics given in the mini-conference. And while he has always valued the library and supported me, he is now better equipped to educate his peers. I hope this is of value to you.
Dixie Andersen Navarro Academy SAISD |
Our Deputy Superintendent and my high school principal
attended the Administrator's Mini-Conference last year. They had some
positive and negative remarks concerning the conference, and I have felt
some effect from it.
Denise Kornegay, Librarian Paris High School Paris, Texas 75460 dkornegay@parisisd.net |
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To begin with, I have a "library saavy" principal. Bonnie Manley backs the library staff, is involved with our decisions, encourages me to become even more involved than what I am at school, in the district, and at state-levels. Last year we began an information skills class that every sixth grader attends for three weeks. I have an assigned classroom, give grades, and teach 5th period every day. Because of her active schedule I didn't know if I was going to be able to convince her to attend. She gave an enthusiastic yes when I asked her. Not only did she stay for the administrator's conference, she went to the vendor's exhibits, and attended some of the sessions that I couldn't make it to because of TASL meetings or commitments. Did we come away with anything from the administrator's conference? You better believe it. Bonnie was able to see the concern librarians have for our profession. She was able to talk to many librarians from around the state that didn't have supportive principals and she was able to give encouragement and advice to those people. She got too many ideas from the sessions for us to implement in one year. She talked to the vendors and instead of saying no to things, Bonnie was wondering why we couldn't find money to purchase or fund a program. She found money this year for me to attend and present a session at the National Middle School Conference in Philadelphia. I have a much stronger tie with my principal now and I don't dread my evaluation.
Did she enjoy it? I think so. She has okayed the way for the Assistant Principal to go this year.
Carol Deviney Librarian Murphy Middle School 620 N. Murphy Road Murphy, Texas 75094 469 752-7027 |
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Although my administrator has since left the district, I feel that his attendance at the conference had a very favorable impact. At the time of the conference, budget cuts in terms of shorter hours for librarians were being considered, particularly at the elementary level.
My principal came back from the program and spoke highly of the TLA program to the other principals, and spoke out at several meetings about the relationship of librarians to achievement scores (which I am sure he primarily learned at the conference.) He felt it was a very effective use of his time, and I heard from several Central Administration staff that he had spoken highly to them about it as well.
The conference occurred at a critical time in budgeting for libraries in our district. Ultimately, our principals were given extra money towards staffing and they voted as a group to restore all the library positions to full time with that additional funding.
I can't help but think this had a huge impact, and that his positive comments about the TLA program certainly helped in our efforts to retain qualified librarians.
Carolyn Foote Westlake High School Library Eanes ISD District Librarian 732-9284 www.whschaps.com |
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My immediate supervisor, the Asst. Supt. of Technology, attended the mini-conference last year. She was very impressed by the array of speakers and their emphasis on instruction of information literacy and technology skills in the school library program. I believe that it was very beneficial for her to hear from leaders in the field that librarians should be considered as a teaching partner to the classroom teacher.
She also came back spouting statistics from library studies! Although she had heard about research findings from me regarding the importance of school libraries and librarians, I believe that hearing the information in the venue of a mini-conference led by experts in the field carried a great deal more weight!
I am happy to say that we have a school board member and a principal who will be attending this year. I believe that the mini-conference is a wonderful event and it is targeting people who are not likely to hear our message in any other way.
Thank you.
Barbara Richardson, Coordinator of Instructional Media |
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We had two libraries that changed from part-time to full time. We had been asking for this for years, but it just happened this year. Hopefully, having our administers learn more about our library program through this mini-conference helped them to finally take this position.
Ann Carpenter BISD |
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My principal, Jean MacInnis, attended the mini-conference in Austin last year. Ms. MacInnis has always been a strong library supporter, however after attending the conference she became a powerful advocate for the library program in our district. She developed a clearer understanding of the impact a strong information literacy program would have on student achievement. At the time of the conference, she was principal of Ojeda Jr. High School Del Valle ISD Austin, and I was the librarian.
As a direct result of attending the conference, she retained the library aide position for my library when other principals in the district were eliminating that position. She eliminated the technology aide and teacher positions and gave the technology responsibility to the library. This created the opportunity for teachers to collaborate with the library and include the technology component. She also was very impressed with the Ban Those Bird Units by David Loertscher. She purchased a copy for each team at the school. A timeline was created for me to present the models at faculty meetings.
Unfortunately, Ms. MacInnis was assigned to be principal at Del Valle High School at the end of last year and I transferred to an elementary school near my home to care for my elderly parents before we could fully implement our new program. My current principal is just completing her first year as a principal. I would love to have her attend your conference if you have one next year. Good luck with your conference this year. Kathy Edgar Librarian Tall Texan Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary Austin, Texas kedgar@del-valle.k12.tx.us |
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Every day since I came back from TLA I have said to myself, I need to let Pat know the effectiveness that Strong Libraries has had on my school and school district.
Associate Superintendent Robert Alfaro spoke to the district librarians several weeks ago. He stated that even though he had been above Technology and Libraries for more than a few years, he had never once attended a library conference (even when it was here in San Antonio). He had many positive comments about the conference. Perhaps the most immediate and visual result of his attending is that he sees the necessity of more SAISD librarians attending the conference in the future. Mr. Alfaro hopes to attend the conference next year, and plans to encourage other administrators to also participate.
Mr.Alfaro and Z were so impressed by the friendliness, the professionalism and the learning going on at all levels. They were able to experience first hand how librarians talk and learn from one another, make deals with vendors, meet authors....all of those intangible and immeasurable moments that are so important in the daily routines of the library. Going through the TLA program, Z commented to me that he did not realize that school librarians were also librarians sharing and learning with public, college and technical librarians.
You did a fantastic job on this conference. I hope that you are able to do this every year. As word spreads, I hope one day that every superintendent in the state attends! What can I say, I have high goals and expectations!
You did good! Thank you for making my job so much easier, and for fighting those windmills for me!
Dixie Andersen Navarro Academy SAISD San Antonio, TX. |
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