Leadership
Leadership for a School Library Media Specialist can manifest in many ways throughout the school community. I have chosen to participate in several committees and groups to collaborate and work with my peers in order to improve the learning opportunities our students are provided. I also, endeavor to lead by example through the utilization of technology and library resources in my lessons and professional development sessions. In addition, to the school community relationships I am developing I also utilize my time reading and engaging in professional development opportunities specific to a School Library Media Specialist.
Leadership Committee
The Leadership Committee for Wapello JR/SR High School strives to explore areas in which we can lead our colleagues to new educational practices and endeavors. 2013-2015 we read professional texts, one of which is entitled, Building a Better Teacher by Elizabeth Green. These texts are analyzed and the ideas are implemented within our classrooms and discussed with teachers and staff throughout the building. During our bimonthly meetings we also discuss the current opportunities for leadership and instances where leadership opportunities were missed. I was a member of the Urbandale High School leadership from 2016-2018 participating in not only high school level professional development but also Urbandale Community School District level professional development (UCILT) to better serve the faculty within the building. UHS leadership strives to focus the overall building goals and utilizes the leadership team to support the achievement of those goals throughout the school year. UHS leadership team members also work with other district leadership teams to support and achieve UCSD goals. Technology Committee
The district wide Technology Committee endeavors to meet the ever changing needs for technology throughout the two Wapello Community School buildings. The group has successfully utilized Microsoft settlement funds to provide several teachers with interactive white boards and grade level appropriate software to further teaching and learning district wide. They continue to strive to provide students and teachers with the best possible technology and access to the internet while at school so that their learning can go beyond the confines of our small community. The Urbandale Community School District Technology Committee met in 2015-2016 to plan technology spending and implementation throughout the district for the next ten years. District technology leaders also discussed how the proposed technology could be best implemented within the classroom to better support learners and achieve the district mission to "Teach all and reach all". |
PBIS Committee
The Wapello Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Committee was established to improve and highlight the positive behaviors of students and teachers throughout the district. As PBIS was a new program we encountered challenges as the initiative was a change in culture and 'how things have operated in the past'. We worked collaboratively to overcome any presented challenge and revel in our successes. My counterpart and I were responsible for entering all of the positive behavior documentation for the 7-12 students. When a student at Wapello JR/SR High School has performed one or more areas of our TRIBE (Trustworthy, Respectful, Inspiring, Be Responsible, Encourage Others) Pride mantra they are awarded a Tomahawk, which is then tracked for data purposes and used by the students for periodic incentives. Our bimonthly meetings strived to determine our successes and where improvements could be made in the program. We explored Tier II and Tier III interventions as the school year continued.
The Wapello Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) Committee was established to improve and highlight the positive behaviors of students and teachers throughout the district. As PBIS was a new program we encountered challenges as the initiative was a change in culture and 'how things have operated in the past'. We worked collaboratively to overcome any presented challenge and revel in our successes. My counterpart and I were responsible for entering all of the positive behavior documentation for the 7-12 students. When a student at Wapello JR/SR High School has performed one or more areas of our TRIBE (Trustworthy, Respectful, Inspiring, Be Responsible, Encourage Others) Pride mantra they are awarded a Tomahawk, which is then tracked for data purposes and used by the students for periodic incentives. Our bimonthly meetings strived to determine our successes and where improvements could be made in the program. We explored Tier II and Tier III interventions as the school year continued.
Data Team / PLC
While continuously maintaining a variety of data to enhance the Library Media Center Program, it was also important to participate in the data teams taking place throughout the Wapello JR/SR High School building. In collaboration with the English and Reading teachers for the 7-12 grades, we utilized collected data to assist students with variety of skills. 2013-2015, we utilized data to enhance our teaching of vocabulary, recreational reading, and writing with a focus on organization and ideas. Our smart goals are aligned to the Common Core Standards and have shown a marked improvement in many of our desired areas.
At Urbandale High School I participate in a variety of PLC teams to better support student learning and reflect upon my teaching practice. A 'focus on learning' is a goal for all UHS teachers and I utilize data frequently to ensure students are achieving proficiency in the different curricular areas I teach. Not only do I regularly meet with UHS teachers to discuss the progress of our students, but I also meet regularly with the Urbandale Middle School Teacher Librarian and the two elementary Teacher Librarians to ensure the Library Media Center programs are vertically aligned to best practices and current standards.
While continuously maintaining a variety of data to enhance the Library Media Center Program, it was also important to participate in the data teams taking place throughout the Wapello JR/SR High School building. In collaboration with the English and Reading teachers for the 7-12 grades, we utilized collected data to assist students with variety of skills. 2013-2015, we utilized data to enhance our teaching of vocabulary, recreational reading, and writing with a focus on organization and ideas. Our smart goals are aligned to the Common Core Standards and have shown a marked improvement in many of our desired areas.
At Urbandale High School I participate in a variety of PLC teams to better support student learning and reflect upon my teaching practice. A 'focus on learning' is a goal for all UHS teachers and I utilize data frequently to ensure students are achieving proficiency in the different curricular areas I teach. Not only do I regularly meet with UHS teachers to discuss the progress of our students, but I also meet regularly with the Urbandale Middle School Teacher Librarian and the two elementary Teacher Librarians to ensure the Library Media Center programs are vertically aligned to best practices and current standards.
1:1 Technology Committee
A newly formed Wapello committee, in the fall of 2014 to gage the readiness of our teachers, students, and community to engage in a 1:1 technologically rich environment. While the work was in its infancy and there was a lot of work to still be completed, the initiative was taking its first steps in the right direction. The mission is to have 1:1 technology available to the 7-12 students of the district, provide worthwhile professional development to the teachers before implementation of the program, and provide the community with as much information and transparency as possible throughout the entire process. |
RTI Initiative
Response to Intervention (RTI) has been used in several classrooms in the Wapello JR/SR High School to help students achieve further success. Students who are not meeting the necessary requirements of their class work or need additional assistance from an instructor are provided with individualized help during an activity period, centered around lunch times. I worked with teachers to provide digital and library resources or supervision to ensure that the RTI initiative is successful and students are given every opportunity to succeed.
At UHS we have three weekly RTI sessions lasting 25 minutes each for teachers to Intervene, Extend, or provide a Study Table (IES) environment for students. I utilize this time weekly to allow students to explore the UHS Makerspace or the LMC space to study quietly. When the need arises, I also have selected specific students to come to my session when they need to work with me independently on a project for another class, or when they were absent from class the day of a lesson with me.
Response to Intervention (RTI) has been used in several classrooms in the Wapello JR/SR High School to help students achieve further success. Students who are not meeting the necessary requirements of their class work or need additional assistance from an instructor are provided with individualized help during an activity period, centered around lunch times. I worked with teachers to provide digital and library resources or supervision to ensure that the RTI initiative is successful and students are given every opportunity to succeed.
At UHS we have three weekly RTI sessions lasting 25 minutes each for teachers to Intervene, Extend, or provide a Study Table (IES) environment for students. I utilize this time weekly to allow students to explore the UHS Makerspace or the LMC space to study quietly. When the need arises, I also have selected specific students to come to my session when they need to work with me independently on a project for another class, or when they were absent from class the day of a lesson with me.
Teacher Quality Professional Development
The teachers of Wapello Community School District are provided with time and funds to explore different aspects of teaching and education during the school year. I have chose to utilize my Teacher Quality time learning about alternative school day scheduling and how the Library Media Center Program and the School Library Media Specialist can be a leader in the school community. The Teacher Quality group meets regularly throughout the school year to discuss reading and learning. We also discuss how we could or have incorporated what we have learned into our classrooms and practices.
The teachers of Wapello Community School District are provided with time and funds to explore different aspects of teaching and education during the school year. I have chose to utilize my Teacher Quality time learning about alternative school day scheduling and how the Library Media Center Program and the School Library Media Specialist can be a leader in the school community. The Teacher Quality group meets regularly throughout the school year to discuss reading and learning. We also discuss how we could or have incorporated what we have learned into our classrooms and practices.
Public Library Collaboration
In the small community of Wapello, Iowa there are three library facilities. As the sole School Library Media Specialist for Wapello Community School District I felt it was important to foster a strong relationship with the local public library, Keck Memorial Public Library, to ensure our patrons have access to the best collection of resources possible. Over the years we have shared programing ideas, promoted events for the facilities, and been a collaborative and supportive outlet for each other.
The community of Urbandale is somewhat similar to Wapello in that a strong relationship with the staff of Urbandale Public Library only enhances the resources and services the student gain access to via the UHS LMC. Since 2015, UHS has offered any student or teacher access to getting a Urbandale Public Library card and the ability to have items delivered to UHS on a bi-weekly basis. While a teen book club no longer exists at UPL, UHS strives to promote and encourage students to attend UPL events and strongly encourages the faculty to integrate the learning to their classroom efforts.
In the small community of Wapello, Iowa there are three library facilities. As the sole School Library Media Specialist for Wapello Community School District I felt it was important to foster a strong relationship with the local public library, Keck Memorial Public Library, to ensure our patrons have access to the best collection of resources possible. Over the years we have shared programing ideas, promoted events for the facilities, and been a collaborative and supportive outlet for each other.
The community of Urbandale is somewhat similar to Wapello in that a strong relationship with the staff of Urbandale Public Library only enhances the resources and services the student gain access to via the UHS LMC. Since 2015, UHS has offered any student or teacher access to getting a Urbandale Public Library card and the ability to have items delivered to UHS on a bi-weekly basis. While a teen book club no longer exists at UPL, UHS strives to promote and encourage students to attend UPL events and strongly encourages the faculty to integrate the learning to their classroom efforts.