Meet our Teacher Librarians
Diana Zimmer
I am honored to be a teacher librarian for the Mt Diablo Unified School District. I began my career at Mt Diablo Elementary school as a third grade teacher for 15 years. I am passionate about supporting students reading growth. This led me to obtain my Library Credential and move into the library. My goal as an elementary librarian is to work collaboratively with teachers to support classroom curriculum while working closely with students. The best part for me is to teach and share my knowledge of books, research techniques, and digital skills to hundreds of students each week!
Alissa Juarez
I started my teaching career as an English teacher, but soon realized that my favorite part of the week was taking my students to the library. I loved helping them find books that made them excited to read! I wanted to instill a passion for reading in every student I met, so I decided to go back to school and get my Master's degree in Library Science and become a teacher librarian. I started in the district nine years ago, and I have had the honor of working with many schools both at the elementary and middle school level. I graduated from Concord High, so as a product of the district, I am happy to be able to give back and encourage all students to become lifelong learners and readers! Click here to visit my website.
Diana Conner
I love being a Teacher Librarian! I started out as a 6th grade core teacher here in MDUSD but quickly realized that the best part of the job was teaching reading, sharing stories and books with students and putting the right book in the right student's hands. My goal as a TL is to work collaboratively with teachers and to deliver equitable and engaging curriculum. I want to help teach students the art of literacy so they can develop their knowledge, their potential and achieve their goals and be engaged members of society. Click here to visit my website
Liz Bates McLean
As an elementary classroom teacher, my favorite thing to see was the spark in a student's eye when they found a book they truly enjoyed. It became my mission and passion to help all my students find their love of books. This made it a natural progression to transition into the teacher librarian role. I love what I do and I am in awe of the outstanding team that I work with!
Jennifer Neys
I initially wanted to teach in the classroom, but when I walked into the Valhalla Library 20 years ago, I saw my home among the books and card catalogs. Through the years, it is still gratifying when I match students with the right book or series and help reluctant readers find a book that will get them hooked on reading. In addition, it’s important to encourage critical thinking when using websites or other sources for research, and to nurture good digital citizens. Collection development is an invigorating process and I strive to keep every library collection as vibrant and diverse as the student body. You can view my website here.
Jeff Vogt (Vote)
I have been a Teacher Librarian for 15 years and this is my 5th year in MDUSD. Before I became a Teacher Librarian, I worked as TV News Producer.
The school library is a place where every student has the opportunity to explore a variety of subjects and themes of their choosing. I feel it is my duty to enhance their curiosity and provide them with the tools to seek knowledge through a variety of media. These skills will help them thrive as 21st Century Learners.
Terri Shamroukh
My first library was The Rose Garden Branch of the San Jose Public Library system. It was located across the street from my elementary school. I also enjoyed my school libraries as a young student and became a library assistant in middle and high school. A love of learning, reading and history led me to become a History teacher at first. I did not realize I could also teach in the library. Once I began teaching in the library I knew I was home again. It is my goal that every student develops a love of reading and learning. Readers are leaders! Ms. Shamroukh's Library Website
Giovanna Fleming
As a child, my mother would take me to visit our local Public Library usually for a scheduled event and to check out materials. As a young student, my teachers always asked me to help other students within my classes. My eighth grade teacher happened to be my sister who would notice my teaching abilities. On weekends, I would assist her in the creation of lessons. In High School, I would often find time during lunch to help our Librarian. Those experiences along with a love of reading led me to become a Teacher Librarian for MDUSD. I earned my Teacher Librarian Credential and a MLIS from SJSU. I recognize myself in the students who volunteer to help in my libraries. They stumble upon a certain book, open it, and say, "Oh, I loved reading this!". I enjoy seeing my students feel successful. I believe it's so important for students to see themselves in the books they read. My goals for my students are for them to become who they are meant to be, to become lifelong learners with growth mindsets, and to be contributing global citizens. Having Authors visit my libraries to share their love for literacy with our students has become an annual goal. My libraries feel like my second home which I enjoy sharing with my students, their parents, and staff.
CLICK HERE to view one of my library websites. Donate to my DONORSCHOOSE.ORG project.
Ryann Kuiper
As a kid who struggled with reading, it was ironic that I found myself in a world of books and literacy. After graduating from Chico with my teaching credential, I got the opportunity to start my career as a librarian here in the Mt. Diablo School District. I completed my librarians credential and masters in library science through San Jose State. This will be my 14th year as a Library Media Teacher and I couldn’t be happier.
The library has given me the opportunity to help kids, like myself, who never thought of themselves as readers, to find that book or author which relates to them and changes the way they see themselves. Supporting, fostering and guiding students to find literacy they love and giving them the tools they need to be successful are just a few reasons why I love my job and being a librarian.
Click HERE to go to my library site
Deanna Nixon
For the last 25 years I have mostly worked as a classroom teacher, and also had the opportunity to serve as a school and district administrator. Throughout my career my focus and passion has always been literacy. I can attribute this to my mother’s love of reading and lifelong learning. We often visited bookstores and our local library, a ritual I have continued with my children. Throughout the years I had hoped to eventually become a school librarian, and feel so lucky to have the opportunity to share wonderful books with students, and encourage a love of reading and literacy.
Click here to view my library website.
Amy Herrera Kumar
First of all, I love being a Librarian! When I was growing up, my school didn't have a library, so our teacher walked us to the nearest public library in downtown Stockton, and that's when I discovered the world of reading! I now have the honor of introducing a new generation of students to the world of literature!
But reading isn't the only thing that librarians teach--we also have teaching credentials in Digital Literacy--which means that we teach the skills necessary in today's world, like news and media literacy, information technology, cyber etiquette, research skills, managing your digital footprint, and so much more. In other words, we Librarians love the world of reading and information!
Besides reading, I love going on hikes with my family, roadtrips around the country, visiting museums, watching documentaries, crocheting, cross-stitching, and trying to learn something new every day! See you at the Library!
Alison Dinicola
I have loved books from a young age. I remember my dad taking me to the library or bookstore, and letting me roam for hours among the books. My first job in the library field was working as the library assistant to the Curator of Literary Manuscripts at the Henry E. Huntington Library in San Marino, California. A few years after moving up to Northern California, I started my new career as a Teacher Librarian in 2015 with MDUSD. I love working with students, sharing the joy of reading, finding the right book, teaching them literacy skills both in print and digitally, and giving students the support they need that only a library can give them. I love the interaction I have with all my students from TKers all the way up to 8th graders. Visit one of my library websites here.
Angelique Mullen
Being a librarian has been my dream since I was a young child, when I set up a "circulation desk" in my bedroom closet and checked out books to my stuffed animals. I have been working in education since 1999, first as a classroom teacher in San Francisco and later as a Teacher Librarian. I took a break from teaching to take care of my own young children in 2002. During that time when I my kids were little, we spent a lot of time at the public libraries, reading books and listening to stories. In 2007, when my youngest child was still in diapers, I decided to go back to library school. After spending 4 years in library school, I graduated with both my MLIS and my Teacher Librarian credential. I worked for 5 years as a Teacher Librarian in San Francisco before coming here to Mt. Diablo Unified. I feel blessed to work in four wonderful elementary schools (Wren Avenue, Fair Oaks, Meadow Homes, and Ygnacio Valley Elementary). I feel as though it is my calling to share books and stories, research skills, and knowledge with all of my amazing students. Being a school librarian is truly my dream job! When I am not working, I enjoy bird watching, gardening, cooking, watching old, black and white movies, and of course, reading!
Ruth Shumate
The library is the heart of the school! It is a center of activity where ideas are exchanged, new things are learned, and friends are made. From books, to videos, to computers, to 3-D printers, there is something for everyone. And everyone feels welcome!
My mom started taking my siblings and myself to the Martinez Public Library when I was very young. I also remember going to the first Pleasant Hill Library when it was new! Now it has been replaced with a beautiful new building. When I was in high school I was looking for a way out of PE, my counselor told me I could be a TA in the library. I thought it would be fun, but I hated working in the library! I had to use a manual typewriter to type catalog cards, at least four cards for each book, and then file them in the card catalog. I only lasted a semester. I was begging to get back into PE! I did not think about becoming a school librarian until I was teaching and the librarian at my school told me that I should become a Teacher Librarian. I asked her why and she told me she had "the best job in the whole school!” She was able to share books and the joy of reading with all the students. She directly influenced growth in academic achievement. Mrs. Richards was persuasive and I enrolled at San Jose State in their Masters of Library Science program. It was before the arrival of online learning so I had to commute three nights a week, an hour in each direction.
I have been working for Mt. Diablo Unified School District as a Teacher Librarian since 1989, except for the years I took off to raise my five children. When I’m not reading my favorite books, I like spending time at Lake Tahoe or taking road trips with my husband and family.
Marcia Carrasco serves as the teacher librarian at Highlands Elementary in Concord.
Jacqueline Howe serves as the teacher librarian at Meadow Homes Elementary in Concord, CA.