In my role as a teacher librarian, I encourage all students to read and research freely. As students become avid and excited readers, they are able to explore new worlds through books and the internet, and I believe strongly that encountering different perspectives helps students to expand their worldview and increases their compassion for those different from them, ultimately promoting widespread social justice and peace. I promote the school library by ensuring it is comfortable and inviting, giving students a place to belong.
I believe strongly in the importance of incorporating rigorous research and technology instruction for all students and across all disciplines. It is important to keep the library curriculum adaptable and current, encouraging students to make use of a variety of media, ranging from books, to online journals and databases, to the internet, and beyond. I teach students how to differentiate between credible and non-credible sources. They learn to cite these sources appropriately and to use information ethically. They learn to work independently, and to collaborate with others. They learn to question and explore, and they develop a desire to continue learning that will stay with them for the rest of their lives.
In my professional practice, I collaborate constantly with my co-librarians, the teachers in my building, and other educators across my school district and state to share best practices and improve my teaching skills. I value engagement with our education association, as I feel passionately about ensuring fair working conditions and compensation for the professional educators I work alongside.