My Professional Journey
My Professional Journey
Teacher - Librarian - Leader - Advocate
Teacher - Librarian - Leader - Advocate
Masters of Library & Information Science, University of Texas in Austin 2001
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, Texas A&M Kingsville 1987
Leander ISD, Leander, Texas
District Library Coordinator: October 2011 - Present
Elementary Librarian: August 2001 - October 2011
First Grade Teacher: August 1998 - June 2001
Bishop CISD, Bishop, Texas First Grade Teacher: August 1987 - May 1998
Harlingen CISD, Harlingen, Texas: Special Education Teacher - January 1987 - May 1987
ALA Presidential Advisory Committee for President-Elect Maria McCauley - Fall 2025 to present
AASL Immediate Past President - July 2025 to present
AASL President - July 2024 to June 2025
AASL President-Elect - June 2023 to June 2024
ALA Intellectual Freedom Committee - July 1, 2022, to July 31, 2024
Texas Library Association Legislative Committee - 2017 to Present
ALA Policy Corp Cadre for Proactive Advocacy on Book Banning - April 2023 - 2025
ALA Policy Corp Cohort IV Cadre Member - February 2022
Texas Library Association Annual Conference Planning Committee - June 2022 to April 2023
Board of Directors American Association of School Librarians - June 2018 to June 2022
Center for the Future of Libraries Advisory Board - October 2018 to June 2020
Texas Association of School Librarians Chair - May 2018 to April 2019
Leander Educational Excellence Foundation Board of Directors - 2013 through 2018
Intellectual Freedom Manual, 11th Edition Contributor - Spring 2026
In Sync: A Q&A On Building Effective Principal-Librarian Teams - TLA Journal Winter 2025
Book Flood Podcast with Tom Nixon - May 2025
AASL Knowledge Quest President's Columns:
Igniting the Spark: How School Libraries Can Cultivate Engaged Citizens - September/October 2024
The Role of Assessment in School Libraries: Moving Beyond Opinions to Informed Decisions - November/December 2024
Opening Up the World to All Readers - January/February 2025
The Art of Storytelling and Film to Empower the Fight Against Censorship - March/April 2025
The Power of Us: Leadership Through Connection and Contribution - May/June 2025
Prepared Libraries, Empowered Teams: A Workbook for Navigating Intellectual Freedom Challenges Together - ALA Editions June 2024
A Texas Librarian's Guide to Book Bans - The Grade, November 2023
Why Collection Development Is Important - Knowledge Quest Journal March/April 2022
Preparing For Materials Challenges in Your School Library – Texas Library Journal Winter 2021
Censorship in Texas: #FReadom Campaign Inception, Reflection, & Highlights – Knowledge Quest Blog October 2021
Reset & Reconnect: Adapting & Advocating Amid the Pandemic – American Libraries November 2020
Pivoting for Impactful Advocacy - Knowledge Quest Blog August 2020
“Librarying” Outside the Library – Knowledge Quest Journal March/April 2019
Teach Truth Day of Action Zinn Education Project - June 2025
Texas FReadom Fighters School Libraries United Podcast - March 2025
Mentoring & Retaining School Librarians School Libraries United Podcast - February 2025
Five Librarians on Defending Democracy, Book Bans, and the Freedom to Read - December 2024
The Hidden Cost of Defending Books - Eleanor Roosevelt Center - November 2024
Information Gone Wild Podcast - San Jose University - October 2924
Prepared Libraries, Empowered Teams School Libraries United Podcast - September 2024
Library Champion Becky Calzada & The Texas FReadom Fighters Unban Coolies Podcast - November 2023
#FReadom Fighters TLA Libraries Transform Podcast - October 2023
Why is Texas Eliminating School Libraries ACLU Podcast - September 2023
MG Book Party "FReadom Fighters Interview" - February 2022
UEN Homeroom Podcast "FReadom Fighters" - April 2022
Librarian Influencers Podcast "Collection Development Matters" - April 2022
Nerdy Book Club Podcast "How Can Parents Support Teachers & Librarians?"- October 2022
All4Ed Podcast "Librarians Fight Book Bans" - December 2021
People's 2023 Women Changing the World - March 6, 2023
Downs Intellectual Freedom Award - May 2022
AASL Intellectual Freedom Award - April 2022
Texas Library Association Outstanding Services to Libraries - April 2022
Selected for ALA Policy Corp Cohort IV - March 2022
Selected as Mentor for 2019 TALL Texans Leadership Development Class - Summer 2019
Texas Library Association Member of the Month - January 2018
AASL Social Media Superstar Leadership Luminary Nominee - Spring 2018
TCEA Member Spotlight - August 2018
Selected for 2009 TALL Texans Leadership Development Class - Summer 2009
Advisory Council Member. "Online Ready: Designing Culturally Competent and Impactful K-12 Online Learning", 2022-2024, Led by Lucy Santos Green, Kristin Fontichiaro, & Dr. Melissa P. Johnston
Chapter Advocacy Workshop Training, December 2025 & 2024
American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) CEO Symposium, February 2024