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I have always considered the Teacher Librarian role as a leadership role within the school. We work with all the teachers and students, and have big-picture insight and connections that few others do. We lead professional development for staff, often manage or supervise Final Exhibitions/Personal Projects/Extended Essays, present to parents, and manage library staff. At IST I successfully lobbied to be given the title and stipend as a Head of Department, one of the mid-level leadership positions. See the complete list of leadership roles I included in my proposal here.
Some highlights of my leadership at IST:
Managing Staff
Managing Staff
The IST Secondary library has had one Senior Library Assistant, Two Library Assistants and a Library Clerk. It is my responsibility to train and supervise the staff and to conduct their annual goal meetings and appraisals. We are a great team, and they have been consistently open to change and advice as well as a constant support to our teachers and staff.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity
Each year I organize seven different presentations for homeroom teachers to present to their students around the topic of Academic Integrity. Each one needs to be different, grow in complexity with the kids, and be straightforward enough for the teachers to present independently.
Professional Development Book Clubs
Professional Development Book Clubs
The Elementary librarian and I proposed the idea of PD Book CLubs to the admin - and they went for it! We choose 10 books based on leadership input, staff recommendations, school mission/vision/strategic aims, price, and availability. We try for a combination of education focused books, big-picture ideas like creativity or mindfulness, and some stories with an East African focus to help us better understand the community where we live. Teachers choose the book they would most like to read, the school buys it for them, and then they read it. We form cross-campus discussion groups, who meet off campus over a cup of coffee or cake to talk about the book and how if effects their practice. It's been a hit! Check out the book selections here:
Supermodel
Supermodel
My constant message to our teachers is that we all have to be supermodels - constantly modeling the practices we ask our students to follow. Use quality sources and always cite them, only use Creative Commons photos and cite them, give credit to any borrowed ideas or resources, etc.
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