As of April 2020:

• 179 of our 187 schools (96%) have met with their MTAC since 2018 to complete an assessment of their school library program. The 8 schools that have yet to assess their school library programs are either new or have extenuating circumstances.

• 25 schools (14%) chose to reassess their program this year using the WakeForward instrument.

• 166 schools (89%) reported a focus area for 2019-2020

  • 82 schools (44%) changed their focus area from last year after evaluating their progress with their MTAC.

Focus area breakdown for 2019-2020:

Library Media Services used the program assessment data gathered by MTACs to establish PLC groups and design professional learning opportunities that were targeted to the school library programs' specific goals and needs. Face-to-face learning opportunities and digital resources were curated in the WakeForward platform, searchable in Canvas and eSchool, and sent out via email reminders and in the WakeMedia Monthly newsletter that we started in December.

Read about learning opportunities that we provided here.

Participation:

• 110 schools (59%) attended 1 day of face-to-face professional learning related to their focus area.

• 57 schools (30%) attended 2 days of face-to-face professional learning related to their focus area.

• 26 schools (14%) used all 3 days of face-to-face professional learning provided to them through this initiative.

Even though we were not able to offer the 4th training day for each PLT, we increased participation by 8% from Year 1.

If we had been able to offer the 4th PLT day, we would have still fallen short of the goal we set in our Year 2 projections; however, we had been on track to grow participation from Year 1 by about 40%.

Once schools were cancelled due to COVID-19, we moved professional learning online via a Canvas course.

Participation: (will be updated in June)

• We hosted 12 school library media coordinators as guest speakers during focus area PLTs.

• 31 school library media coordinators presented at the Convergence Idea Lab.

• 31 school library media coordinators presented concurrent sessions at Convergence.

• 38 school library media coordinators have signed up to take a leadership role by contributing reviews of newly published books to our Reviewers' Choice blog.

Return to the home page to view MTAC digital portfolios, organized by focus area.

152 schools (81%) have submitted a link for their MTAC digital portfolio.

Survey feedback and anectdotal accounts from school librarians actively participating in WakeForward professional learning have shown us that, in general, the WakeForward initiative has had a positive impact for many. Those sharing positive feedback report:

• Improved communication with administration regarding the purpose of the school library media program;

• Improved functioning of the MTAC;

• Appreciation of shared learning with colleagues;

• Appreciation of time provided to work while being removed from the interruptions of the school day.

WakeLearns surveys show that PLT participants found learning to be relevant to enhancing their effectiveness in their jobs. Notable impact from PLT sessions include:

• Sharing and implementing new lessons;

• Growing collaboration strategies for working with teachers and leading MTAC;

• Aligning WakeForward work to the School Improvement Plan;

• Building book orders and making informed technology purchases;

• Designing professional learning for staff to meet needs pertaining to data privacy and digital portfolios;

• Designing and implementing library programming that incorporates community outreach and family engagement;

• Creation or growth of Maker component of school library programs.

Still, we recognize that there remains a significant number of school library media coordinators who we are failing to support through this initiative. We sent a survey out mid-year to those who had not yet participated in a face-to-face learning opportunity. Of the 100 school librarians who were sent the survey, 45 responded.

• • All were aware of the professional learning opportunities available (7 people noted that they had some confusion).

  • 87% stated they preferred to receive email reminders about upcoming professional learning opportunities.

  • The most frequently reported reasons for not attending learning opportunities were:

    • Having too much work at school--60%

    • The dates don't work for their schedule--55.6%

  • Common responses to the question "What would make you more likely to participate?" include:

    • Email when opportunities are offered;

    • Provide trainings on district-wide professional learning days or other teacher workdays;

    • Provide a clearer sense of what will happen at the trainings and their practical use.

Of the 100 school librarians who were sent the survey in December, 18 attended professional learning opportunities offered later in the year.

Based on our analysis of participation and survey responses, we plan to implement the following for year 3 of WakeForward:

1. Streamline communication to make it easier to use WakeForward tools, navigate information, and view learning opportunities.

   • Move all tools and information from the WakeForward platform developed by 2gnoMe into WakeConnect.

   • Offer virtual office hours for regular check-in and support;

   • Continue Wakemedia Monthly newsletter.

2. Better differentiate professional learning offerings in order to increase participation.

   • Provide blended and online learning opportunities;

   • Schedule face-to-face opportunities later in the school year (beginning in November/December and continuing through May);

   • Offer a combination of focus area specific PLTs as well as topic-specific PLT days that may involve multiple focus areas;

   • Encourage and support the creation of more Design Your Own Learning for small groups in order to meet specific needs.

   • Provide learning on district professional learning days and teacher workdays.

3. Provide targeted support for MTACs.

   • Continue to include MTAC member as Convergence attendees;

   • Design a session for MTAC leadership during district professional learning days;

   • Build MTAC support page as a new WakeForward resource in WakeConnect.

4. Increase leadership opportunities for school library media coordinators.

   • Establish mentor opportunities;

   • Continue in-person and virtual guest speakers;

   • Establish discussion board moderators and/or virtual PLT facilitators.

5. Socialize messaging to administrators in order to increase awareness, understanding, and support.