Reflecting on 2021

Technology has transformed the way I teach and the way my students learn.  As a librarian I get the pleasure of meeting students and staff right where they’re at to help them select relevant tools to meet their learning goals.  I’m passionate about leveraging technology to amplify student voice and bringing innovative tools to the library and schoolwide that promote critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration.  My goal is that students find the library to be a space for innovation, collaboration and risk-taking. Each day that our students enter the doors of the library is a new opportunity for them to grow and pursue their passions and to get closer to acquiring the skills they need for lifelong success.  

I am so blessed to be able to work with our teachers weekly on impactful technology integration.  We are focused on developing a shared vision and culture for technology use campus wide.  At PSJA Collegiate High School technology use is purposeful and meaningful to engage all learners.  Through modeling best practices and collaborating with our staff, I get the opportunity to teach and reach each and every student at our campus.   

Throughout the year, with the help of my student led library advisory board we are providing opportunities for students to get involved, to be creative, and to collaborate and communicate with each other.  What will innovation look like in the future?  I don't have the answer to that question. However, I hope when our students look back on their education and their years in high school, that they are able to see the opportunities they had to be creative, to be innovative, to follow their passions and to embrace technology.  Many years down the road, our students may not remember specifically what was taught in our library, however it is my hope that students will remember the way that they felt in our library... that they felt accepted... that it was a place that inspired them... that they could take risks...that they were able to collaborate with each other... and that they were able to use tools to achieve their goals.

The story of our library and its impact on technology for students and staff is truly an inspirational story of growth. Our school opened four years ago and looking back at how far we’ve come brings such joy to my heart. We started out as a library housed in a small classroom, with one shelf within a bookshelf of books and a small computer lab. I had to be creative and innovative to find a way to engage our students and work with what we had available. I’ve always looked at the library as a central hub for a school and I’ve always sought out opportunities to go beyond its walls to collaborate with our entire campus. We now have transitioned to our permanent location at the Dr. Daniel P. King College and University Center. Our students have the opportunity to take college classes with their college professors right on our campus while also having high school classes available to them.  Preparing our students to be college and career ready is the mission of our school and district. I’m so honored to be able to play my role in helping prepare them for this endeavor through our library programming, student led library advisory board and student ambassador program. I was able to be involved from the start, empowering our students to lead at the campus level to be role models and to even go on to present at the student by student technology led conference for their peers. Technology is always evolving. Preparing our students for the future involves always striving to be at the cutting edge of innovation.