Think back to your journey as an educator. What led you into this field? How did you transition from college coursework to classroom teacher? During the middle of your career, how have you grown as an educator? Who helped you through this process? As you continue towards your career goals with more distance traveled and maturity in the race, where do you see yourself in a few years? When do you see yourself in that ‘dream’ library position or are you already there? Sometimes the race seems arduous and prolonged as one works tirelessly for students; educators walk, skip, run, and often leap performing notable acts writing lesson plans, analyzing scores, attending meetings, and buying supplies with their own personal funds. This training allows educators to provide the best possible instruction for all students daily; some administrators, some parents, and some citizens stand on the sidelines cheering on these champions of education. However, others do not.
With the end of extra state budget dollars from the pandemic and the exploding cost of doing business, many school districts find themselves searching for ways to meet the means of learning. Unfortunately, some surrounding districts are looking to the library for answers; district leaders wrongly assume the best way to balance budgets is by cutting vital program resources like the library and crucial library personnel . School leaders have a challenging job with numerous decisions that I would never want to make. Two years ago continuing my professional education I enrolled in a Principal Leadership certification, taking coursework giving me in depth knowledge of the role, work, and challenges of principalship. The job of an administrator is not an easy one, but the library is still important in student learning. When those difficult decisions have to be made (we realize they must be made), let us not cut a department and personnel that can make the difference in the journey.
We want you to look to the library for the answers; the solutions to our illiteracy dilemma lies in the library, but not in the way that you may perceive. Keep the doors of the library open. Utilize the librarian not just for morning, lunch or end of the day dismissal duties, but access the power of the role. A student once gave me a mug for a holiday gift: it reads Librarian–The Original Search Engine. How can the position of the librarian bolster your students' achievement? Find out your librarian’s instructional strength and use him in the race. Administrators you will be pleasantly surprised by librarians’ commitment to go the extra mile.
Librarians, yes you–all librarians. Your voice is needed now more than ever before; librarians must race with purpose. You may know your love for literacy but does your administrator? You may have a love for reading and helping students’ learning, but we must think beyond our love of literacy, reading, and even libraries. How do all of these substantial elements aid the school's vision and mission? Your runner’s high may be used to help the school stay in the race, too. Do not take it for granted that your principal knows what you do or sees how students interact with you inside the library; your regular training for the literacy marathon will encompass different training methods. Sometimes you may need to complete an ‘out-n-back’; get out of the library and move about the school building. Your administrator and educators need to see you beyond the physical library walking or running at your pace, then return to the library to continue your ‘library work’. As a part of different social media librarian groups, one discussion we participated in was advocating for your library and its programs. One member of the group said, “ I refuse to do it [advocate]”. The old saying, “a closed mouth doesn’t get fed” is still true so in this race, talk to your coach and make sure you and your administrator are in the same race.
Secondly, the beauty and the wonder of our great world encompasses all the seasons: fall, winter, spring, summer, tax, and testing (smile). We are in the tax season and we are headed to the testing season. Most schools have completed preliminary testing with the beginning and the middle of the school year past us; thus our students enter the prominent statewide testing season known as STAAR–State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness. Consider how your literacy and library strategies may need to be tweaked: do not let this season cause the library to experience a permanent set back that it may not recover from in order to complete the race. As a librarian, my duties were always reassigned to assist with small group testing. One way you may want to keep your program’s momentum is bringing a few library books for students to read after testing, inform students of the details for when your special programs like book clubs and student aides will resume, and if your budget and space allow, request the library be used as a ‘chill area’ for teachers and staff during their break times and have candies or other small affordable snacks and drinks on a first come, first serve basis.
As a member of our school’s Instructional Leadership Team, I recall it was time for English as a Second Language (ESL) testing. Our ESL Lead teacher had a heart for our English language learners and we had hundreds of students that required TELPAS. All of our teachers were stressed out, especially the ESL lead teacher, Saima. Even with other teachers helping her she was responsible for annual teacher calibration, collecting students writing samples, and test security. As the school librarian, I saw her pain and their pain; the weight of the race was daunting, so I decided to create individual baskets for each ESL teacher and paraprofessional with a handwritten note. Needlessly to say, the kindness of my actions went a long way in making their race a little smoother. The basket of edible treats or other goodies was their aid station giving them the strength they needed to continue to run or walk.
No doubt about it, libraries are facing challenging times, but in order to “Race At Your Pace” as discussed in the previous blog we have to recall our ‘why’ as an educator. Our resolve to educate and empower our students did not stop; in fact I would contend it has received more potency and power to serve communities' learning needs differently, and differently has value. Reflecting on your career at whatever stage you are in will help you continue with more determination. How do you want to conclude this literacy marathon? Recently hearing this song by artist Jonathan Nelson encourages me to keep the strides not cool down. The lyrics state–
In this race that we run, you gotta have endurance cause it's a marathon
I was born sure enough to win, in pursuit with faith until the win
I'm going to have a strong finish, strong faith
Remember whether you are walking or running, the goal is not to get there the fastest; remember you are your only competitor. The ultimate goal is to finish the race. You were created for your campus and your library. The hiring team chose you for a reason; it was not a mistake, and to all administrators, librarians are not the bandits in this journey. Give them the literacy baton, and let us move forward. Each librarian has an obligation to himself and all that he represents to finish this race with dignity, integrity, and clarity. You already have won; you just need to press towards the finish line into the winner’s circle.
Lighting the way,
Fiya Librarian
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