Teaching the Teachers

Among the articles to read this week, Grassroots PD School librarians create their own professional development by Andrew Bauld spoke to me the most.  I guess being in the current role that I am as a classroom teacher, I have never given much thought to what the school librarian is doing during PD time.  I am fortunate enough to work in a district that has several schools and each building has its own library and librarian.  I know that that they all work together with some (albeit limited) shared planning time, but they do not share a grade level.  It must be a difficult position to be in when one person is responsible for an entire position.  This is something that I surely have not considered when thinking about learning the role of media specialist.  I have always had my grade level colleagues to share ideas, ask questions and seek advice.  This is a bit daunting to consider, but not enough to turn me away from further pursuit of this certificate.  

My biggest take away from the article is that one must truly become a resource all - yourself and  others while you work to fill this role.  You must act a resource to parents, students, teachers and administration, but also be resourceful yourself in order to stay relevant and necessary in order to keep your position alive and thriving.  I like how Bauld highlighted leaders in the field who took the role to heart and became a resource to other people in this position.  He noted how librarians in their field are bringing peers and colleagues together through shared resources and virtual PD.  He shared that K.C. Boyd, 2022 School Librarian of the Year in Washington DC launched Boss Librarian and Friends Virtual PD so that librarians and media specialists from all over the country could access materials and recordings that support PD in the field.  K.C. Boyd created a virtual forum where more than 1,600 school librarians joined for several days of free information provided from award winning school librarians.  After the creation of that online community, others popped up as well - here are some to name a few: Library 2.0, Clubhouse.com, and School Librarians United.  Although it is not your typical PD resource, I am glad that technology allows these educators the opportunity to share in their own field - which is turn, helps all educators and students gain in the long run.  

Bauld, Andrew. "Grassroots PD." School Library Journal. January, 2025