Purposeful leadership and continuous improvement that strengthen the school community.
Leadership in our library centers on community, purpose, and a steady commitment to growth. I help guide our program vision, support professional learning, and use reflection and data to strengthen instruction and student engagement. Collaboration is at the heart of my work, and I partner with teachers across content areas to build learning experiences that feel meaningful, creative, and future-ready.
I serve on the Building Leadership Team, the District Site Council, and our district’s AI policy committee. These roles allow me to contribute to conversations about curriculum, digital citizenship, and responsible AI use. My professional learning includes attending AI Bootcamp workshops and Missouri School Board Association sessions focused on AI policy and practice in education.
I view leadership as creating positive experiences for students and teachers, supporting instructional growth, and helping build a school community where innovation, inquiry, and well-being thrive.
I lead the Library Media Center with intention, using our mission, vision, and values as guideposts for instruction, collaboration, and program development. Whether I am planning literacy events, building our makerspace, or expanding digital access through community partnerships, my goal is to keep our library a dynamic, inclusive space that supports all learners.
How this shows up in my work:
Creating schoolwide reading challenges and family engagement events
Building student voice through advisory opportunities
Writing and managing STEM and literacy grants
Establishing clear program direction aligned with school goals
Collaboration is at the heart of a strong library program. I partner with teachers to plan research units, co-teach lessons, integrate inquiry, and support reading across the curriculum. My focus is to make instruction accessible, engaging, and future ready for every learner.
In practice, this includes:
Developing scaffolded research pathways for grades 6–8
Creating leveled materials for multilingual learners
Supporting flipped lessons and PBL units
Helping teachers incorporate digital tools responsibly and effectively
A welcoming and inclusive library begins with thoughtful systems and intentional choices. I work to ensure that every student can access books, technology, and learning opportunities, no matter their reading level, background, or circumstances.
This includes:
A diverse and inclusive collection
Flexible access to books and digital resources
Makerspace opportunities that invite all learners
Advocacy for students who need additional support
Effective leadership requires reflection and responsiveness. I use circulation data, student feedback, program evaluations, and instructional outcomes to guide next steps for our library. I adjust programming and practices based on what students and teachers need most.
Examples of reflective practice:
Reviewing circulation trends to guide future purchases
Using student requests to shape book orders
Evaluating the impact of research instruction
Refining Makerspace Monday activities based on participation
One of the most meaningful ideas I heard recently came from an ISTE conversation with Jen Schwanke. She spoke about the importance of being both trustworthy and trust willing.
Being trustworthy means being consistent, steady, safe, and true to your word.
Being trust willing means trusting others, their expertise, their professionalism, and their ideas.
This idea resonates deeply with me. Libraries grow when trust flows in both directions. I work to create a climate where students and teachers feel valued, supported, and confident taking risks. When people feel trusted, they grow, and our library grows with them.