A Certified School Librarian Is a Professional Learning Powerhouse

Learning Forward. 504 South Locust Street, Oxford, OH 45056. Tel: 800-727-7288; Fax: 513-523-0638; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: https://learningforward.org/the-learning-professional/

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Librarians; Certification; Role; Professional Development; Coaching (Performance); Specialists; Librarian Teacher Cooperation; COVID-19; Pandemics; School Closing; Leadership; Technology Uses in Education; Literacy Education; Curriculum

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School administrators often seek out personnel to facilitate embedded professional learning, usually by asking a skilled classroom teacher to serve as an instructional coach, curriculum specialist, or teacher on special assignment. One source administrators do not often consider is a certified school librarian, but these professionals are ready resources for professional learning in improving student literacy, integrating technology into the curriculum, and other areas. This article reccomends that all schools harness the potential of certified school librarians to lead professional learning. School and district leaders should provide structure and support to maximize this potential. To do so, they should enable librarians to prioritize collaboration and teaching over program administration and clerical/operational tasks. Leaders should also encourage librarians to regularly cultivate their own professional learning to stay current in school librarianship, instructional technology, curricular changes, and media literacy. Certified school librarians are in a unique position to offer learning and growth experiences to teachers, as their expertise reflects that of technology coaches, literacy coaches, curriculum and subject specialists, and more. Looking at teacher and student needs through all these lenses can result in professional learning that helps teachers make the most of every day and every resource.

ERIC

2021

EJ1320096