2015 Concern- Teacher Ed Course

2015 Concern- Teacher Ed Course

Concern: In a time when school libraries are struggling to remain a vital part of the school program, educating key stakeholders at the grassroots level has never been more important. Advocacy efforts to illustrate the importance of school libraries, the inclusion of curriculum to educate aspiring principals and teachers about the role of librarians, and teacher-librarian collaboration training is non-existent in most teacher/administrator preparation programs. While LIS schools promote these ideals, there seems to be a widespread disconnect in teacher education programs.

Action Requested: Develop a teacher/administrator education module, to include K-16 standards in Information Literacy and support materials that educate aspiring and/or existing teachers/administrators on how to collaborate with school librarians and understand the critical role of librarians in a school program.  In addition, create and execute a promotional plan to encourage teacher educational leadership programs to include this vital curriculum.

Status: Both the Affiliate Assembly Coordinating Team and the Affiliate Assembly body approved this concern. It was sent to the AASL Board.  Executive Committee referred to the CAEP Coordinating Committee to explore language about school librarians and an action plan for advocating for use in other educator preparation program standards.    

Educator PreService Task Force

Concern: The Educator Pre-Service Task Force addresses a critical need by informing students enrolled in colleges of education about the effectiveness of library programs on student achievement. We are concerned that finding volunteers to speak within colleges of education limits the potential success of the task force work.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved this concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly body. The Assembly revised the concern and approved passing the revision on to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: The AASL Education Pre-service Task Force addresses a critical need by informing students enrolled in colleges of education (both pre-service teacher and administrator preparation programs) about the effectiveness of library programs on student achievement. We are concerned that finding volunteers to speak within colleges of education may be challenging and could limit the potential success of the task force work.

Action: Developing a webinar for preservice teachers will be added to the charge of the Educator Pre-Service Task Force.

Role of School Librarian

Concern: The need for pre-service/current teacher and administrator training to further the understanding of the library role, student achievement, and teacher success.

Action: This concern was approved by the Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee and forwarded to the Assembly for review where it was combined with the preservice training concern from Region 3. The AASL Board responded with the creation of the Educator Pre-Service Task Force charged with developing a toolkit and essential links to assist in the training of pre-service teachers and administrators about the role of school librarians and school library programs.

Role of School Librarian

Concern: The need for a more direct and systemic approach to providing knowledge regarding the role of the SLMS to future teachers, future administrators, and current teacher educators.

Action: This concern was approved by the Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee and forwarded to the Assembly for review where it was combined with the preservice training concern from Region 4. The AASL Board responded with the creation of the Educator Pre-Service Task Force charged with developing a toolkit and essential links to assist in the training of pre-service teachers and administrators about the role of school librarians and school library programs.

Value of the School Librarian

Concern: The failure of teacher colleges to educate their potential graduates about the role of the SLMS and the many ways SLMS can help teachers achieve academic success.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved the Concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly for review. The Assembly chose to combine the concern with impact concerns from Regions 1, 2, and 4. The final concern passed to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: Teacher and administrator training programs do no recognize the valuable role of school library media specialists and information literacy in teaching and learning.

Action: The AASL Board responded with the creation of a toolkit.

Value of the School Librarian

Concern: Administrators don't understand the full value of their librarian.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved the Concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly for review. The Assembly chose to combine the concern with impact concerns from Regions 1, 2, and 9. The final concern passed to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: Teacher and administrator training programs do no recognize the valuable role of school library media specialists and information literacy in teaching and learning.

Action: The AASL Board responded with the creation of a toolkit.

Value of the School Librarian

Concern: Administrators and teachers are unaware of how quality library media programs can positively impact student learning.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved the Concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly for review. The Assembly chose to combine the concern with impact concerns from Regions 1, 4, and 9. The final concern passed to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: Teacher and administrator training programs do no recognize the valuable role of school library media specialists and information literacy in teaching and learning.

Action: The AASL Board responded with the creation of a toolkit.

Value of the School Librarian

Concern: Teacher and administrator training programs do not recognize the valuable role of library media specialists and information literacy in teaching and learning.

Action: The Affiliate Assembly Executive Committee approved the Concern and sent it to the Affiliate Assembly for review. The Assembly chose to combine the concern with impact concerns from Regions 2, 4, and 9. The final concern passed to the AASL Board.

Revised Concern: Teacher and administrator training programs do no recognize the valuable role of school library media specialists and information literacy in teaching and learning.

Action: The AASL Board responded with the creation of a toolkit.