New Ideas for Professional Growth

Melissa A. Brown, SLMSOak View ES

MCPS Professional Development Day

Thursday, August 19, 2010Roundtable Session: 10:00-

10:45

“Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.”

~ old English saying

Reflection:You are the acorn,

be the tree.

Think-Pair Share

What tree are you and why? Use as many sensory words

as possible. I am a ______because__________

How do your leaves grow? What does your bark feel

like? What color are you?

How do you respond to the sun?

What do you do when it rains?

Share:“Know Thyself”

~Socrates (among others)

Start at the beginning: grow from within

Till the soil: what’s already there?

Resume, Achievements,

Contacts

A Story

Once upon a time there was an eager library/media student. S/he listened diligently to the professors’ teachings and advice. S/he was made to know s/he needed to court the favor of teachers in order to gain access to students; s/he needed to win the heart of the Admin Secretary and Building Services, and s/he was to keep a ready supply of chocolates on hand to further the affections of the building staff. S/he was to be smiling, pleasant, and above all else, available at will or whim for the myriad of bewildering activities that fit under the four-now-five roles that was expected of him/her.

S/he started off the school building experience with excitement, enthusiasm, and that special mark of the novice: hopefulness. S/he navigated through the forest of study and certification, and arrived at last at his/her new employment, “The Amazing, Incredible School.” S/he rapped on the door. What happens next is known to us well, for s/he quickly found that the teachers were busy with their own overflowing plates, and students flowed into his/her media center like so many rivers, sometimes overlapping and causing a veritable flood There was little time to learn the arcane building and system cultures, plan interesting lessons that would hold the attention of the flowing river of students, or meet with teachers to maintain credibility. The chocolates ran out. Bereft and bewildered, our media specialist found him/her self at a loss for how to proceed.

Cue the tinkling sounds and sparkly magic dust, for presently a magical fairy appeared, and offered wise counsel, “There is no “they” any longer,” she said. “What you want to change you must do for yourself. Seek counsel from your peers, resolve to take baby steps for success, and devise your own simple plan that makes sense to you, free of jargon or outside expectation. Choose three things to work on this year, and be in touch with three others for the support and encouragement you need. These dark days will pass. You will regain your confidence and good standing, and yes, even a pay raise. But you must first know your value and share it with others, especially parents, for they vote the elected officials that support schools, and pay the taxes that fund the programs, including, and perhaps especially now, yours.

Don’t become like New Jersey and California, and see your positions voted out of school budgets. Make yourself known to those who vote and fund you. Don’t expect “them” to do it, remember there is no “they”. There is just you and your colleagues. Hansel and Gretel got out of their predicament, and you will get out of yours, but it will take care and cunning. Good luck, my child! Oh, and buy some more chocolates: you must never forget the sweetness of life, and you must always be ready to share it with others; after all, you’re in the best place in the building, aren’t you? Make it that best place, for yourself and your students, and let their parents know what you’re doing.” With that she was off, in a brightness of color and sparkle, the tinkling sounds disappearing into the air, leaving only a fragrant, heady memory, a small acorn, and a single Hershey kiss.

Plant the seeds:What do you want to grow?

Count off in threesConsider; write on card:

What one new goal do you want to set this year for:

1) Yourself2) Your students

3) Your stakeholders (remember parents)

New ideas in SpringShare amongst your

group of three

Share the bountyShare the load

Be in communication with each other about

the progress of your goalsReach out to colleagues

And offer support

Tend the garden:

MembershipsCommittees

Professional Organizations

Gather the Harvest:

Keep your resume up-to-date

Rise up the salary lane

Maintain your certification

Celebrate the Feast

Acknowledge your own and colleagues’

accomplishments.

Join local and national groups for camaraderie

and networking.

Winter of Reflection:

What Color is Your Parachute?

What else could you be doing for

work?

How can you participate in the

retention your current position?

Resources:

American Library Associationhttp://www.ala.org/

American Association of School Librarians

http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/aasl/index.cfm

Maryland Association of School Librarians

http://maslmd.org/Montgomery County Educational

Media Specialist Associationhttp://mcemsaonline.org/links.html

Maryland State Dept of Education/School Library

Media: http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/technology/library_media

International Society for technology in Education ISTE

http://www.iste.org/MSET (ISTE MD Affiliate,

formerly MICCA)http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/2010/02/mset-maryland-iste-affiliate.html

SLMP ResourcesMCPS/SLMP Page

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/

departments/media/programs/

LMNet

http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/

School Library Monthly

http://www.schoollibrarymonthly.com/

articles/Zmuda2006v23n1p19.html

Library Jobs & History

Library Jobs on the Nethttp://www.libraryjobpostings.org/libraryjobs.htm

Wikipedia History of School Librarians and more

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_library

Pedagogy:MCPS Staff Development

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.orgType Staff Development into search box

Skillful Teacher - MCPShttp://montgomeryschoolsmd.org

Type Skillful Teacher into search box

Skillful Teacher: RBThttp://www.rbteach.com/rbteach2/index.html

What Color is Your Parachute:

http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/

Stress Relief: NIHhttp://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stress.html

Local Classes for Salary Lane Advancement:

University of MD/College Park:http://www.umd.edu/

University of MD/University College:http://umuc.edu/index.shtml

Johns Hopkins:http://webapps.jhu.edu/jhuniverse/academics/schools/school_of_education/

Trinityhttp://www.trinitydc.edu/

Online:http://www.waldenu.edu/http://www.phoenix.edu/

MCPS/ERSC – salary lane change info:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/personnel/certification/current/salary/

Certification:http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/personnel/certification/

PDO: what’s offered by MCPS

https://pdo.mcpsmd.org/ia/render.userLayoutRootNode.uP

Call HelpDesk @ 301.517.5800 for password help

You are the acorn, be the tree.