Summer is traditionally known as a time for educators to rest to come back to a new school year revitalized and rejuvenated for new challenges and responsibilities. Teaching is not an easy job. It requires being on all the time. There is no down time in the classroom. Kids require constant attention and there are always different personalities to deal with. You cannot daydream or hang out in the bathroom or at the water cooler the way you do in an office.
As such, summer is also known as a time for professional growth and taking time to read and attend professional development. I was honored and blessed to moderate the NYLA – SLS Leadership Conference, which focused on the lens of implicit bias and building an anti-racist school library. This provided me with the opportunity to hear stories that matter and better understand how I can be an agent of change for not only my own learning community, but also the bigger picture of social change.
As I was asked to moderate a panel for further thought on school library practices, I prepared questions for a great panel that included an author, NYLA President AASL President, AALS Emerging Leaders and other School Library Media Specialists with diverse perspectives. Participants included Linda Sue Park, Arlene Laverde, Juan Rivera, Cicely Lewis to name a few.
I learned about Cicely Lewis’s Read Woke challenge that encouraged kids to read three diverse books through a t-shirt giveaway. I heard of other school librarians displaying 75% of books on display of diverse characters and author. This happened to generate more reflection and self-initiated student conversations. In all, I learned best practices, tips, tricks and techniques for being a better and more well-rounded librarian and leader.
DOE’s Director of Library Services delivers a presentation question old racist classics as many new, equitable and inclusive books are now available. All in all, the conference was a chance to learn, grow and spend time with like minded colleagues.