Job cuts

["Karen S. Whetzel" <kwhetzel@VDOE386.VAK12ED.EDU>]

In Virginia, there was talk of not having teaching endorsements
for library media specialists.  Several problems: if they
aren't considered teachers, library media specialists may not
be paid on the same scale as teachers; also, some school
systems in Virginia have career ladders and already do not
allow library media specialists to participate. This would
increase the chance of library media specialists having
salaries less than that of other teachers.

I believe that library media specialists ARE teachers and have
worked with several groups (VEA, NEA, etc.) to ensure our
inclusion in TEACHER OF THE YEAR awards. My principal tried to
nominate me for local teacher of the year several years ago and
was told I wasn't eligible. (Our local program feeds into the
state award which doesn't allow library media specialists and
some other categories of teachers to participate.)  However,
last week, our deputy superintendent told me that now library
media specialists are eligible at the local level. Does anyone
know if the national guidelines have changed?

When I see students on the street or in the grocery store, they
always say, "That's my library teacher." Proof enough for me
that I'm a teacher!!
Karen Whetzel
Teacher/Library Media Specialist for 23 years!!
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Karen Whetzel  kwhetzel@vdoe386.vak12.edu
P. O. Box 809                                  Ashby-Lee Elementary School
New Market, Virginia 22844                     P. O. Box 247
703-740-8589                                   Mount Jackson, Va. 22842

          703-477-2926