Previous by Date | Next by Date | Date Index
Previous by Thread | Next by Thread
| Thread Index
| LM_NET
Archive
| |
Here is the information collected on Transforming library media specialists into school administrators. Thanks for all the information. I have quickly summarized the findings of the questions posed on the LM Net earlier this month. Please feel free to add to the information that has already been collected. Summary of findings Twenty two individuals responded to the questions that I posed on 12/4/95. We some very interesting results. 1- How many administrators out there have had library media training and/or were former library media specialists? Of the twenty one respondents, five were in some capacity of school administration, either: director of library media or technology programs, elementary principal, and assistant principals at both the elementary and secondary level. 2- Is there any research on this topic, or articles written? Two articles were identified: Haycock, Ken (June, 1992). The teacher librarian as school principal: A natural progression. Emergency Librarian, 19(5), 21-22. Pennock, Robin (September, 1988). Trading places: A librarian's route to the principal's office. School Library Journal, 35(1). 3- Can you share some experiences or insights you may have on this issue? Many folks felt that their vast range of expertise in some areas paralleled experiences that school administrators may have. This may seem somewhat idealized. Some are: -Broad understanding of curriculum -A grasp of the "big picture" and a tendency to think globally -Working with budgets -Juggling activities -Managing staff -People skills--dealing with the community of parents, teachers, students, administrators, and other staff -Working with the entire population of the school -Planning: setting priorities, goal setting -Critical reviewers and users of information in order to make decisions -Know how to be leaders as well as team players Karen McIntyre summed it up best: As a facilitator for teachers we are constantly learning about new curriculum, new methods, and we must work with a huge variety not only of studetns, but of teachers and their personalities as well. The ability to observe these people interacting -- and viewing what things work in bringing them together could offer benefits. (My editorial comment) Karen indicated she did not want to walk this path, but the path is there and the gate is open. Observation, viewing, and helping people interact through the design, development, and implementation of change, can move an educational community forward. Moving to the role as instructional leader of the school, the principal, requires one to extend beyond the consultative role of the library media specialist. I encourage all folks who want to extend their opportunities to impact educational systems to move into school administration. 4- If you have made the transition, what was most beneficial in both your formal and informal preparation? Most comments made are in the area of informal preparation: -It was important to work in a school with a principal with vision. -The experiential base provided by the library media specialist position, kept me in tune with the integration of resources to support the curriculum. Resource management is one key role of the school principal. -Acquiring people skills through interaction with all members of the school community. -My formal preparation was of little value (hoop jumping), my informal training from colleagues was invaluable. 5- If you are currently a school library media specialist, have you considered a career move of this nature? What do you see as stumbling blocks to making the transition? I tried to tally the responses to the first part of this question, number of responses (n = 22): Yes 8 No 5 Already there 5 No response 4 In terms of a stumbling block to making the transition, some folks reported that there is some apprehension on the part of personnel directors and other folks who do the hiring. There is a feeling that a school library media specialist does not have the appropriate experience to make this transition. In my opinion, as an assistant superintendent of schools, I would gladly trade some of the school principals I supervise with some of the library media personnel I also supervise. I will do some more poking around the literature and read through the responses I received a few more times. Please accept this draft as a first attempt at analysis of the information. I'll post another document sometime after Christmas. If any folks would like to add to the data base, please respond to the following five questions: 1- How many administrators out there have had library media training and/or were former library media specialists? 2- Is there any research on this topic, or articles written? 3- Can you share some experiences or insights you may have on this issue? 4- If you have made the transition, what was most beneficial in both your formal and informal preparation? 5- If you are currently a school library media specialist, have you considered a career move of this nature? What do you see as stumbling blocks to making the transition? Stephen W. Zsiray, Jr. Assistant Superintendent Cache School District North Logan, Utah 84341 801-752-3925 801-753-2168 (fax)