Here is my response to Carol...
On Saturday, February 28, 2004, at 02:58 PM, Brown, Carol Adamec wrote:
> I work with graduate students who will be serving as media and
> technology
> directors for their schools and their school districts.
> I'd like feedback from those of you working in schools and central
> offices
> about the most important issues related to your jobs.
I do both the media and technology in an elementary school of about 300
students.
I don't have time to go into all of the issues as they change daily and
sometimes weekly. I think that one big issue is that people without
homerooms have to constantly show that they are "working." I have been
at this school (had 3 when I started) for 28 years and still I find
this an important issue in the elementary school. As we now have
several staff members also without homerooms and with jobs such as
guidance and special ed facilitation (and one school) this issue is
slowly becoming a little easier to deal with as teachers realize that
sometimes jobs are different but yet just as important. But I still
have to keep reminding them that there are other parts to my job than
teaching classes and that I sometimes have to work 45-50 hours a week
to get it all done just like they do!
> What is the biggest problem you face consistently on the job?
Lack of time. I have no aide and also run a gifted & talented program
and direct the Accelerated Reader program. I also teach classes during
teacher planning time since this I work in an elementary school. I have
a few volunteers but not many. I love most of my job but would like
someone else to do the gifted & talented and as I am not a certified
classroom teacher (have an MLS and MEd) under NCLB, this may occur. I
have been doing G&T since 1980 so would love to have more time to
devote to technology and time to learn more things from our once-a-week
technician!
I guess that I should also mention that our funding is pretty bad. My
library budget has been slashed in the past 5 years to about 25% of
what it was when I started here in 1976 and if it wasn't for grants and
book fairs and community donors...
> What has contributed the most to the success of your media center or
> your
> technology program?
I worked for a principal (12 years) who was very interested and
supportive of technology. He was also very supportive of the library.
Actually all of my principals at this school have supported a schedule
that is partially flexible (maybe 25%) so that has been a great help,
but my principal of 12 years also let me do all of the decision making
in the library when the school was renovated and it was a great
experience. He was a great technology leader when we had few computers
and then one thing just lead to another in terms of improving our
program. A supportive principal is the most important thing when
talking success because he/she can help or hinder your program.
Deb Hendrickson
Deborah J. Hendrickson, Media Specialist/Technology Leader
Westernport Elementary School
172 Church Street
Westernport, MD 21562
301-359-0511
DHendrickson@allconet.org
>
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law.
To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu
In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL
3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation.
LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/
Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/
EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/el-announce/
LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-
LM_NET
Mailing List Home