Memo to School Principal

TO: Kerry Coursey, Islands High School Principal

FROM: Kelsey Kicklighter, ITEC Practicum Student/Media Clerk; with Mary Beedle, Media Specialist

DATE: March 9, 2017

SUBJECT: School Library Media Program Evaluation and Action Plan

Ms. Beedle and I have recently preformed and evaluation of the Media Center using the 2015 Judy
Serritella Exemplary Library Media Program Self-Evaluation Rubric. The rubric is broken into six
categories with three ratings of basic, proficient, or exemplary. The categories are:

1. Student Achievement and Instruction

2. Technology
3. Staffing
4. Facilities, Access, and Resources
5. Administrative Support
6. Staff Development

While most of our evaluation led to proficient or exemplary evaluations, categories 1 and 4 were both
found to have areas which were ranked as basic. Action plans have been developed to address these
areas, as well as another area that was ranked as proficient which we believe could easily be improved
to receive an exemplary rating. The completed rubric has been attached for your reference.

Action Plan

Basic Areas

Category 1 Area 6: The classroom teacher is responsible for assessing student achievement.

Current Status: While the staff members of the Media Center assist with lessons and collaborate with
teachers, they have not collaborated with teachers to create rubrics or assist in assessing student
achievement.
Action Plan: We propose that the library staff meet with each department during pre-planning time each
school year. This way we can discuss the needs of each department and find ways to be more
collaborative with them. Where it fits into the curriculum, we recommend that some lessons be taught
in collaboration with library staff, in order to incorporate more information literacy into the curriculum.

Category 4 Area 15: Students will be given instruction in accessing GALILEO. The password will be
provided in a timely manner.

Current Status: When the Galileo password is updated, teachers are notified immediately. However,
there are no promotions, presentations, or tutorials on the database given to any member of the faculty
or student population.

Action Plan: We propose a new form of library orientation. As it stands, there is no real introduction to
the Media Center. Students are brought in with their English teachers to take their ID photos, and a brief
speech about the library is given at that time. Instead, we would like to coordinate a full orientation with
the ninth grade English teachers (the theory being that every student has an English class). This
orientation would be an in-depth introduction to the library and our resources, one of which would be
Galileo. This way, students learn about more of the options they have here, especially the resources
provided through the Galileo database. As we develop this orientation, we can add refresher
orientations for the upperclassmen as well, would could go more in depth on how to use Galileo
efficiently, increasing their skills as an effective digital citizen.

Proficient Area

Category 2 Area 8: The school library media specialist directs teachers and students in the
conventional use of technology tools. She encourages adaptation of technology by allowing students to
select a tool and modify its use to accomplish the task at hand.

The SLMS integrates emerging technologies into instruction that reinforce the skills, dispositions,
responsibilities, and self-assessments in AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner and state standards
that support student achievement.

The SLMS often recommends technology tools to enhance instruction.

Current Status: Technology is integrated effectively through all aspects of our curriculum in the school,
but we believe that we can do more. Teachers have access to Google classroom and other online
classroom formats, as well as laptops and interactive whiteboards for educational use. We have a
variety of video production equipment that four staff members have been trained to use.

Action Plan: Our proposal for this area is divided into three parts:

1. Teachers should be effectively trained on the technology they have access to. This
training should be thorough and include everything from how to use Google Classroom
to how to effectively use the interactive boards in their classrooms. No teacher should
feel as if they have to wing it. They should be comfortable enough with their
technology to be able to try new things with their classes.
2. We have a variety of video production equipment, but no students who are trained to
use it. There are some staff members who are, but our students are our greatest
creative resources. A class should be developed for this purpose. It could be either a
video journalism or technology centered class. This way we know our technology is
being used to the fullest extent and our students are offered more opportunities to
explore technology.
3. The Media Specialist should start a professional learning network that is shared with
teachers and staff. It should be collaborative, and teachers should also feel welcome to
share resources that they have found helpful. Technology is constantly changing, and
staying up to date with these is a full-time job, made easier by the collaboration of a full
staff.