TO: FROM:

Principal Celia Dunham Sherry Holland School Library Media Specialist Tammy Stratton School Library Media Specialist Candidate March 06, 2012 Media Center Program Evaluation

DATE: SUBJECT:

As a School Library Media Specialist Candidate, one important task for Ms. Stratton to complete was the evaluation of the Strawberry Park Elementary School library media program. Though her program originates in Georgia and shes completing her practicum with us in Colorado, we decided to utilize the Georgia DOE 2011 Library Media Program Self-Evaluation Rubric to analyze certain categories, target indicators, and levels of proficiency. The memo defines the categories, the levels of proficiency, and the necessary action plans required to move certain areas from basic or proficient to exemplary. Category 1 Student Achievement and Instruction The six categories focus on Information Literacy Standards, collaborative planning, active teaching, encouraging and supporting reading, supporting instructional strategies for diverse learners, and routinely assessing student achievement. We found our media center rated Exemplary in six out of six categories, as our media programs primary focus is student achievement and collaborative planning and teaching. After working in and visiting several different school library media centers, Ms. Stratton consistently states that the Strawberry Park Elementary library media program takes teaching and collaboration to the highest level and is vital to the schools curriculum and student achievement. Category 2 Staffing Strawberry Park Elementary schools population (520 FTE) meets or exceeds the established base size; therefore, according to the self-evaluation rubric, a full-time Library Media Specialist and full-time paraprofessional should staff the library media center. Past budget cuts eliminated the paraprofessional position, so our media center met the Basic Target Indicators. Category 3 Facilities, Access, and Resources Our school library media center scored Exemplary in four out of five categories, with a Proficient in School library media center square footage requirements based on FTE. The Exemplary scores were based on our flexible scheduling that allows full participation of teachers and the school library media specialist to collaborate and allow students to come to the library media center at any time. Additionally, the Exemplary ratings showcased our use of streaming

video and other technologies used on a regular basis to support the curriculum and the access to resources outside of school.

Category 4 Administrative Support The Strawberry Park Elementary library media center scored Exemplary in one of five categories due to the support of our principal in supporting teachers to integrate library media sources into the curriculum. We were Basic when graded on communication through a system media contact person, establishment of a media committee, and in budgetary issues.

Category 5 Staff Development In the staff development category, after reading the target indicators for each column, we ranked the library media center a strong Proficient with staff development opportunities. While strong in developing the library media specialists professional and technology skills, plus offering opportunities for staff development instruction, the media center must include itself more in planning the staff development instruction. Specifically, the SLMS must provide staff development options beyond routine planning utilizing formal needs assessment and designing formal courses to address those needs.

Action Steps for Future Improvement The Strawberry Park Elementary school library media center ranked Basic in four categories: Staffing, System Media Contact Person, Library Media Advisory Committee, and Budgetary issues. In reality, the majority of the Basic categories are out of the library media centers control. We could address developing a System Media Contact Person and Library Media Advisory Committee, but staffing and budget are directly tied to one another. Actually, creating a System Media Contact Person requires an expansion in the budget, as does re-introducing a library aid. The Library Media Advisory Committee would require time and commitment to identify appropriate committee members, duties and responsibilities. We ranked the library media center a strong Proficient with staff development opportunities. To ideally move from Proficient to Exemplary the media center must include itself more in planning the staff development instruction. Specifically, the SLMS must provide staff development options beyond routine planning utilizing formal needs assessment and designing formal courses to address those needs. We would welcome a chance to discuss our findings and future action plans for our wonderful media center. Thank you.

Attached: Georgia DOE 2011 Library Media Program Self-Evaluation Rubric