This month, the D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) continues its efforts to make education research and policy concepts accessible to all stakeholders in our communities. In honor of National School Library Month, the April #EdPolicy Research Roundup features one report: Strategies for Successful School Librarian and Teacher Collaboration from the American Association of School Librarians.
As we have done in previous posts, the State Board will discuss the key findings of the report and explain the implications on the State Board’s work and priorities.
Strategies for Successful School Librarians and Teacher Collaboration
Summary: School librarians are essential to student achievement as they provide collaboration, resources, and guidance to school communities. This study explored three examples of collaboration between a teacher and school librarian to understand more about what strategies made it successful.
The findings indicate that the school librarians in this study used many different strategies to lead the collaboration to success. These strategies included initiating the collaboration, securing support from the principal, identifying a shared vision with all collaborators, collecting and analyzing data about the progress of the collaboration, holding regular meetings, and documenting the collaboration. These strategies aligned with the table above.
State Board Context
Outdoor Storytime
On April 14th, 2021, members of the DC State Board of Education (DCSBOE) partnered with the DC Public Library to organize a city-wide Outdoor Storytime. Councilmembers Trayon White, Janeese Lewis George, and Brooke Pento also participated.
At the April Public Meeting, Allister Chang, (Ward 2 Representative) expressed his love of libraries and concern at the possibility of cutting librarian positions. He also suggested the detrimental impact communities would face without a librarian. Several other State Board members echoed Chang’s sentiments.
“It has been a long, hard year of too little socializing and way too much screen time. That is why, now more than ever, we need to find safe and creative ways to reconnect, to celebrate and learn together.” – Emily Gasoi, Ward 1 DCSBOE Member
“Kids need to be with kids. Kids need to be outside. We need models for learning outside, as the pandemic continues. Outdoor Storytime has it all.” – Ruth Wattenberg, Ward 3 DCSBOE Member
“Reading is a fundamental building block of education and reading together is a wonderful and simple joy. I am proud that the DC State Board of Education is making time to gather with our neighbors in all eight wards today to celebrate the chance to be together and read together. Thanks to the DC Public Library and all event participants for making time to read outside with us!” – Jessica Sutter, Ward 6 DCSBOE Member
The State Board of Education also passed CR21-9 Honoring National School Library Month.
Check out the highlights from each of the ward’s story time events!
D.C. State Board of Education Blog 