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Sept.
2002 |
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Elaine P. Mokrzycki
The Agawam Public School System is paying attention to the MSLMA Standards for Library Media Centers in the Commonwealth in a big way. As the resident Library Media Specialist at Agawam High School, I work with teachers in a co-teaching capacity. Best of all, my
administrators embrace, and promote the philosophy of the school library as a vital resource in the total educational offerings.
In January of 2002, our system completed a complete restoration and the rebuilding of our old library. Through a series of meetings, communiqués, school committee meetings, memos, and public meetings, we accomplished not only the building of a room, but a mission and purpose for the integration of a best models school library program as an essential component in the school’s educational mission. So how did this take place in these economically challenging times? I’ve thought long and hard about this essential question. I’d like to continue to experience success. Don’t we teach our students that they must review the process and decide what to do differently the next time? Don’t we tell them that they should recognize that organization, and presentation is the key to a successful project, no matter what format? Don’t we teach them to develop a voice?
During the 2001-2002 school year, I was asked to represent our state level organization, MSLMA, at the Massachusetts Superintendents Technology and Curriculum Conference in Sturbridge Massachusetts. At the time, I was serving on the Executive Board, but that became secondary to the daunting responsibility I felt to represent all of us with a strong, articulate and solid voice. I was replicating what we teach our students to do. Bring to the project those things that will make your audience aware of your focus, and prove your claims.
We now had a voice, and with an audience of very interested administrators. Gathering information to present a solid and cogent formula for the necessity of support for facilities that create effective student achievement came from many contacts with those of you who have become a part of my essential network. I remember the e-mails to Peg Hallisey about NEASC and NEEMA standards, and the calls to Donna Guerin about equipment and cutting-edge technology decisions, the assistance of Kathy Schrock in her quick response to me about video/digital interfaces and the pros and cons of the magnitude of complex issues to understand before I had to restate my own convictions for the local issues before me.
So why did my project turn out so well? I communicated with administrators at my local level who
wished to be educated by others. I had the fortunate timing to be in a situation with a trailblazer, who, by her own statements, tries to look at all sides of the issues. I had the strong support of my other three school librarians in my district, who spent the previous year collectively setting up standardized communication models for our library services. Without the hard work of the previous level librarians, I would not have been able to accomplish the communication of needs for the high school library. Their efforts set the stage for a solid understanding of hard library work in the years previous to my arrival.
Timing is always essential. My timing into the district was fortunate, and the teaming with my other colleagues at the earlier grade level libraries made my ability to communicate my essential facts easily. Timing and a plan for educating allowed our team at the conference to refer to the statements made by Jamie McKenzie, the keynote speaker. Although I have lived in library land for almost 26 years now, I have finally come to understand that I had to see an essential answer first, in order to attach it to a question that has been on my mind these many years.
People do not understand what we do. They do not mean to ignore. They truly are willing to listen to explanations. They really do want to understand. So what’s the obstacle that often times prevents library programs from being preserved in fiscal downsizing? My essential answer is twofold, communication and education. The voice of our community of MSLMA as an organization is made up of a harmony, yes, a melody of uniquely different chords provided by each and every one of us in the day to day tasks that we do, over and over again as we make a difference, often un-noticed in our libraries throughout the state. We do make a difference. You know that. I know that. Our challenge is to educate others to know that in the way that we present our information so that others think about how they think about us. It is no longer simply enough to just do. We need to provide our own public with the model for reaching to that new higher level thinking about library programs in schools.
Enter the reconstruction of the Agawam High School Library Media Technology Center. During a period of about one and a half years, (without a plan for what I would use them for), I documented in pictures, notes, architectural meetings, administrative meetings, and educational meetings with school committee members, parents, groups, teacher and student interactions, those elements which needed to be physically documented. Why? Because I’m a librarian, and librarians collect facts. Often we are so busy doing the daily programming, that we forget to step back and just look at what we do, in awe. Lest you feel that I am saying we should become smug, please resist that
temptation. I don’t know of anyone in our professional who has the time to sit back for very long!
Enter the administrative level of the equation. In the Agawam Public School System, I had the opportunity to express the rationale behind our standards during the planning for our library’s renovation. My Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Mary Czajkowski, followed all of the planning involved in designing a center according to MSLMA standards. I believe that she did so because she understood what it takes to build curriculum, increase student achievement, and necessary tools needed to provide for the value and worth of the individual, to achieve to his or her best ability. She also understands her own essential answer. My observations of Dr.Czajkowski taught me that she said what she meant, and meant what she said.
I nominated Dr. Mary Czajkowski from the Agawam Public Schools for this administrative award from the Massachusetts School Library Media Association based on her continued show of support to create a high school library whose goal is would be to present excellence in library services to youth.
She is now our top Superintendent of Schools, and not by accident. She sees that we can make a difference. Clearly, her global vision of school libraries is on target. Through her continuous support of me as a library media specialist, and after consistently witnessing her involvement in the $888,000 library media technology center renovation. Mary Czajkowski is the finalist for the MSLMA Administrator Advocate Award for this year. That doesn’t surprise me, because Mary has come in as a leader in so many other ways. What’s our role as leaders? Become good communicators of the essential information.
Dr. Mary Czajkowski, Agawam Superintendent of Schools
MSLMA, Administrator Advocate of the Year
Comments or Questions?