3.3+Leadership


 * Leadership**


 * Excellent teacher librarians...**

3.3.1 actively engage in school leadership and participate in key committees. 3.3.2 promote and nurture a 'whole school focus' on information literacy policy and implementation. 3.3.3 build and foster collaborative teams within school and professional communities. 3.3.4 provide effective and transformational leadership to school library and information services staff.

Early in 2013 I began an initiative to develop a Professional Learning Community at site 1. Paper.li is a platform that generates an online publication via Twitter. My aim was to provide staff with a manageable number of articles, videos and/or resources on a weekly basis. The idea came from Jenny Luca via Twitter, and has proved to be a successful venture with over 100 subscribers to date. I have shared this idea with my colleague at site 2, who has found similar success within her school community. Currently there are two other staff members that contribute to the publication via Twitter, but I also receive emails from non-Tweeters containing articles and resources that they would like to be published. I send an all-staff email on a Friday afternoon to highlight some of the content that will be in Saturday's edition, and I have been receiving favorable comments from many staff members regarding the professional value of this incentive. I was approached recently by several staff members asking if there was an App for the publication so they could read it on their iPad or other mobile device. This resulted in the creation of the SSC PLC Flipboard magazine, to which I add the same content as the Paper.li publication.

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Along with the Head of Information Services at site 1, I am a member of the technology committee that meets every fortnight to discuss key issues regarding the use and integration of technology throughout the college. One of the key responsibilities is leading professional development for teachers within the college. During pupil-free week in January 2011 - 2013, members of the technology committee conducted a number of sessions with P-12 teachers and students in years 11 and 12. These sessions included:
 * Copyright and Intellectual Property
 * Web-based Mind-mapping Tools
 * OneNote and other organisational tools.
 * Building a Digital Presence in your Classroom (P-6 teachers)
 * iCentre Website
 * Cybersmart Outreach
 * iPads for Education
 * iMovie and iPhoto for Mac users
 * Web Tools
 * IWB Updates

Feedback from staff and students indicated that not only did they value these workshops, but they gained an awareness and understanding of the scope of knowledge and expertise that the teacher librarian has. The only downside to running these PD sessions is that we do not get the opportunity to learn something new ourselves - however, we are never refused the opportunity to attend conferences as the Headmaster is fully aware that we bring back ideas and knowledge to share with our colleagues at site 1.

Up until the end of 2012, I served on the eSmart committee which convened once a fortnight to create policies, practices and procedures that will help create a school community that promotes smart, safe and responsible use of information and communication technologies. Unfortunately, the teacher that was the driving force behind this framework accepted a promotion at another school and his replacement has yet to reinstate the committee. I intend to make a point of following this up as I believe it is vital to create a positive school culture and protect our students from risk.