To: Cheryl Toth, Principal From: Alithea Price-Pearlstein, Media Specialist Candidate Ann Mabry, Media Specialist Date:

September 23, 2013 Subject: Library Media Program Evaluation One of the tasks as the Media Specialist is to evaluate the current 6operation of the school media center program. Although Forestdale Elementary is in the state of Virginia the evaluation was conducted using the Georgia Department of Educations Library Media Program to satisfy the media specialist candidates portfolio for the Instructional Technology Masters program at the Georgia Southern University. The evaluation has five target indicators and categories including nineteen components rated either basic, proficient, or exemplary. 1) Student Achievement and Instruction- Exemplary The media program encourages higher level critical thinking skills through cooperative inquiry activities using multiple avenues of learning such as pair share or group discussions. She utilizes web 2.0 tools to promote a community of readers in the 21st century as described in the Big 6 research models using lessons incorporating book talks, eBooks and online information seeking activities. The media specialist utilizes the Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL), AASL and Common Core standards to create lesson plans through the LEARN model. The media specialist serves has a crucial instructional partner for teachers to create instruction that supports student achievement. 2) Staffing- Proficient The media specialist is available on a fixed class schedule with a part-time clerk and regular volunteers. Forestdale Elementary is a PK-6th grade school with approximately 580 students, but according to category 2 (7b) a full-time support personnel is required to fulfill the needs of a student population for grades K-5 at 450 and 6-8 at 624. Currently the school has a part-time media clerk on staff for half of the school day to assist with daily routine such as book check-out or cataloging, 3) Facilities, Access, and Resources- Proficient The current schedule for the media center is a fixed schedule that does not allow teachers and students to have full participation in the program. The media centers fixed schedule is to support the need for grade level teacher planning time. Although the teacher does not remain with the class in media center if there regular para-pro with the class he or she continues to support instruction in the media specialist. According to Category 3 (8) a flexible schedule would allow maximum participation of both students and teachers. However the media center is exemplary in technology including classroom lab tops sets, video

streaming, smart boards, information literacy both online and print, and databases that allow for independent activities. The following Action Plan for Improvement outlines how to possibly change the rating to Exemplary: Move from a fixed schedule to a semi-flexible schedule. Design schedule based on a bi-monthly basis Create Flipped Activities for all grade levels with para-pro assistance Train a select number of para-pros to check out books to elevate library traffic Limit book checks out to mornings only Decrease the length of the school morning show 4) Administrative Support- Exemplary There are media liaisons available to assist media specialists at the elementary, middle and high school level. The district maintains constant communication through multiple sources including email, websites advisory committees and staff development. The administrative support encourages teachers to integrate media center resources through collaboration. The media centers policy is clear and used to guide the operation of all materials. The media specialist is a partner in the planning of the literacy budget making plans for funding through different avenues such as the book fair. 5) Staff Development- Proficient The media specialist participates in library or technology related conferences when time and budget are available and the designated monthly cluster meetings for nearby elementary media specialists. She provides staff development for planning, instruction and needs that are specific to the staff for information literacy. The media specialist has select library hours to promote or plan staff development and collaborative planning. However the time is limited due to allotted staff development and a fixed library schedule that may not coincide with every teachers planning time. Please refer to the attached copy of the GA DOE 2012 Library Media Program Self-Evaluation Rubric. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated to keep on track with our Media Center Program.

Thank you, Alithea Price-Pearlstein Media Specialist Practicum Student