SLMS Interview Questions

Renee Chandler – Jackson County Comprehensive High School

• Before becoming a school library media specialist, what did you do?

She taught Business & Computer Science for 24 years.

• What inspired you to pursue a degree in School Library Media?

She had recently earned her master’s degree in Instructional

Technology when she learned that their media specialist at that time
was retiring. She has always loved literacy and technology and was
ready to dive into exploring this as a possible career change.

• Where did you receive your training/degree?

She attended University of West Georgia.

• Is there anything you did not receive in your educational program or

field experience that you wish had been included?

She didn’t feel this question was applicable to her. She feels great.

• What professional organizations are you a member of?

Georgia Library Association (GLA), National Association for Media

Literacy Education (NAMLE), Georgia Association of Educators
(GAE), Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE),
Georgia Business Education Association (GBEA), National Business
Education Association (NBEA), Computer Science Teachers
Association (CSTA), Georgia Association for Career and Technical
Education (GACTE), and Association for Career and Technical
Education (ACTE).

• How do you determine the collection needs of your library?

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Renee Chandler – Jackson County Comprehensive High School

Routine walk-throughs/weeding to see what needs to be replaced or

replenished, teacher and student surveys/wish lists, staying familiar
with content curriculum and speaking to faculty about what she can
include to support instruction in their departments

• Talk to me about your background in technology before becoming a

media specialist?

She has always LOVED to embrace and leverage technology in her

instruction. Che taught Business Education at the beginning of her
career, which transitioned over the years to Information and Computer
Science. Her favorite things to teach included web and graphic design
(especially coding) and computer programming.

• What role do you play in the school as a technology specialist?

She serves in an instructional support role curating, sharing, and

providing professional development in instructional technology
applications and resources. She also serves as their school’s go-to
resource for students when they need to utilize technology for
assignments.

• As far as reading for pleasure, what genre do you enjoy? What are
you currently or have recently been reading for pleasure?

Her favorite genres are fantasy and historical fiction. She leads their
school’s TOME Student Literacy Society book talks each month and
are currently reading Vespertine, by Margaret Rogerson. She just
finished Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, by Becky Albertalli.
She truly enjoys reading a variety of YA material, especially books
about marginalized/oppressed/misunderstood/under-represented
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Renee Chandler – Jackson County Comprehensive High School
individuals, to better engage in conversation about books and with her
students and make book recommendations for them.

• What role do you see the school librarian and library playing in the
overall reading program of the school?

We are central to literacy promotion and student achievement in our

school. We support the learning needs of all students and the
curriculum and learning goals in all teachers’ classrooms. We provide
supplemental materials, supports, and resources to support
instruction. We promote all literacies and design engaging
promotional outreach opportunities to advertise books and resources
on a regular basis.

• How do you encourage struggling readers?

By promoting and offering a variety of materials, including high/low
books and graphic novels, which often appeal more to struggling
readers.

• What are some of the ways that the school library media specialist
can promote and encourage professional reading among the faculty?
~By curating and sharing an up-to-date professional library.
~She also designs and shares a monthly PD newsletter with tech tips
and book & podcast recommendations.

• Do you normally lead professional development in your school (or

district?) Do you think the PD you lead is more on the technology side,
library resources, materials, and equipment, or is it a combination of
all?

She leads monthly, planned PD sessions in her school. She also

collaborates with their district media specialists to offer district-wide
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Renee Chandler – Jackson County Comprehensive High School
back-to-school PD for all faculty. She also has an open-door policy
and teachers know to reach out and stop by any time they have tech
questions or needs. She would say her PD is pretty blended to offer a
combination of professional learning support.

• How do you ensure your continued professional growth?

She subscribes to and reads professional journals, attend annual

conferences, participate weekly in their district media team PLC, and
follow tech and media leaders on social media.

• What steps can the school librarian take to encourage reluctant

teachers to utilize the library?

Doing our homework first! Know their curriculum and find creative
ways to support their work in their classrooms. They have to know
collaboration will not create more work for them!

• How has COVID impacted the day-to-day operation of your media

center? Has it altered your circulation statistics at all?

She didn’t feel that she could speak to this as she only stepped into
this role last year.

• In what ways can you generate funding when school or district

budgets run out… or are nonexistent?

Seeking grants

• Are you seen as a teacher, administrator, instructional technology

specialist, or a combination of all three at your school?
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Renee Chandler – Jackson County Comprehensive High School
She serves in a capacity that bears characteristics of all three. She is
not an official administrator but serves in a leadership role. She
teaches quite a bit, but no longer bear the title of teacher. She is the
go-to for instructional technology needs.

• What are the expectations of your school administration regarding

the library program?

That it support the students and faculty in the school. Overall, the
library program should support our school and district learning goals.

• Do you have an aide or paraprofessional, and if so, what are your

expectations of that person?

She did not have any para support last year, but have been blessed
this year with a paraprofessional! She is learning how to adjust as a
new media specialist herself, and now she is adjusting to having a
partner to serve our students and faculty. So she sees her role as
flexible as they may alter her duties as time goes on. As for now, she
essentially serves as a support person for her so that she can better
serve their community. She mans the circulation desk for her (phone,
messages, check-ins/outs), helps maintain the media center,
reshelves books, etc.

• What advice would you give to someone just entering the field of
school library media?

Reach out to fellow media specialists to build a network! Ask

questions. Get to know the students and faculty. Plan a year-long
program during your summer days off but be prepared to be flexible.
Do prep-work in the week before beginning school because you will
have NO TIME during pre-planning of the first week of school to do so.
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Renee Chandler – Jackson County Comprehensive High School
Pre-planning is dedicated to supporting teachers and assisting them to
prepare for the start of school. Week 1 is dedicated to offering tech
support to students and teachers. Hold off on opening your library for
the first week and a half-two weeks at the beginning of the school
year. Take one day at a time and prioritize tasks; WE WEAR MANY,
MANY HATS!!!