Librarians Support Student Success

Butler Community College librarians Micaela Ayers and Leslie Pierson were among the 60 school, public and academic librarians participating in the “School Redesign and My Library” program.  The school redesign training was organized by the South Central Kansas Library System (SCKLS), South Hutchinson and held April 30 in Wichita.  The theme of the five speakers was that libraries support student success, and each demonstrated how school, public and academic librarians are engaged in Kansas school redesign projects. 

Speakers included Brad Newenswander, Deputy Commissioner, Kansas Department of Education, Topeka.  “The goal is that Kansas leads the world in the success of each student” said Newenswander, whose job responsibilities include supervision of the statewide school design initiative.  He noted five indicators of student success which are (1) Social and Emotional Growth, (2) Kindergarten Readiness, (3) Individual Plans of Study, (4) High School Graduation and (5) Postsecondary Success.

McPherson librarians Amanda Harrison and Jennifer McCulley described their school and public library partnership that supports Kindergarten Readiness.  School librarian Amy Brownlee presented the Digital Citizenship curriculum used by the Sterling Public Schools.  Gail Becker, who coordinates more than 100 libraries in the school Wichita district, detailed library and information standards for K – 12 students.  Physical redesign of a library and State Library of Kansas resources that promote Postsecondary Success were covered by technical college librarian Britten Kuckelman.

Of the 45 school districts statewide chosen to be part of the Kansas State Department of Education’s school redesign initiative, 17 are located in the twelve county SCKLS service region. SCKLS provides grants, training and support services to 144-member school, public and academic libraries.

Speakers from schools and colleges were Amanda Harrison, Librarian from Unified School District (USD) 418, McPherson Public Schools; Jennifer McCulley, Youth Services Librarian from McPherson Public Library; Amy Brownlee, District Librarian from USD 376, Sterling Public Schools; Gail Becker, Supervisor, Library Media and Textbook Services for USD 259, Wichita Public Schools, and Britten Kuckelman, Director of Academic Support and Information Services from Wichita Area Technical College/WSU Tech.