AGENDA STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION - real facts omsd

Public Comments: Rules Governing Educator Licensure – July - September 2012 (Second Public Comment Period)
September 5, 2012
Brandi Williams
September 5, 2012
Amy Hutto
September 5, 2012
Anonymous E-Mail
September 5, 2012
Lindsey Vickers, AAIM
teaching certificate, this instructional collaboration is undermined. Act 1786 refers to this collaboration
under the duties of the media specialist as an instructional consultant. Arkansas Act 1786 also specifies the
job description of the library media as follows: "(2) An instructional consultant whose primary job
function is to: (A) Participate in building district, department, and grade level curriculum development
and assessment projects (B) Provide professional development in new and emerging technologies, use of
appropriate technologies, incorporation of technology into the instructional program, and the laws and
policies pertaining to the use and communication of ideas and information including copyright law; and
(C) Keep patrons informed of new acquisitions of software and hardware and instruct patrons in its
optimal use. (3) A teacher of information and technology skills whose primary job function is to: (A)
Provide assistance in the use of technology to access information and networks that will enhance access to
resources; (B) Develop and implement a plan that ensures skills are taught in a logical sequence for
kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12); (C) Provide expertise and instruction in the use of electronic
retrieval systems, such as electronic card catalog and computer generated bibliographies; and (D) Provide
instruction in the use of the library media center." In conclusion, I believe that the law speaks for itself, in
that it requires our job description to include that of "teacher", responsible for instruction in the media
center and implementation of a plan to teach skills to all grade levels. I urge the Arkansas Department of
Education to continue to require a rigorous level of competency from our teachers, which does and should
include subject area and teaching certification, whether they be in the media center or the classroom.
It would be a mistake to change the current requirements for LMSs. I'm sure the changes come about
because it is a high area of need and all the fiscal challenges that acrues. However, it is a high area of need
because of the specific challenges only experienced teachers can recognize and appreciate. With the CCSS
upon us, now is not the time to dumb down an facet of education that serves every content area at every
level.
Library media specialists need to have classroom teaching experience. When we move into the library,
that experience helps us be leaders and administrators of common core and 21 century technology skills
across the curriculum.
(Re: Educator Licensure (with Repeal of Existing Licensure Rules)) The change would be for the better.
We would like for students to be 21st Century Skills literate. Common core standards require
collaborative teaching between the teachers and the Library Media Specialist for the technology skills and
research required, not to mention the reading skills. It is important that the Library Media Specialist have
experience teaching in the classroom to be able to know what resources would be beneficial for classroom
teachers. As a first year LMS, I am currently going through the experience of daily having to think about
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