Episode 2.13 features a guest from outside the world of education, Madyson Burgess. Madyson is the Managing Partner at Panoramic Group. Alyssa and Madyson met on the first day of 6th grade (an undisclosed) number of years ago and have been friends ever since. Although business and education may seem a world apart, Madyson takes the insights she has discovered through the years to be applicable to you and your library program. We talk about building your influence, having tough conversations, and the importance of building relationships. I got so much out of our conversation and I’m sure you will, too.

Madyson is a Tennessee native who left to attend THE Ohio State University where she earned her Bachelor’s Degrees in Integrated Marketing and History and her Master’s in Strategic Marketing and Survey Research. She began her career as a digital strategist for IBM IX, working with powerhouse brands like Victoria’s Secret, Apple and Wendy’s to design digital strategies of the future. She is currently the Managing Partner of Panoramic Group, an insights-to-strategy consortium headquartered in Atlanta. In her spare time, she loves to travel the Rocky Mountains with her husband David and spend time with their rescued five dogs Lady, Dixie, Libby, Colt, and Dinah.

Madyson can be reached through her website www.thinkingpanoramic.com

Music written and performed by Damian and Carson LeMaster.

Episode 2.12 features AASL president, Mary Keeling. Stephanie & Mary met almost five years ago through Lilead and Mary impressed everyone with her view of school libraries, advocacy work, and was just a wealth of knowledge. Let me tell you, you will get that knowledge today!

Marry Keeling, MSLS, EdS, is Supervisor of Library Media Services in Newport News, VA. Prior to her work as an elementary school librarian, Mary worked in academic and museum libraries. She has served as president of her state school library association, chair of the AASL Supervisors Section, and on several AASL committees. She is an adjunct for Old Dominion University; has written and taught courses for AASL eCollab; and written for School Library Monthly, Knowledge Quest, and Library Media Connection.

Mary is currently the AASL president. Mary can be reached at [email protected] or @AASLpresident.

Music written and performed by Damian and Carson LeMaster.

Happy 2020! With the New Year starting, we are excited to share this episode featuring Heather West. Heather has worked for MNPS for 13 years, all at Glencliff Elementary where she also did her student teaching as an undergrad student at Vanderbilt. Heather’s teaching experience is in Kindergarten and first grade but she has found a love of all elementary grade levels in her role as librarian for the last 8 years. Heather is a mom to a 6 year old boy and has recently enjoyed introducing him to the Harry Potter series. Heather is an avid reader, mostly of the mystery genre and has to read every book recommended by Reese Witherspoon. When she isn’t working, reading, or doing mom duties she loves to cook & travel. You can connect with Heather via Twitter @Kidsinthestacks or by email at [email protected]

In this episode we discuss her reluctance to do makerspaces (the story ends well though!), having a clerkless library, setting goals and how to find your passion in the New Year. There is so much good advice and quotes from Heather in this episode. She even shares her favorite quote by Steve Martin, “Be so good that they can’t ignore you.” Such a great listen to start the new year!

MNPS benefits information: https://www.mnpshealth.org/

Music written and performed by Damian and Carson LeMaster.

Episode 2.10 features Erika Long, librarian at Thurgood Marshall Middle School with Metro Nashville Public Schools. Erika is active in ALA, AASL, Tennessee Library Association (TLA) and the Tennessee Association of School Librarians (TASL). She has served on TLA’s Advisory Council and is currently President-Elect. She previously served AASL on Standards Crosswalk Task Force and as interim Regional Director, and is currently chair of the Presidential Initiative Task Force. She has twice been named an AASL Social Media Superstar finalist and was part of the ALA Presidential Initiative: Fight for School Libraries. She has previously blogged for The Horn Book and TASL Talks. You can connect with her on Twitter @erikaslong or email her at [email protected].

ALA Video:

https://youtu.be/bKwePnkjGgM

Lego Education:

https://education.lego.com/en-us

Music written and performed by Damian and Carson LeMaster.

Episode 2.9: Everyone Can Code

We are so excited to share this special sister edition of the podcast. Alyssa talks with her sister, Chelsey Guttery who is the Computer Technology Teacher at Lincoln Heights Middle School in Morristown, Tennessee and a Facilitator for Code.org. We chat about the importance of teaching coding and what it can do for a student’s future. Chelsey makes it clear that everyone can learn to code and teach coding- no experience necessary! Chelsey can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @mrsguttery

Ozobots

https://ozobot.com

Code.org

https://code.org

Hour of Code

https://hourofcode.com/us

Coding with Ana and Elsa

https://studio.code.org/s/frozen/stage/1/puzzle/1

Tennessee Digital Readiness Standards

https://www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/stateboardofeducation/documents/standards/Computer%20Science%20Standards%20Draft%203.7.2018v1.5_MH_BC-1_VM_MH.pdf

Music written and performed by Damian and Carson LeMaster.

Metro Nashville Public Schools Library Services department hosts a bi-weekly podcast called Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover: A Podcast for Future Ready Librarians. This podcast is tailored for school librarians and educators. Our conversations focus on changing the perception of school librarians, improving instructional practices, being a collaborative partner and essentially just great library talk.

Our newest episode features Caitlin McLemore. Caitlin is currently the Middle and Upper School Librarian and Technology Specialist at Shorecrest Prepatory School in St Petersburg, FL. She is a Google Certified Innovator, Apple Teacher and Common Sense Educator. Caitlin was named an ISTE Emerging Leader in 2017 and an ISTE Outstanding Young Educator in 2018. Among all of her outstanding credentials and honors, Caitlin is also the co-author of the book "Stretch Yourself: A Personalized Journey to Deepen Your Teaching Practice."

In episode 2.8, Caitlin shares advice to disrupt the traditional ideas of what a library looks like. She encourages librarians to take action and model new ideas! You can follow her on Twitter @EdTechCaitlin.

Music written and performed by Damian and Carson LeMaster.

It is available through Sound Cloud, iTunes, Google Play & Spotify.

Sound Cloud- https://soundcloud.com/mnps-library-services

iTunes- https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-judge-book-by-its-cover-podcast-for-future-ready/id1439335992?mt=2

Spotify- https://open.spotify.com/show/3OTJ3lgsxomSyK7GqcGCDB

We are so excited to share our conversation with Molly Stovall Hegwood, Executive Director of English Learners for Metro Nashville Public Schools. We talk about how diverse Nashville is and what librarians can do to support all learners not only as they learn English, but also in their native language. It is important libraries and librarians are culturally responsive to all students. Curious about a student’s background? Just ask your students and build those relationships. Molly can be reached on Twitter @Molly_Stov or @MNPS_EL

Buncee

https://app.edu.buncee.com/

Conexiòn Americas

https://www.conexionamericas.org/

Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition

https://www.tnimmigrant.org

Islamic Center of Nashville

http://www.icntn.org/

Salahadeen Center of Nashville

http://www.scntn.org

Music written and performed by Damian and Carson LeMaster.

Since it is TeenTober (formally Teen Read Week), we are excited to share our conversation with Nashville based YA author, Sheba Karim. Sheba is a Writer-in-Residence at Vanderbilt University and the author of three novels: Skunk Girl, That Thing We Call a Heart, and Mariam Sharma Hits the Road. Her fourth YA novel is forthcoming from HaperCollins in 2020. In this episode we discuss diversity in children’s literature and publishing, some of her favorite characters to write (yes- you want to listen!) and how humans are wired for stories. Sheba can be reached out Twitter @ShebaKarim or on Instagram @shebakarim.

Sheba’s Books: https://www.harpercollins.com/author/cr-124614/sheba-karim/

TeenTober: http://www.ala.org/yalsa/teentober

Scholastic Reading Report: https://www.scholastic.com/readingreport/home.html

Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson: https://justmercy.eji.org/

Living Undocumented: https://www.netflix.com/title/80209609

Music written and performed by Damian and Carson LeMaster.