AASL 2009 Elections
Karen L. Egger
Director/Director-Elect Region VII
Degrees and Certifications
Regional Professional Development Program, Secondary Literacy, 2008; National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, Library Media, 2005; University of Phoenix, TESL, 2003; University of Nevada Las Vegas, Library Media Certification, 2001; University of Pittsburgh, Secondary Education/English, 1997; University of Pittsburgh, Master of Arts, 1992; Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Arts, 1989.
Current Position
Library Media Specialist, Duane D. Keller Middle School, 2001-Present; Library Media Specialist, Clark County School District, 1998-Present.
ALA Activities
AASL/ALSC/YALSA: Virtual Member, Joint Committee on School/Public Library Cooperation, 2008-Present; AASL: Representative to Nevada Library Association, Affiliate Assembly, 2006-07.
Offices Held in State & Regional Library and Other Associations
Nevada Library Association: Chairman-elect, Nevada Young Reader Award, 2008-Present; Clark County School Librarians Association: President, Executive Board, 2008-Present; AASL/ALSC/YALSA: Virtual Member, Joint Comm. on School/Public Library Cooperation, 2008-Present; Nevada Library Association: Member, Nevada Young Reader Awards Committee, 2004-Present; Clark County School Librarians Association: President-elect, Executive Board, 2007-08; Nevada Library Association: Chair, NV School & Children Librarians' Section, 2006-07; AASL: Representative to NLA, Affiliate Assembly, 2006-07; Clark County School Librarians Association: Treasurer, Executive Board, 2006-07.
Honors, Awards, Prizes, Medals, Citations
Star Educator, SW Region, Clark County School District, 2005 and 2006; Silver Beaver, Boy Scouts of America, Greater Pittsburgh Council, 1998.
Links for Further Information
Clark County School Librarians Association: http://ccsd.net/libassoc/
Nevada Library Association: www.nevadalibraries.org
Accomplishments
I became a National Board certified library media specialist in 2005 and have worked on the Clark County School District National Board Teacher Cadre since that time providing candidate support to other district teachers in their quest for certification. During the 2007-08 school year I worked with a team of 12 other teachers across the state to provide professional development classes in effective vocabulary instruction to teachers and administrators as part of the Nevada Reading First Grant. After receiving a Master's degree, I returned to school last year and completed additional credits for a certificate in secondary literacy. Currently I am leading the charge of secondary librarians in the Clark County School District to convince the School Board of Trustees and Superintendent that eliminating 105 certified library media specialists in order to breach a budget shortfall is not in the best interest of our students.
Statement
My professional concerns include the status of certified library media specialists throughout our region. As teacher/librarians, we are equipped to manage a classroom as well as teach information literacy skills for the 21st century, however when budgets become tight, our position is looked on as expendable. Requiring "highly qualified" certified teacher/librarians in school media centers as part of the No Child Left Behind re-authorization is a beginning, but we need to make ourselves indispensable in our schools. We need to be knowledgeable, professional, grant finders and writers, and visible members of school committees who bring our talents to the frontlines frequently, so that when our positions are threatened, our value can not be questioned. We need to become our own public relations coordinators with colleagues, students, administrators, and parents.
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