Elizabeth Barrera Rush is presently a Library Specialist in the Library and Textbook Services Department at Northside Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas where she serves 110 elementary and secondary school librarians. She received her BBA from St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and her MSIS from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006. Elizabeth is an ALA Spectrum Scholar (2004-2005) and she has spent a total of 20 years serving elementary and middle school students in both private and public school libraries before moving into administration. She is author of the book, “Bringing Genius Hour to Your Library: Implementing a Schoolwide Passion Project Program” (ABC-Clio, January, 2018) and has written articles for TeacherLibrarian Magazine and School Library Connection. Elizabeth also served as a consultant for the National Assessment for Education Progress in Writing. She is extremely interested in helping librarians to seek the most from their natural skills and interests, helping them to provide programs that are exciting/interesting/inspiring/educational and relevant to students and the communities they serve.
Elizabeth is a Spectrum Champion! She has graciously volunteered to serve as a Cohort Champion working on outreach to the 2004-2005 Class of Spectrum Scholars. If you are a Scholar from this year please consider emailing Elizabeth to learn more about how you can help support Spectrum’s 20th Anniversary: A Celebration of Community. Cohort Champions have also committed to organizing a networking event in their region, activism, and fundraising efforts.