Librarian APPR -Seven Areas to Consider

According to NYSED,  there are 7 standards we should keep in mind as we strive to do our best -- To be the best librarian we can be for the sake of student achievement --for the sake of preparing the next generation to run the world.   

In our day and age of assessment, observation, and strategic academic planning, it will benefit us to examine the 25 lines in our NYSED  approved Librarian APPR rubric.   This may be the measure by which all NYS librarians are evaluated in the future.  Using this rubric is now, this is a local decision, but there are queries currently in the State Education Department for this to be approved as one option for the total 100 point measure - thus eliminating the need for librarians to get a growth measure from a S.L.O.

As you read this document,  please ask yourself:   If I were being observed,  

•  what "evidence" will my principal "see' (i.e. observation)  that proves I have carefully considered this line?    
• what evidence could I offer to him to show him I "tried."   If you are operating in a silo school where no one collaborates, have a portfolio of evidence handy with printed out emails asking teachers if they need your help to, "Research to build and present knowledge."  

As we piloted our APPR document, some feedback was that "I can't collaborate, if I'm not invited into the conversation."   Or,  "I am not included in grade-level planning meetings."   Or,  "I am not privy to the ELA assessment item analysis to see target areas for instruction.  

We have told our librarians locally to inquire with their building principals about "item analysis"  or the assessment "data"  to see where you could support building level goals.  One librarian was new in a K-12 school and she shared that when she approached her principal with that question, he was surprised.   No librarian had ever asked him that before.   Not a bad way to start your "new job" off on the right foot! 

The key is to consistently try. I suspect that if you consistently try, you can't be found "ineffective" in any area where you are "asking" for teacher support, collaboration, suggesting materials in library emails and more.   One librarian recently decided to create a smore.com flyer for her "news" and shared that in the first 15 minutes, she had 35 views.  That's data for her portfolio to support area 6 - Collaboration and Professional Responsibilities.   

You can only be faulted for what you don't try to achieve.   

Even fun photos like this in this middle school library are evidence to be archived. This shows you are preparing the learning environment, encouraging goals of the CCLS, and that you have knowledge of students (area 1).  Heaven knows they need to slow down! This is not only observable, but effective!  

Our NYSED rubric can be found at this link:  NYSED website