Cascade Middle School students, led by Gracelynn Werner, expressed the dismay and shock that many community members are feeling regarding the potential elimination of teacher-librarian positions in Evergreen Public Schools.
During my career as a teacher in the district, I relied heavily on several teacher-librarians who were always the instructional hub of the school. They were willing to assist in assembling research materials, poetry anthologies, media literacy resources, relevant historical fiction, collections of multicultural literature, and so much more.
Engaging book talks often led students to books that resonated with them — even those who professed to hate reading. Although a great deal of effort has been expended on creating a more diverse collection recently, how will students even become aware of those new selections without the guidance of teacher-librarians?
For many students, large schools can be overwhelming and intimidating. The library provides a sanctuary, where all students have equal access to knowledge. Many current teacher-librarians also fill additional roles such as advisers to service leadership groups like Key Club or a science fiction club. Meeting budget deficits is challenging, but removing teacher-librarians will result in immeasurable losses for Evergreen students.
