And so it is over
Posted December 7, 2012 by Maya Bery
2.5 years at Simmons is officially over for me. The last project has been submitted, the second practicum binder has been handed in, and I am ready to move on to the next chapter and start my professional life.
Last Friday, I went in for a job interview for a maternity leave position, a long-term substitute. I got the job (hooray for gainful employment!), but more than that, this week has shown me just how thorough my preparation for this role has been. When the person I am substituting for didn’t come in Tuesday, I didn’t hesitate to jump right in. Were there bumps? Sure, but that’s to be expected, especially when working with younger students who thrive on routine and consistency. What counts to me is that I know now, after just three short days of observing and teaching, that my time at Simmons, my coursework in the SLT Program, and my two practica experiences have more than prepared me to step in, take charge, and hopefully take this position, or any future positions, to the next level. I am confident. I am ready to collaborate with teachers to improve instruction and information literacy skills. I know what it takes to develop a strong collection, how to identify weaknesses, how to use a budget, and even how to locate resources to help stretch a limited budget further. I have been taught what it takes to make (or in this case, expand) a library program and integrate it into the heart of the school.
And for that, I owe a measure of deep gratitude to my instructors at Simmons. To Dr. Zilonis, Chris Swerling, and Professors Saunders, Kimball, Pattee, and Schwartz, I say thank you. Thank you for giving me the tools to take charge. Thank you for exposing me to resources and ideas that will benefit my students. Thank you for taking so much time to create interesting, engaging curricula and lesson plans. I’ve learned a great deal from all of you, and now I get to put that into practice.
To those of you considering school librarianship at Simmons, I hope my posts have helped give you an idea of just what a great program we have here. I hope to check in from time to time and give you updates from the field, but until then, thank you for reading, and goodbye.