TxASLTalks Advocacy for all

Texas Library Leaders

Written by Jacqueline Higginbotham, Middle School Media Specialist in New Caney ISD, TxASL Talks Editorial Board.

It’s August in Texas. The dog days of Texas are coming to an end. Educators, students, and parents are preparing for another great year of school (and some have even already started). Parents are cramming down the school supply aisles trying to check the last few items off their school supply list. Teachers are making multiple trips to the teacher supply stores and librarians are planning and preparing to make sure they get books into the hands of all their students. As an educator myself, I love this time of year. It’s a fresh start. A clean slate. Whatever didn’t get done last year fuels me to be better this year! As we prepare for the upcoming year, we often reflect on how we spent our summer days and set goals to the year ahead.

Every summer, the Texas Library Association spends four fabulous days with Texas  librarians as part of their TALL Texans Leadership Development Institute. 25 librarians from across the state and different library types are selected to participate in the institute each year. Led by Jack Siggins & Maureen Sullivan, these librarians learn about themselves and how to make a greater impact on their community through their jobs as librarians. They work with mentors, reflect on how they can be better, and set goals that they want to complete over the next year. During these 4 days all of the participants and leaders form long-lasting bonds that will help them to continue to grow over the coming years.

It is a true honor to be selected to participate in the TALL Texan Leadership Development Institute. And most graduates are proud to call themselves a TALL Texan! It is a badge of honor! The 2017 TALL Texans Class is made up of the following librarians. You can expect to hear from some of these folks this year:

Katherine Adelberg, Library Development, Texas State Library, Austin

Yolanda Botello, Youth Services, Mansfield Public Library

Rory Elliott, Collections Merchandising, Texas State University, San Marcos

Jacob Galindo, Library Instruction, University of Texas El Paso

Allyssa Guzman, Digital Scholarship, University of Texas at Austin

Chad Hetterley, Technical Services, Desoto Public Library

Claire Hogg, Central High School, San Angelo ISD

Janna Hoglund, Octavia Fields Branch, Harris County Public Library, Humble

Jennifer Jimenez, Reference, Del Mar College, Corpus Christi

Linda Kay, Ridgeview Middle School, Round Rock ISD

Bethni King, Children's Services, Georgetown Public Library

Laura Magana, Richland High School, Birdville ISD, North Richland Hills

Maurine Nichols, Technical Services, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston

Elizabeth Ponder, Instruction & Information Services, East Texas Baptist University, Marshall

Sara Pope, Children's Services, Houston Public Library

Danny Ramos, Padron Elementary School, Austin ISD

Alexia Riggs, Dean of Libraries, Howard Payne University, Brownwood

Lorraine Roussin, Judson High School, Judson ISD, Converse

Mellissa Sanchez, Highlands Elementary School, Fort Bend ISD, Sugar Land

Joanna Stone, Parr Library, Plano Public Libraries

Valerie Tagoe, Wilson High School, Dallas ISD

Theresa Tongio Holden, Director, Palestine Public Library

Beth Vizzini, Circulation, West Texas A&M University, Canyon

Hillary Volkmann, Black Elementary School, Aldine ISD, Houston

As the Incoming Chair for the TALL Texans round table, I would love to encourage you to apply to be part of the 2018 class! You may have to apply more than once -- I did! Many applicants do not get in on their first try, but a teacher once told me, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!” I am so glad I did not give up! It really was a highlight of my career. Here are a few things you can do to learn more:

• Check out the TxLA TALL Texans page.
• Begin your application when it opens on October, 1st. It is due January 26, 2018. Reach out to former TALL Texans for help (I would love to hear from you, but you can also find a list of former TALLs on the TxLA webpage. You can also reach out to Ted Wanner at TxLA and he will be happy to help you).
• Join the TALL Texans Round Table. Did you know you don’t have to be a graduate of the TALL Texans to belong to our RT? If you are interested in learning more, joining the RT is a GREAT place to start!