COLLABORATING WITH YOUR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR
Presented by
Gerald R. Brown, Consultant
School Library & Information Services
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Components of a Quality SLIS Program

Role of the Principal as the Educational Leader

4. Parallel Actions between the School Administrative Team 
                                     and School Library Leaders

      Administrative Roles & Functions	School Library Staff Collaboratives	
		
1. Goal Setting		
		
1.1  Establishes and communicates the vision and educational goals of the school to the community	1.1 Understands and enunciates the components of a quality SLIS program to the administration and staff in terms of the school goals	
1.2 Develops a plan of action and strategies for implementation for the school	1.2 Prepares an annual statement of goals and plan of action for the library program
after discussion with Principal and staff	
1.3 Nurtures a school culture that is child-centred and encourages problem solving and creative initiatives	1.3  Initiates activities with teachers to respond to individual and collective needs of classroom activities	

2. Leadership		
2.1 Ensures that curriculum directives are implemented in the most effective way for all teachers and students	2.1 Understands curriculum development and implementation processes, and works closely with teachers to achieve learner outcomes	
2.2 Implements assessment and evaluation processes that relate to school goals and school climate	2.2.1  Uses a variety of assessment processes with teachers to respond to individual learner needs
2.2.2  Guides students in self-assessment processes for skill development
2.2.3  Participates with teachers to evaluate the services of the library & its program	
2.3 Supports pedagogical change according to changes in curricular needs, and staff development	2.3.1  Takes a personal initiative to remain current with pedagogical changes, and to model skills and attitudes appropriately
2.3.2  Helps teacher colleagues to keep aware of changes in methodology and technology applications
2.3.3  Takes a leadership role in organizing opportunities for professional growth for all staff	
		
3. Management: Staffing		
3.1  Ensures that staff are selected to meet the local educational needs, and who have appropriate training and skills  	3.1.1  Ensure that one’s personal skills are up-to-date for changing times
3.1.2  Advocates for appropriate numbers and kinds of staff to operate the library program effectively	
3.2.1 Provides leadership in effective 
supervision and evaluation of all staff
3.2.2 Ensures support for quality teaching
3.2.3 Nurtures creative initiatives	3.2.1  Assists administration in developing assessment tools for SLIS programs
3.2.2  Assists in evaluation processes for all library staff
3.2.3  Actively participates in modeling best practices in teaching and learning
3.2.4  Supports teachers who undertake alternative approaches and creative projects	
3.3.1  Initiates and supports professional development options for all staff
3.3.2  Seeks funds for staff to study externally related to school needs
3.3.3  Arranges for consultative support to work in the school
3.3.4  Nurtures reporting on successful programs in the school and district	3.3.1 Actively encourages professional growth options for all teachers
3.3.2  Works on the professional development planning committee
3.3.3  Reports regularly on successful innovative activities in the school and externally	
3.  Management: Facilities		
		
3.4.1  Ensures that current facilities 
provide the best possible learning environment for teachers and students
3.4.2  Plans for school alterations or 
additions to meet local needs
3.4.3  Seeks alternative school learning 
sites appropriate to program needs	3.4.1	Uses existing space effectively and 
efficiently
3.4.2	Presents well-developed proposals 
for alternative space use.
3.4.3	Plans with external support 
agencies to access resources and space for programs (e.g. public libraries)	
		
3. Management: Finances		
		
3.5.1 Prepares and implements a budget appropriate to school goals
3.5.2  Ensures that fundamental programs get sufficient staffing, facilities and resources to operate effectively
3.5.3 Seeks alternative funding for special programs
3.5.4  Encourages local community support for projects	3.5.1  Presents and implements an  annual budget for the operation and development of the library
3.5.2 Advocates for staff and resources appropriate to the developing program
3.5.3  Ensures that all library funds are spent appropriate
3.5.4  Assists colleagues in writing proposals for funding for special projects
3.5.5 Recognizes community funding for projects	
		
4. Decision-Making		
		
4.1 Leads the administrative team in making decisions to support school goals, engage community ownership, and provide a positive school culture.	4.1  Supports the administrative team in decision making by volunteering to be on committees and to work on projects to enrich the contribution of the library to the total program	
4.2 Involves community in establishing a high standard of school achievement	4.2 Enlists community workers in the school library to help them become aware of the role of information literacy in the total life-long learning process	
4.3 Develops teamwork among the staff to implement school goals and strive for quality educational practices	4.3 Collaborates with peers on all school activities	

 Steps to achieving this type of collaboration

:

1.	Evaluate where the SLIS in you school is now on the implementation of the various components of a quality program outlined above
2.	Determine where your strengths are, and how you can use them to work with both the administration and the teachers
3.	Develop a plan of action for the coming year, and take it to the administration for discussion.   Include specific actions in each of the component areas, strategies for implementation, recommendations for resources, and methods of evaluation
4.	Identify at least one teacher per grade with whom you can cooperative plan and implement some curriculum unit / project
5.	Work towards a flexible schedule for use of the library space
6.	Volunteer to work on school committees related to curriculum implementation, school technology council, parent advisory committee, and professional development committee
7.	Prepare regular material for the school newsletter
8.	Prepare and discuss a quarterly report with the administration on progress on the implementation plan for the year.
9.	Applaud teachers who are carrying out independent learning projects with classes
10.	Display student work regularly
11.	Recruit community volunteers to assist with tasks in the library
12.	Participate in district-wide education-related activities
13.	Be visible in the community
14.	Organize displays of resources both in the library and around the school
15.	Conduct book talk, book discussion, and story time sessions regularly