As many of you know, I have been a school librarian since 2015 and I can't imagine doing anything else. I love what I do. Since day one, my motto has been "I want to make kids fall in love, or back in love, with reading," and I truly believe that is what I was born to do!
When I got my first job as a high school librarian at Goldsboro High School, I was scared. I just knew I was meant to be in an elementary school with little kids- not with kids only 3 years younger than me! I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but I jumped all-in and fell in love with the upper level. I could be sarcastic and joke with the kids, and they understood! I busted my tail and genrefied the library so that kids could shop for books like in a bookstore. I could recommend cutting-edge literature and they ate it up. I also worked with the best Instructional Technology Facilitator, Lesli Darden, who became my other half. She taught me everything tech-based in education, brought out my love for teaching professional development (PD), and became such a close friend over those two years!
Also during this time, I got involved with the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, NCCAT for short. I met Elizabeth, NCCAT's Digital Learning Specialist, who is still one of my closest friends to this day. I'll never forget when Elizabeth pulled Lesli and I out of our NCCAT session and invited us to co-present for an entire week alongside her at the Ocracoke location! STARDOM I tell you. She was education royalty and I was hooking my wagon to her. Eventually, I started working part-time as an online course grader for NCCAT as well!
Then I moved on to James B. Hunt High School in Wilson, NC. I knew the library side of things but had a rude awakening with the time commitment of managing 1,200 student Chromebooks and all of the teacher tech for the school. During my short year and a half there, I genrefied my second library, I continued teaching PD and expanded my knowledge about AVID, AP, and high school curriculum. I also made some great teacher-friends who took me in and treated me like part of the family! I loved the staffing at Hunt, and the kids were phenomenal. Then COVID hit in March 2021, and we went virtual. I completed my final three months virtually while preparing for our first military move to California.
When we got our orders to Camp Pendleton for only a year, and in the midst of COVID, I wasn't able to get a job. And it tore me up. I had always joked that once Bryan became a "real dentist" I was going to be a stay-at-home dog mom, but when it actually happened I realized how much happiness I got from working in a school library. I spent the year in California reading as much young adult (YA) literature as I could, so I would be ready for the next place. I even challenged myself to a year of only reading library books- and I successfully went the entire year without buying a single book! I also felt like I was spying on the base library and community library every time I visited! But in the back of my mind, I just kept thinking: the next place. I can go one year without working, but the next place will have something. Thankfully I was able to continue working for NCCAT Online as a course grader, so this gave me some work in the educational field, but not nearly enough to occupy my full attention.
When I found out in January 2021 that we were coming to Japan, I immediately reached out to Mr. Sharpe, a teacher who started his career at Northeast Elementary and eventually got a job with DoDEA (Department of Defense Education Activity) in South Korea. After picking his brain, I submitted the extremely lengthy application for DoDEA as a "local hire," meaning I was already moving overseas as a military dependent. This made me eligible for three DoDEA positions- two elementary libraries and one high school library in Sasebo, Japan. I was not getting my hopes up.
Then, while Bryan and I were completing ROM in Atsugi, I saw that the Sasebo base library was hiring for a paraprofessional position at $10.00/hr. Of course, I was overly qualified, but I know how to shelve books and at least it would get me in a library! At this point, I didn't care how much I was being paid, I just wanted to work in a library and share my passion for reading! After submitting the application through USAjobs and then flying by myself with two dogs down to Sasebo, I called the HR office and found out they had offered the position to someone the day I submitted my application. Cool. To say I was full of disappointment is a severe understatement. I remember having a full meltdown, crying about how I was never going to get to work again, while the pups licked away the many, many tears. It was quite ugly and a good thing I was all alone in my hotel room at the Navy Lodge.
Once we got our house in Hario, I attended the Tomodachi Factory training and was stoked about working with Japanese kids. It wasn't exactly what I wanted to do, but it was teaching kids English, so it would give me something! For the last two months though, they have canceled all their sessions with the local schools because of the Delta variant outbreak...so again, I am back at square one.
A few weeks back, I heard from a military spouse that she heard from a school volunteer that the librarian at the elementary school up and retired a week before school started back. The military spouse rumor mill could be going in full force with this one, but when I heard about it, I started tearing up in my kitchen. No joke. I just couldn't believe that the elementary school located a mere 5-minute walk from my front door could possibly have a librarian vacancy. Bryan still wasn't home yet and with nobody to stop me, I sat down and did what any perfectly sane woman would do- I stalked the school online, read the principal's bio, and sent him an email with a link to my interactive resume. I was shocked to receive a prompt reply from him at 7:30 pm that didn't confirm the vacancy, but he did suggest I confirm that my application was up to date and still active. With that, I let the little spark of excitement grow but tried to forget about it.
Then Bryan gets home on September 1, and I mention the email that I sent to the principal while we were on a long afternoon walk with the pups. Bryan nearly jumped out of his skin with excitement, but I told him it had been two weeks since, and nothing had happened. I didn't want to get excited or my hopes up, but I figured I should mention it.
I guess Bryan is my good luck charm, because not even 12 hours later I get an email from the principal, Dr. Racek, asking me to come in for an interview! Let the freak out commence!
In preparation for the interview, I texted my all-knowing library mentor, Stacy Hersey. She's been my go-to brainstormer for all things library-related and she is the reason I am in the profession today! She also happens to be the BEST elementary librarian in the entire world, so I tell her about the interview and ask if we can chat. After nearly an hour and a half on the phone with her, she has hyped me up and made sure I know all the things I need to ask during the interview. I also chuckle at my newfound fear of "littles" after getting used to working with my older students. What the heck am I going to do when I make a kid cry on day one? Kindergarteners are scary, man.
I had my interview on Tuesday, September 7 at 9 am. Dr. Racek started off by showing me the school's library and then we chatted in his office for over an hour. I couldn't have dreamed of a better interview! Dr. Racek asked me the DoDEA-approved interview questions, and I followed up with all of my questions. I even brought along three picture books that I booktalked and explained how each book represented a part of me as a teacher-librarian. I know, it sounds lame, but what is a desperate librarian to do? I had to pull out all stops to make myself stand out! Dr. Racek's vision for the school library program aligns with my goals- an interactive, flexible space that is filled with kids learning, reading, and engaging. I talked about my love for diverse books and how I love a loud, "hopping" library. By the time I left the interview, I was ready to start the next day. Better yet, give me 30 minutes to get home, change out of these heels and I will be back and ready to get this library up and running!
At the end of the interview, Dr. Racek said he would complete interviews and then send his recommendation to the DoDEA headquarters, where they would check the applicant's credentials and then send a tentative offer via email to the chosen candidate. He said the process should take 24-72 hours.
At the week mark, my patience was fried. I had Bryan asking me every day when he got home from work "did you hear anything!?" and I followed it with the simple, "no." After the first few days of this, I told him he didn't have to ask every day. I would let him know when I knew. Each day that went by, had me doubting my interview. Maybe it didn't go as well as I thought. Maybe I wasn't chosen. Maybe I am doomed to being a stay-at-home dog mom for the rest of my days. At least Hugo and Reynolds will be happy.
So being the impatient person that I am, I drafted a professional email yesterday to the principal thanking him for interviewing me a week ago and pretty much asking if he had made a decision. His response? He had recommended me for the job and we were waiting on headquarters. WOOHOO!!!!!!
At 4 am this morning, I received an email from DoDEA headquarters with the tentative job offer! I am going to be the elementary librarian at Jack N. Darby Elementary School here in Sasebo! I can walk to work in the morning! I get to work with littles! I am going to work for the DoDEA school system- a dream that many teachers apply for and wait years for even an interview! I couldn't believe it!!!!!! I spent my morning with a cup of coffee in hand as I signed my life away for all kinds of background checks to begin the hiring process.
Now let the real waiting begin. From what I was told, it can take anywhere from 45 to 90 days before I will be able to report for my first day in the library. At least that gives me time to read some K-5 books and build up my knowledge in picture books and early chapter books!
Whatever it takes, I am here for it!
--Katie
Those babies have no idea of the blessing They are getting ready to meet! We’re so proud of you… And excited that you get to share your gift! This will also help with Bryan being gone. And we know how you are you’ll throw everything into it…. You won’t have any free time!!
I am so beyond excited for you!! I had no doubt that you would get the job. DoDEA has high standards and you definitely go above and beyond. I love that you can walk to work. How fun! And I love that you are coming to my world so we get to now also talk elementary books. BTW- this doesn't mean you have to stop sharing YA titles. It's still my favorite genre! And now your mom is keeping us up to date with all the new picture books. I love how my library world is being filled with Kimbles (Johnsons!). <3