April 2009 Volunteer Profie
Lisa Perez
Library Coordinator, Chicago Public Schools
1. First, tell us a little about the project you’re currently leading—The 21st Century Playground at NECC.
The 21st Century Playground will provide hands-on opportunities for attendees to learn about the latest technologies and ways to use them with students in the library media center and the classroom. We will have eight stations that will address technologies such as interactive whiteboards, cell phones, microblogging, digital storytelling, wikis, web cameras, and the virtual reality environment Second Life. For those who cannot attend in person, there will also be a companion virtual playground in Second Life.
2. Why are you an educator? What do you like best about your current position?
I work as an area library coordinator for the Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries. I support our district’s high school librarians, serve as our district’s Professional Librarian, and coordinate the Mayor Daley’s Book Club, an after-school book club that is in most of our high schools. I’ve been an elementary classroom teacher and a school librarian at both the elementary and high school levels. I think that education is the great equalizer that gives all students an opportunity to succeed and I hope that I contribute to that positive outcome. I enjoy working with our district’s high school librarians because they are a group of truly dedicated professionals who work tirelessly for their students. I also like traveling all around the city of Chicago to see the great projects being done by our teachers and students.
3. What idea or contribution to your school/organization are you most proud of?
Communication is important for districts of any size, but especially in Chicago Public Schools, our nation’s third largest school district. Although it’s been a few years since we have implemented some of these strategies, I am pleased with the communication pathways that we have developed. First, I standardized communication with the librarians I serve using our district email system and distribution lists. Next, I helped institute a listserv for our librarians to use to share information with each other. I maintain a blog (http://blogs.cuip.net/dlis) to provide information about our department’s activities in the virtual reality environment Second Life. We also use Second Life so that our librarians can be encouraged to access the rich library resources available there. I also use an announcement list to send updates on resources available at our Professional Library. Recently, I have worked with others in our department to create a wiki to enhance communication.
4. What is the biggest opportunity or challenge you see in your professional specialty area in the next five years?
I think it is imperative that school librarians keep current on the latest important technology trends. In many districts, there is a major divide between the ways that students use technology at home and how they use it at school. Despite being savvy users of technology in many ways, research tells us that graduating seniors often feel unprepared to conduct the research that they must do for college and the work place. I encourage our school librarians to assume key leadership roles in their schools, to be technology leaders, and to be seen as their schools’ information literacy specialists.
5. Over the past 2-3 years, what's been of particular surprise to you in your work?
I have been pleased to see that today’s technologies – including blogs, wikis, video sharing sites, and more – have impacted the way that students learn. They can collaborate with each other more effectively, be creators of knowledge, and document the learning process in ways that were not available to any previous generation.
6. How does volunteering for ISTE enhance your professional life?
I benefit greatly by working with library media specialists from all over the country. I am proud of the hard-working professionals in SIGMS who are leaders in their own schools and communities. I am often inspired by ways that they use technology professionally and with their students. I take that wisdom and share it with librarians in my own district.
7. What is the best thing you like about volunteering for ISTE?
ISTE makes it very easy to volunteer. There are many opportunities to contribute based on the time we can allot. The support that I receive from ISTE staff helps me to maximize my time commitment.
8. What do you like to do when you're not working or volunteering?
When I am not working or volunteering, I can often be found spending time with my family, reading a good book, going to the movies, or exploring Second Life.
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