Enabling Teacher Librarian Leadership for Technology Integration

Authors

  • Melissa P. Johnston University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29173/iasl7460

Keywords:

teacher librarianship, leadership, technology integration

Abstract

The highly technological environment of 21st century schools has significantly redefined the role of the teacher librarian by presenting the opportunity to assume leadership roles through technology integration. The teacher librarian must evolve as a leader in order to address the needs of today’s learners and ensure that they are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to use technology as an important tool for learning. This research, based on distributed leadership theory investigates practices of teacher librarians in order to identify what is enabling some to thrive as technology integration leaders and what is hindering others. This paper presents the findings from the replication research identifying what is enabling some teacher librarians to thrive as technology integration leaders and serve as a foundation on which to build research- based strategies to support practicing teacher librarians in understanding how to enact this vital role and on how to better prepare future teacher librarians for a leadership role in the integration of technology.

Author Biography

Melissa P. Johnston, University of Alabama School of Library & Information Studies

Melissa P. Johnston is an Assistant Professor at The University of Alabama in the School of Library and Information Studies, where she coordinates and teaches graduate courses in the school library media certification program. Johnston worked as a school librarian for 13 years in Georgia before completing her PhD at Florida State University’s School of Information. Johnston received the IASL Ken Haycock Leadership Award in 2013 and the IASL Takeshi Murofushi Research Award in 2011 to investigate international school librarian practices. In 2014 Johnston was the co-recipient of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology Cross-Cultural Research Award. Johnston’s research and publications focus on school librarians as leaders, the school librarian’s role in technology integration, and school librarianship on a global level.

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Published

2021-02-22