Personal Background:
1. Name: Susan Salinger
2. Age: 39
3. Ethnicity: Caucasian
4. Degrees: BSEd in 1993 and MLS in 2005
5. Years in Education: 13 years
6. Classroom teaching or specialist background: Holds certifications in Reading and ESOL
7. Years in school librarianship: 5
8. Special talents, hobbies and interests: Plays piano, jogs, involved in off-campus book club and enjoys cooking.


My Personal Educational Philosophy:
1. Being a Leader means:

• We all learn from each other.
• Teachers, students, and administrators benefit from this learning process.
• Teacher-librarians collaborate with the school community as a whole, and therefore involve others in the process of planning and implementing learning objectives that include regularly consulting the essential skills a student must have according to and above the guidelines set out by the TEKS .
• This includes the global community as well.

2. Being an Instructional Partner means:

• As an involved member of the global learning community, the librarian is aware of school policies and curriculum standards and strives to help CT's meet these standards through sharing resources, knowledge and collaboration.

3. Being an Information Specialist means:

• The teacher-librarian is a leader in professional development and the skill needs of the school, furthering his/her education with current practices and professional development in all areas of instruction and technology skills.

4 .Being a Teacher means:

• I plan lessons that support and foster the goal of children becoming lifelong learners.
• Children need guidance that supports their innate curiosity.
• Curiosity and meaning in education gives each child a perception of the world that opens their eyes to creativity and engages them in meaningful tasks.
• Children should build on that curiosity to find topics and subjects that pertain to their lives and thus learn independently and from other students around them.
• It is my goal that children take an interest in their own learning and by doing so, create an environment where everyone benefits from one another, ensuring that children can direct their own education and interests.

5. Being a Program Administrator means:

• Children learn best when a library is focused, organized, and well-managed.
• The budget, policies, and strategies are informed decisions that affect the well-being of the entire school and how educators get up-to-the-minute information.
• The teacher-librarian works at the local, national, and global level to form partnerships that benefit the entire community.
• The physical and virtual spaces are maintained for easy and accessible use for students and staff through 24/7 access to library services.