Who+are+we?

==We are spread out across this great state, so help us get to know you! Tell us a little bit about yourself, your background, your area of specialty, your passions, your family, your favorite book...anything. And don't forget to add a picture so we'll be able to recognize you at the next conference! ==

[[image:kim.jpg width="111" height="135"]]

 * Education - MLS - University of North Texas- Dec 2002
 * Became Library/Media Specialist in July 2002
 * Worked at Region 2 since June 2007
 * Work Experience
 * **educator, January 1990-present
 * specializing in libraries since 2002

>> with those who need it == ==
 * I LOVE
 * connecting people and information/innovation
 * "fixing" things
 * Favorite book at the moment
 * //A Year in the World: Journeys of a Passionate Traveller// by Frances Mayes
 * About me
 * I am a learner/collector...I collect ideas and information and share them
 * <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; text-align: left;">I have recently become addicted to hulahooping

<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;">Region 4 - Tanya Tullos, website: [|www.theansweris4.net]
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;">Retired as of October 1, 2010

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 70%;">//Education:// B.S. and M.Ed., Stephen F. Austin State University; Ph.D., Texas A & M University; MLS, Texas Woman's University
==<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 70%;">//Work Experience:// Have worked with reading and books all my life. Have taught 5th grade reading, kindergarten, and high school English. Taught college level classes in English at Texas A & M (before marriage) and Elementary Education at Sam Houston State (before children). Have been librarian in two elementary schools, one jr. high school, and a public library. Directed projects for Department of Education and Texas Education Agency. //Should I just say "older than dirt" and stop?// Have worked at Region 4 ESC in the 1980's and again since July, 2007. ==

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 70%;">//Favorite things//: Children's books, quilting, cross-stitch, travel, reading, Blue Bell vanilla
==<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 70%;">//What I just read:// galley of The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo (children's) and Etta: A Novel by Gerald Kolpan (adult) == ==<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 70%;">//Favorite Quote//: Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. --Margaret Mead == ==<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 70%;">//What's happening right now:// My sweet husband and I have two grown sons who are happy and healthy. I served on Children's Notable Books Committee for ALA during 2010 and 2011. //Yes, I am drowning in books, but what a way to go!// ==

I fell in love with libraries when I got my first library position many years ago. I didn't realize how much I was a born "librarian" until then.

 * I've been at the ESC since 1992 - in two different departments and 5 Component Directors. Whew! My job description has changed dramatically over the years.
 * I love to learn, especially technology. One of my favorite areas falls under the broad umbrella of school improvement.
 * I ditto Kim's <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">LOVE of connecting people and information/innovation -- Ian Jukes once told me "you are a lateral thinker" meaning I can read, hear, or see something and make connections to many different areas
 * The only drawback in this job is I tend to get very discouraged with the general state of libraries in my region. We have sooooo far to go to too few districts making improvements in their library programs. Most seem to move backwards rather than forward. Hearing the comments yesterday afternoon at TASLA didn't help....my little schools really are being left without a voice and as the larger schools become even larger, these little schools might be forced into consolidation -- that could be a good thing even though I feel for the communities
 * I'm currently reading: Getting Naked Again: Dating, Romance, Sex, and Love When You've Been Divorced, Widowed, Dumped, or Distracted by Judith Sills -- it's a hoot but very good advice
 * I love to travel, take cruises, photography, and try out new technologies. I am on Facebook. Are you? Do you Twitter? I do every once in awhile
 * My latest addiction is sorting, naming, fixing all my music files
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">I love the new Bluebonnet books. It's the best list in ages. Here are my favorites:
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">// Pale Male: Citizen Hawk of New York City //
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">// The Luck of the Loch Ness Monster: A Tale of Picky Eating // (3rd and 4th graders loved this at Everyone Reads Day)
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">// Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale //
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">// What To Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy! //
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">// Maybelle in the Soup //
 * <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif;">// Maybelle in the Soup //

<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;">Region 9 -
<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;">

Region 10 -Terry Roper, //website pending//
Something about Me: Work Experience: I have worked for the last 20 years in a large urban school district in North Central Texas in various capacities I am passionate about: I am currently reading:
 * I am an Air Force brat, only sibling of 4 born in the US so lots of traveling in my early years
 * I have lived in Texas for the last 35 years and went to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls for my bachelors in Elementary Education and to TWU for my MLS
 * I never planned to be an educator until my son was born and then never planned on becoming a librarian until the proverbial opportunity knocked moment and have loved it ever since!
 * I have been at Region 10 for a few weeks and am working on getting the new Library Services Cooperative off the ground and will be very appreciative of this group’s collective wisdom and advice!
 * Classroom Teacher
 * Elementary Librarian
 * High School Librarian
 * LMS Central Staff—Trainer for new librarians
 * Alternative Certification Program for School Librarians
 * Being involved in TLA and legislative process
 * Curriculum integration and supporting librarians in their role as teachers of various types of literacy
 * Mexican food J
 * A bunch of stuff! Feel free to check me out on Shelfari.com for a more comprehensive look

==<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;"> <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;"> Region 11 - ==

<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive; font-size: 150%;">Region 12 - Sherry McElhannon <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;"> [[image:me!.JPG width="180" height="240"]]

 * <span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;">Education - MLS - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Dec 2008
 * Worked at Region 12 since Jan 2009
 * Became Library/Media Specialist in Apr 2009
 * Work Experience
 * public libraries
 * Tech experience for several years during grad school
 * I LOVE
 * children's lit and YA lit
 * integrating technology into the library (Web 2.0, book trailers, etc.)
 * Favorite book at the moment
 * The Composer is Dead by Lemony Snicket
 * About me
 * I'm very glad to be back in Texas after a stint in the frozen north
 * I'm getting married on May 9th!

<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS",cursive;">Region 20 - Susanna Garza and Marty Rossi
(sorry, we'll upload our photos soon)

Susanna - Coordinator of Instructional Technology, Media & CTE I've been at ESC-20 for the last 14 years. I was born in Italy. In my previous life I was a physician in Mexico City. I came to the U.S. 20 years ago and started a new career in education. I am not a librarian but consider myself a library advocate. I am married and have 3 girls, ages 23, 20 and 14. We are a "house divided" with an Aggie and a Longhorn who get along very well. My favorite author is Isabel Allende and it's been a while since I've enjoyed reading a book that is not for professional reading. I love spending time with my family, traveling, listening to music, watching a good movie with a good glass of wine, and playing Guitar Hero (I'm aiming toward expert level so wish me luck).