Rhonda is the teacher librarian at both Merewether PS (2 days) and Wallsend PS (3 days) both in Newcastle. She has had a range of experiences teaching in Sydney, Perth and Darwin both in classrooms and in libraries. She is passionate about connecting students to quality literature and preparing them to become lifelong learners. Rhonda is active in her area as the Newcastle Area TL Association (NATLA) President and enjoys collaborating with her colleagues to develop the role of TLs in schools. She is also committed to bringing quality professional development through her involvement as Vice President Professional Learning in SLANSW.
About Donna Dobson
Teacher Librarian, Hastings Public School
After finishing her teaching degree, Donna gained diverse experience as a governess and jillaroo in south-west Queensland. She then returned to New South Wales to teach at a small school in the Wauchope hinterland where she honed her classroom skills. In 1995, Donna advanced her career by completing a Graduate Diploma in Applied Sciences Librarianship and was appointed as permanent teacher librarian at Hastings Public School.
Donna thrives in the Library environment, believing it allows her to reach every student effectively. As the network leader for the Mid North Coast Teacher Librarian Network, she finds the role rewarding, as it fosters collaboration among teacher librarians. Donna is also a member of the School Library Association of NSW (SLANSW) and participated in the Information Fluency Framework Mapping group. Her involvement in this group reflects her commitment to enhancing her library teaching practices by integrating the framework into her work.
About Emma Follett
Teacher Librarian, Bonnet Bay Public School
Emma has been teaching for 18 years and is the current Chair of the Sutherland Shire Teacher Librarian Network. Emma is passionate about the role TLs and libraries can play in the life of a school and is particularly interested in the way STEM can be integrated into library spaces and processes.
About Amanda Johnstone
Head of Library and Information Services, Kincoppal-Rose Bay School
Amanda Johnstone is a Teacher Librarian and the Head of Library and Information Services at Kincoppal-Rose Bay School. Amanda works in both the Junior and Senior Libraries and teaches students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Prior to completing her teacher Librarian qualification Amanda worked as an English, History and Studies of Religion teacher, and she still teaches Studies of Religion in addition to her library lessons. Amanda collaborates with teachers from a range of faculties to design and deliver lessons that develop information and digital literacy skills. She strives to foster independent thinking and discernment in her students and provide opportunities for students to read for pleasure.
About Libby Laird
Teacher Librarian, McCarthy Catholic College, Tamworth
Libby is a 0.6 teacher librarian at McCarthy Catholic College in Tamworth in North Western NSW. She began her teaching career in rural NSW as an English teacher. She trained and became a high school librarian and has been working in this field for seven years. Libby enjoys collaborating with the library team to create user-friendly library systems and places for students to build reading, researching, critical thinking, social skills and have fun.
Her involvement with the IFF began when she joined the Diocesan working group to renew the information literacy approach. She continues to use the updated Guideline created when devising experiences and library processes for the students.
About Allison Lee
Head of Library & Information Services, Emanuel School, Randwick
Allison has been at Emanuel School since 2003 and has served as both classroom teacher, librarian until moving into her current position as Head of Library and Information Services. She obtained her Graduate Diploma in Library & Information Studies in 1995 and has worked in a range of libraries since then including university, school, public and reference libraries in Perth, Singapore, and Sydney.
Her involvement with the IFF began with reading an article about this new way of thinking about information literacy. In her new position as Head of Library and Information Services this seemed the ideal meeting of minds in terms of changing programming at her school to achieve this broader literacy across Grades 7 to 12.
About Jody McDonnell
Head of Library and eLearning, St Vincent’s College, Potts Point
Jody has 24 years experience as a teacher librarian in the System of Parramatta schools and more recently at St Vincent’s College. She is a Google Certified Teacher and Trainer and is very motivated to curate and deliver micro lessons with the lens of the Information Fluency Framework. Jody is also a keen education technologist supporting teachers and students with online tools for learning.
About Barbara McGuigan
Teacher Librarian, Bourke High School
Barbara has been the Teacher Librarian at Bourke High School for the past four years, working on turning the library into a bustling hub of excitement and learning. Prior to working as a teacher librarian she worked as a computer and Hospitality teacher in Walgett and Broken Hill.
With the belief that school libraries are more than just quiet places to store the books Barbara is working on showing staff and students how amazing their school library can be. Whether it’s through interactive workshops, fun reading challenges, or creative resource management, she's dedicated to making the library a lively and essential part of school life.
The goal? To make sure every student and teacher understands and appreciates the magic of the library and how it can complement and assist in teaching and learning, all while keeping the joy of learning alive.
About Amber Sorensen
Head Teaching and Learning Librarian, Arthur Holt Library, Trinity Grammar School, Summer Hill
Amber began her career as a Research Librarian in an investment bank before retraining as a secondary classroom teacher and eventually moving into high school libraries. She enjoys the wide variety and broad scope that working in a school library affords and is particularly passionate about encouraging high school students to rediscover the joys and benefits of reading for enjoyment.
Her involvement with the IFF began as an early team member working under June Wall’s direction to encapsulate the development of student information fluency skills in a continuum and make the role of school libraries more visible. She continues to work towards embedding the use of the IFF in her library practice.
About Morag Tunks
Teacher Librarian, Sydney Grammar Preparatory School, Edgecliff
Morag Tunks is teacher librarian with over 10 years’ experience across three different schools. She is passionate about the use of picture books to support wellbeing within the school community, as well as the teaching of information literacy skills to students.
Morag has been a member of SLANSW for many years and last year joined the Information Fluency Framework project group. She is interested in contributing to the implementation of the IFF in schools through teaching, planning and programming.
Suggested Standards addressed by this Online Meet-up
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