Term of Award

Spring 2007

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies (Ed.D.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Department

Department of Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading

Committee Chair

Judith Repman

Committee Member 1

Linda Arthur

Committee Member 2

Grigory Dmitriyev

Committee Member 3

Mary Ann Fitzgerald

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of ESLMS's (Expert School Library Media Specialists) as total educators (Fullan & Hargreaves, 1996), including the SLMSs (School Library Media Specialist) purpose, the ESLMS as a person, the organizational context and the culture of the SLMS's school. The hypothesis was that ESLMSs role and development as experts in their field was directly related to their purpose and motivations, their view of themselves as persons including their beliefs and values, and the culture and organizational context of the specific school in which they work. Three SLMS's currently employed in Georgia public high schools whom have earned National Board Certification in Library Media were selected for this study. Qualitative research methodology, including questionnaires and interviews, analysis of state and federal reports, an examination of collected artifacts, and an analysis of an online discussion forum, was utilized to create case studies of these three ESLMS's. This research indicated that in order to excel in the media field all four aspects of the total educator must be addressed. The overall results indicate that 1) SLMSs must understand their purpose and goals and those purposes and goals must align with those of the schools in which they work in order to excel in their profession; 2) SLMSs must be aware of themselves as persons in order to grow and develop as professionals and 1 educators; 3) The organizational context of the SLMSs school must allow them control of aspects of their media program in order to implement an exemplary media program; and 4) The culture in which the SLMS's works must provide administrative and staff support for the media program in order for them to implement an exemplary media program. Recommendations include the need to further the leadership roles of SLMSs within their schools; the call for SLMSs to augment their leadership role within their field; the need to increase the understanding and support of administrators for SLMSs; the obligation that SLMSs have to link their role within a school to student achievement; and the necessity to enhance the incentives for accomplishing National Board Certification.

OCLC Number

191573627

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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