Teacher-Librarian Resources
	Biography
	My Education
	Professional Activities
	Links
	Sterling Secondary Media Center
	Sterling Grade School Library
	Email Amy Brownlee

    I am a School Library Media Specialist K-12 in Sterling, Kansas.  I teach weekly library skills classes at Sterling Grade School for grades 1-5 and oversee the library media program at the jr. high and high school as District Media Director for Sterling USD #376.  I also teach a section of Reading/Literature Circles for 6th graders.

Before I was a librarian, I taught language arts.  Some of the classes I have taught in the past include:  7th, 8th, and 9th grade language arts; drama; yearbook; research class; Generation Y (technology, web design); study skills/advisory class; and literature.

My husband Larry is the band director for Sterling schools.  We are the proud parents of three small children: Bryson, Macy and Isabel.

I enjoy reading, taking walks, traveling, shopping, and spending time with my family. Favorite TV shows include Lost, American Idol, and shows on HGTV. I also enjoy music and like to sing and play the piano and flute.

Top of page

To me, education is extremely important. Your education is something that you carry with you wherever you go. You use it every day of your life and you never stop adding to it. Here is a list of the places where my formal education has taken place, although I believe that we learn something new each day, sometimes in the most unlikely places.

Degrees earned:

• Master of Library Science -- Emporia State University , 2002
• School Library Media Specialist Certificate K-12 -- Emporia State University
• Bachelor of Arts in English Education (grades 5-12), Minor in Music (voice & piano) -- Bethany College, 1997
• High School Diploma -- Medicine Lodge High School, 1993
  

Top of page

Professional Memberships

State organizations and committees:

• Kansas Association of School Librarians (KASL)
• KASL District Workshop Study Committee, ad hoc, appointed by KASL President (2006-2007)
• KASL Projects Committee (2002-present)
• SCKLS Annual Competitive Automation Grant Review Committee --  School Library Representative (2004)
• William Allen White Selection Committee (2003)

Local committees:

• Sterling USD #376 Secondary Reading NCA Committee
• Sterling USD #376 Reading Curriculum Committee
• School-Wide Theme Planning Committee, Sterling Grade School
• Read Across America Celebration Planning Committee, Chairperson, Sterling Grade School

Awards/Honors

• Interlibrary Loan Development Program (ILDP) Grant for SGS -- $2600 to purchase books and titles for Kansas Virtual Library -- Books with Boy Appeal for Grades K-6
• SCKLS Programming Grant -- $200 for Jr. High Mystery Dinner
• Midwest Energy Grant -- $400 for Jr. High Book Chat Program
• Interlibrary Loan Development Program (ILDP) Grant for SGS -- $2275 to purchase books -- American Hero Biographies
• Interlibrary Loan Development Program (ILDP) Grant for SHS -- $2235 to purchase books, videos and DVDs on American Sign Language and Deafness
• Midwest Energy Grant -- $250 for Sterling Grade School Library Renovation Project
• SCKLS Matching Book Discussion Grant 2005 to purchase copies of Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
• SCKLS Matching Technology Grant -- purchased data projector and CD/DVD duplicator
• Generation Y Grant -- $15,000 -- awarded by Kansas State Dept. of Education (co-written with Tricia Schechter)
• Interlibrary Loan Development Program (ILDP) Grant for Graphic Novels -- $825 -- awarded by Kansas Library Network Board
• South Central Kansas Library System (SCKLS) Continuing Education Grant -- numerous awards
• Beta Phi Mu (Library honor society) Achievement Award, 2002 --  awarded by Emporia State University's Beta Epsilon Chapter
• Kansas Association of Middle Level Educators (KAMLE) Mini-Grant -- $325 for Exploring the Challenge of Careers project

Professional Presentations & Publications

• Founded LibraryShare wiki featured in Kansas Library Conference presentation, April 2008.
• "It Works for Me! Sharing Session for Teaching Library and Information Literacy Skills K-6" presented at the Kansas Library Conference, Wichita, KS, April 2008.
• Into the Curriculum collaborative unit "Westward, ho! or Westward? No!" published in School Library Media Activities Monthly, January 2007.
• "Collaborative Projects and School-Wide Themes" presented at Tri-Conference, April 2007
• "Beginning and Leading a Book Discussion" workshop at SCKLS 2006 -- served as speaker for school libraries on panel
• Wrote curriculum guides (published online) for William Allen White Children's Book Award nominees
  • Clementine by Sue Pennypacker (2008-2009 Master List)
  • The Wright 3 by Blue Balliett (2008-2009 Master List)
  • Let Them Play by Margot Theis Raven (2007-2008 Master List)
• Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett (2006-2007 Master List)
• Ida B...and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan (2006-2007 Master List)
• Aleutian Sparrow by Karen Hesse (2005-2006 Master List)
• Rodzina by Karen Cushman (2005-2006 Master List)
• Phineas Gage by John Fleischman   (2004-2005 Master List)
• The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Paterson  (2004-2005 Master List)
• What Would Joey Do? by Jack Gantos  (2004-2005 Master List)
• Seek by Paul Fleischman  (2003-2004 Master List)
• A Step from Heaven by An Na  (2003-2004 Master List)
• "Get Them Reading: Promoting Young Adult Literature,"  presented at KASL District Workshop
• "Libraries Help us Grow," presented at Tri-Conference
• Presentation to undergraduate Children’s Literature class from Sterling College
• Accelerated Reader and other educational software
• Choosing and presenting read-alouds
• Copyright in education
• "Exploring the Challenge of Careers," presented at KAMLE (Kansas Association of Middle Level Educators) Symposium
• "The Children’s Book Writing Project," presented at KAMLE Symposium

Here are some of my favorite sites on the web. Maybe you would enjoy visiting some of them, too. 
 

ReadWriteThink: Student Materials	A variety of interactive tools to allow K-12 students to use technology while learning literacy skills.
Track Star	Allows educators to create an annotated list of web sites.
Surfing the Net for Kids	Annotated lists of web sites on a variety of topics specially chosen for kids.
Marco Polo	Exemplary lesson plans and activities for teachers.
Internet School Library Media Center	A fabulous resource for school librarians and teachers.
Database of Award Winning Children's Literature	Excellent search tool for finding just the right book.  Searchable by time period, award, genre, reader's age level, keyword, author, and much more!
Kay Vandergrift's Special Interest Page	A wealth of information on all types of children's literature.