Eliza T. Dresang, Eliza Atkins Gleason Professor
Nancy Everhart, Associate Professor
School Library Media Specialists for the 21st Century:
Leaders Educated to Make a Difference
Florida State University
College of Information
Tallahassee, FL

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What is a 21st century media specialist?
Background of Project LEAD
Introductions to Project LEAD personnel
Fellowships - what is being offered
Fellowships - what is required of participants
Questions

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Teacher
Recognized instructional leader
Collaborator/team player
Information specialist
Expert in instructional design
Manager of collections and resources

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IMLS National Leadership Grants
12-credit leadership curriculum
– Within the master’s degree
• 45 credits for already certified teachers (one additional course)
• National Board preparation
– Post-master’s certificate
– Within the specialist degree
Project LEAD courses
– Information Leadership
– Leadership in Reading
– Leadership in Technology
– Instructional Role of the Information Professional

Local and National
Advisory Boards
Student
“Guinea Pigs”
Interviews with
Unsuccessful Candidates
Curriculum
Development
Survey of Successful
National Board SLMS
Existing Research and Statistics
Electronic
Discussion Groups

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Professors: Dresang and Everhart
Teaching Assistant Daniella Smith
Graduate Assistant Rachel Besara
Project/Research Assistant Melissa Harrell
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Also working with fellowship students :
38 other FSU faculty members, including 5 additional faculty with school media/youth services specialization
Coordinator of Student Internships Renee Franklin
National experts in the National Board Certification process

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Support the full cost of tuition and fees for an ALA master’s degree in Library and Information
Studies from FSU; eligibility for certification as a school media specialist in the state of Florida (transferable to many other states); an award-winning leadership certificate that will be noted on students’ transcripts; intense preparation for the National Board Certification process (see www.nbpts.org).

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Through specific courses taken only with other Project LEAD students. participation in one Educational Testing Service and one
American Association of School Librarians 2-day summer leadership workshops in Tallahassee specifically designed for
Project LEAD students (expenses paid); preparation for National Board with others in your district and around the state; participation in state and national conferences with Project LEAD colleagues (expenses paid); formation of an ongoing statewide leadership group.

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A district-provided National Board Certified mentor throughout the fellowship period
Assistance from Project LEAD TA and GA with online learning and other course-related needs
Assistance from Project LEAD PA/RA with travel arrangements for workshops and conferences
Opportunity to meet and network with other leaders in state and nation
Opportunity to complete 6 credits each summer in 4 weeks rather than 6 or 12 (culminating in on-campus workshops)

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District and FSU requirements
– Teacher leader questionnaire
– Principal recommendation
FSU Graduate School requirements
– Undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher; OR
– 1000 or higher on the GRE (GRE is still required even if GPA is 3.0 or higher)
• GRE website: www.ets.org/gre
– Admissions information: www.fsu.edu/prospective/admissions/online/usgrado.shtml
College of Information requirement
– Leadership essay

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Take 45 credits of online coursework as a cohort - 6 credits per semester
(evenings)
Join the American Association of School Librarians ($40) and Florida
Association for Media in Education ($20) each year as a student member
Attend one national and one state conference during the course of the program and serve as a volunteer (expenses are paid)
Come to Tallahassee for summer workshops in 2007 and 2008 (expenses are paid)
Commit to work in a school media center after graduation for at least three years
Intend to pursue National Board Certification in Library Media
Respond to all surveys or questionnaires required by FSU related to
Project LEAD

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Local district sets deadline for teacher leader questionnaire and principal survey, shortly after FSU visit.
Finalists (not yet recipients) in each district will be chosen by FSU faculty with at least twice the number chosen as there are fellowships available.
Finalists will be notified as soon as possible (no later than 3 weeks after FSU visit).
Application to FSU must be received by November 1, including official transcripts.
Fellowship recipients and alternates will be informed by December
1.

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December 2006 - Participate in self-paced online orientation
January 2007 - Start classes in January 2007
June 2007 - Attend 2-day summer workshop in Tallahassee
June 2008 - Attend 2-day summer workshop in Tallahassee
Fall 2007 - Spring 2009 - Attend one state and one national conference with FSU Project leaders
Summer 2009 - Complete degree and leadership certificate requirements in the first summer session 2009 (2 1/2 years); graduate in August 2009
Fall 2009 - Start work as a media specialist as soon as placed but Fall
2009 at the earliest
Take National Board as soon as eligible and prepared

Project LEAD website www.ci.fsu.edu/projectlead
Dr. Eliza T. Dresang dresang@ci.fsu.edu
Dr. Nancy Everhart everhart@ci.fsu.edu