That's a Wrap! Boot Camp 2019

Every year the SD State Library puts on a professional development event called School Library Boot Camp which is usually in the summer. This event, we changed things up a bit. The face-to-face portion of the event was held in conjunction with the annual SDLA conference on September 25 in Spearfish and the rest of the two credit course was online.

We had a full house! Thirty people participated with quite a variety of backgrounds ranging from certified teacher-librarians to library para-professionals to English language specialists to school counselors to teachers. In total, 18 districts/entities were represented.

This year's theme was centered around inclusion, equity, and diversity. Attendees focused on how they as educators can support ALL students with a unique focus on students with special needs, those with disabilities, English Language Learners, LGBTQI+ students, and the culturally diverse.

During the face-to-face segment of the course, teacher-librarian Jennifer LaGarde (author of award-winning library blog The Library Girl) spent the day inspiring, challenging, and amusing Campers. Jennifer guided participants through a self-assessment in which they reflected on the state of their library or classroom or educational program.

After our face-to-face day, campers had one month to finish up the course. They did this online and at their own pace aided by a digital workbook.

All this to say... be sure to check out the resource list Campers had (and still have!) access to. You'll find not only the resources used in this course but many more.

• I really enjoyed the day and walked away with a lot to think about. Can’t wait to see what you all come up with next year.
• I have always felt like we get the "leftover PD" in South Dakota (in comparison to the cutting-edge that I used to get in a large district), but this course was AMAZING! 
• Thank you so much for organizing the class. I am so grateful for the learning, the books, and your goal to make every project very practical and actually help me at my school.
• Thanks for a great Boot Camp experience. It was the second one I have attended and it was once again a very worthwhile day of learning. I sincerely appreciated the experts on scene and the training provided. 

School Library Boot Camp is coordinated by the South Dakota State Library in conjunction with Black Hills State University. This annual professional development opportunity is a two-credit course for undergraduate and graduate students, geared toward school librarians and all types of educators. LSTA federal funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services pays for speakers and other resources, as well as full-tuition scholarships for attendees. Plans are underway for the course to be held again in 2020.

I have always felt like we get the "leftover PD" in South Dakota (in comparison to the cutting-edge that I used to get in a large district), but this course was AMAZING!  

I really enjoyed the day and walked away with a lot to think about.  Can’t wait to see what you all come up with next year.  

“This is so good!

 I am so grateful for the learning, the books, and your goal to make every project very practical.

thanks for a great Boot Camp experience.  It was the second one I have attended and it was once again a very worthwhile  day of learning.  I sincerely appreciated the experts on scene and the training provided.