Tag Archives: Teacher Librarians

K.C. Boyd: Teacher Librarian extraordinaire

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K.C. Boyd: Washington DC’s Teacher Librarian extraordinaire

Today we’re shining the spotlight on K.C. Boyd, Teacher Librarian extraordinaire from Washington, DC. This Chalkboard Champion has been featured in Education Weekly, School Library Journal, PBS News Hour, American Libraries, Library Journal, and Medium Magazine.

K.C. is affectionately called “Boss Librarian” by her students.  What does her work with the kids look like? “Some weeks I teach classes that support the curriculum in conjunction with lessons that are taught by teachers,” she describes. “I enjoy this immensely because I’m presenting curricular content in a different way. This alternative way of teaching the lesson often provides students with a more global view of the material and makes it more meaningful,” she asserts.

“There are other weeks when I do not have classes,” she continues. “This is when I’m identifying print/digital resources for the teachers and students for use in the classroom, scanning the net for free programs that are aligned with the mission/vision of the school, and keeping abreast of new trends in library science that I can use in my library,” she explains. “Lunch periods are always busy, as I have students in the library either checking out books, quietly talking to their friends, or watching a book that was made into a movie with my Apple TV,” she concludes.

K.C. is a second-generation educator. Her parents were teachers, both born in the South during the Jim Crow era. To seek better opportunities, they migrated north to Chicago in the 1960’s. And that’s where K.C. grew up.

K.C. holds three Master’s degrees: in Library Information Science, Media Communications, and Education Leadership. Before accepting her position in DC, she worked as the Lead Librarian for the East St. Louis School District in East St. Louis, Illinois. She also worked as an Area Library Coordinator for Chicago Public Schools and a District Coordinator for the Mayor Daley Book Club for Middle School Students.

“Working in school libraries is not easy,” confesses K.C. “It’s a roller coaster of events and emotions that are not for the weak. Committed warrior librarians possess the same driving force: a deep and abiding love for libraries,” she continued.

You can read more about this Chalkboard Champion in this interview at Tech at EdCircuit. You can follow K.C. Boyd on Twitter @Boss_Librarian.

Lucia Rede Madrid: Pioneer Texas educator and librarian

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Lucia Rede Madrikd

Educator Lucia Rede Madrid in the Blue Room of the White House where she received presidential recognition.

There are many fine educators who have contributed to the development of America’s border-town communities. One of these was Lucia Rede Madrid, a dedicated teacher from the border town of Redford, Texas.

Lucia Rede was born in Polvo, Texas, on January 8, 1913. She was the sixth of eight children born to Eusébio Rede and Antonia Luján, who had settled in the area in 1870. When Lucia was only 12 years old, her family relocated to the tiny community of Marfa, West Texas.

Lucia was born to be a teacher. As a young girl, she helped to educate her brothers and sisters. In fact, seven of the eight Rede children became teachers. Lucia earned both her Bachelor’s degree and Master’s degree in Education, both from Sul Ross State University. Sul Ross is a public institution of higher learning located in Alpine, in the Big Bend region of the far western part of Texas. After earning her degrees, Lucia taught at public schools in Marfa and Redford for 23 years.

After her retirement from the classroom in 1976, the dedicated educator established a private lending library in the isolated border town of Redford in 1979. She started the library with just 25 books. By 1992, the collection included over 15,000 volumes. The institution gained national attention and still functions today as a library and museum. Current library holdings include Lucia’s personal Library Hall of Fame, a collection of portraits of individuals who were children in Redford that have gone on to successful careers as engineers, doctors, teachers, and accountants.

For her work as a pioneer educator and librarian, this chalkboard champion has garnered many accolades. She was once featured on the NBC Today Show, and a story about her was published in National Geographic in February, 1984. The story was entitled “West of Pecos.” In addition, Lucia was honored with the President’s Volunteer Service Award by President George W. Bush in 1990, and the Ronald Reagan Award for Volunteer Excellence. In 1989, Lucia was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.

Lucia passed away at the age of 90, but her work has not been forgotten!