My Path to Librarianship

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Before entering the exciting world of information professionals, I was Ms. Theri-- an educator in public schools.  Having earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Illinois in 2002, I began my adventure in education as a mental health professional in a residential treatment facility in Illinois.  I was a personal education aide to a high school student, a classroom behavioral management aide, a crisis response counselor, and a substitute teacher working primarily in therapeutic or restorative schools or classrooms.  As a substitute teacher, I served as both a short-term and a long-term substitute. 
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When I moved to Oklahoma in 2015, I wanted to continue in the field of restorative education.  I became the in-school suspension proctor (ISP) at a middle school in Enid, OK.  During my time as the ISP at Longfellow Middle School, I redesigned the program to mirror the therapeutic and restorative environments in which I witnessed significant student growth.  Data collected during the newly remodeled in-school suspension (ISS) program showed increased positive behaviors and reduced recidivism in students frequently assigned to the ISS room.  I am incredibly proud of my time at Longfellow Middle School as the ISP.   
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During my time at Longfellow Middle School, I began working closely with the school librarian.  Working with the school librarian, I realized the opportunity librarians have to serve and empower others.  I see many correlations between my background of empowerment, restoration, and education and the role of the library and the librarian.  In January 2019, I served as the interim library media specialist at Longfellow Middle School.  I began the teacher certification process with the Oklahoma State Department of Education and entered the Master of Library and Information Studies program at the University of Oklahoma in June 2019.  I planned to pursue a position as a school library media specialist, preferably in a middle or high school with a socio-economically challenged student body.  Socio-economically challenged populations have long been my professional focus. 
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My original goal was to become the Library Media Specialist at Longfellow Middle School after completing the MLIS program at the University of Oklahoma.  During the 2019-2020 school year, I taught STEM classes, including media production and project-based courses in design and engineering at Longfellow Middle School.  This experience was challenging and fun.  I learned many things that would translate directly to creating a makerspace in the library.   I also served as the school's media resource specialist during the school year, including the initial phase of virtual learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  This experience directly relates to my goal of becoming a library media specialist.  I provided digital content to my students and worked directly with the teaching staff to provide digital support and resources for their classes.  During this time, I gained valuable experience in many roles the school library media specialist fulfills. 
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In June 2020, the teen program and services coordinator position at the Public Library of Enid and Garfield County became available.  I accepted the position with the public library and became the teen librarian in August of 2020; Ms. Theri moved into the library.  Leaving public education was a difficult decision.  However, the professional network I built with Enid Public Schools, including secondary school librarians, teachers, administrators, and the information technology department, helped me effectively collaborate with the local school system and build connections between the schools and the public library.  By moving to the public library, I could provide services to all the teens in the area.  The experience of teaching and collaborating with teachers in public schools prepared me to collaborate with library media specialists and teachers in my role as Teen Programming and Services Coordinator.  I love being Ms. Theri in the library and am grateful for all the experiences that helped me develop the skills to be effective in my role. 
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In July 2021, I stepped into the deputy director position at the Enid Public Library.  The move was a difficult decision as the role would push me beyond my intended role as a teen librarian and into a management role.  The move into official leadership was daunting, but I have always welcomed challenges.  I am always looking for opportunities to have a more significant positive impact on the lives of others, and the move supported that mission.  During my four months as deputy director, I aided in the search for a library director for the Enid Public Library.  In November 2021, I accepted the role of Interim Library Director.  Before moving into these leadership roles, I was apprehensive about the weight of the responsibility of leading a public library.  I find that I enjoy the administrative side of librarianship more than anticipated.  It is my great honor to be able to serve the library, the staff, and the entire community by ensuring the public library meets and exceeds the standards of professional librarianship.  I am proud of the staff I lead and the growth trajectory we have been building since I joined the library.