"Life is a game with five
balls in the air - work, family, health, friends and
spirit.
Work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four are made of glass. If you drop one of
these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, marked,
nicked, damaged, or even shattered. It will never be the
same."
-- Brian Dyson, CEO, Coca Cola
Thomas Jefferson once said, "I cannot live without books." I feel much the same way. I have been a bibliophile all my life, and many of my favorite memories are of reading with my parents, my sisters, or my own children. It was only natural that, in time, I would choose to become a library media specialist, a job which lets me explore the world daily through both print and non-print materials. I hope that I can pass on to students my love and appreciation for reading and information in all its forms.
Education and Experience
BS in Education, 1974, and MLIS, 1987, both from the University of Oklahoma.
Twenty-two years as a library media specialist with Norman Public Schools. Currently Library Media Specialist, Longfellow Middle School, Norman Public Schools, Norman, Oklahoma.
Former vocal music teacher, K-12.
Publications and Awards
Co-author:
Literature-Based Art and Music, Oryx Press, 1992.
Developing Learning Skills through Children's Literature, Oryx Press, 1994.
Contributing author, Exploring the Southwest States through Literature, Oryx Press, 1994.
OLA Polly Clarke Award winner as the Outstanding School Library Media Specialist in Oklahoma, 1995.
Site Teacher of the Year, Lakeview Elementary School, NPS, 1996.
Miscellaneous
Primary Delegation Leader with People to People Student Ambassador Programs. This summer I will be leading a delegation of high school students to Italy and Greece for three weeks. I have been fortunate to lead past delegations to Yosemite National Park and the Marin Headlands ( 2003), Australia (2004), Ireland and the United Kingdom (2005), Hawaii (2006), Western Europe (2007), and England and France (2008). Use the link above to visit the People to People Student Ambassadors Program web page for more information and find out how students can be invited to participate in future travel programs.
Master Trainer for Technology with Intel's Teach to the Future.
About Learning certified 4MAT™ trainer/facilitator and learning styles specialist.
PRO teacher, Learning Styles, Norman Public Schools.
PRO teacher, Parenting/Teaching with Love and Logic, Norman Public Schools.
PRO teacher, Technology, Norman Public Schools.
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Adjunct professor for LIS 5183, Books and Materials for Children, at the University of Oklahoma.
Current member, Sequoyah Children's Book Award Reading Team, and past chair of Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award committee.
Personal
Married 34 years to Ken, retired Director of Transportation and Maintenance, Washington Public Schools. Ken is a drummer, former Music Minister, and a member of the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma. We traveled with that group on a fifteen-day concert and mission trip to Australia in May, 2003. The group performed concerts and led conferences in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and surrounding areas, including a concert in the renowned Sydney Opera House.
Two children, Kenna Raye Thom, a graduate of Oklahoma State University employed by West Corporation, a division of AT&T, and Garrett, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma currently doing graduate work at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. Although it appears that we are a house divided with graduates from the rival state schools, we are solid Sooner fans, even the OSU graduate!
Ken and I are owned by four dachshunds, all rescued dogs: red-headed Lucy; Desi, a black and tan; red Buddy; and a deaf double-dappled named... (what else could you call a deaf German dog?) Beethoven!
We are members of Country Estates Baptist Church in Midwest City where Ken and I sing in the choir, I ring handbells and Ken plays drums. I am also a long-time member of the Singing Churchwomen of Oklahoma.
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This page last updated on May 29, 2009
