REPLY 1
The professional organization that I chose is the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE). I have not joined at this time but will not rule out the possibility of joining. Me being a black male, this organization captured my attention with its focus on children of African descent. This organization has been in operation for almost fifty years and its primary outreach is to teachers, administrators, superintendents and corporate and institutional members. “NABSE is dedicated to improving both the educational experiences and accomplishments of African American youth through the development and use of instructional and motivational methods that increase levels of inspiration, attendance and overall achievement” (NABSE, 2019). What I also enjoyed learning about is commissions which they have established. There are seven different commissions and they cover a wide range of topics from administration retired educators. Each commission is designed to further the educational concerns of our black teachers and students.
This organization provides a vast amount of resources for the educator. Currently they boast a research center which “provide a forum sharing important and relevant research” (NABSE, 2019), a recommended reading section which provide members with relevant instruction material and instructional leadership material for self-improvement. On that same online page, under construction are Tools for Learning, Leadership Development, and a Technology Corner which will have tips, apps and program specific information for educators to aid educators in their professional growth. Being that it is non-profit organization with a dependency on its members and other volunteers, the organization offers opportunities for volunteers to contribute their skills.
The organization boasts of a scholarship fund which past winners dating back to 2013 and each winner being awarded a $1000 scholarship. They have a foundation which has four pillars on which it is based and those being Professional development, research, communication, and scholarship and grants. The professional development piece is meant to provide educators with training experiences in research which should be beneficial to educators in the research field. The communication part of the organization publishes research, monographs, and other papers. The scholarship and grant part of the organization as mentioned previously, awards scholarships to students seeking careers in education and they also have plans to award research grants.
The president of this organization creating 6 priorities for the organization during his first address to the conference attendees and he addressed them as the Big 6 Priorities. His first priority is “improvement of student outcomes in the areas of Early Childhood Access, Literacy, Science Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), along with 2) organizing leadership development institutes and career advancement programs, 3) educator recognition programs, 4) legislative involvement, 5) research and best practices clearinghouse and 6) Redesign the economic model of NABSE through target programming.
Lastly, they offer on their site a career center and recruiting site where teachers, principals and others within the field of education can post resumes, post jobs. All in all, this is one of the most complete research educational organizations that I have had the opportunity to explore. Practically every facet of education is covered and all educators alike will benefit greatly by becoming a part of this organization.
REPLY2
Among librarians in the U.S., the American Library Association (ALA) is the most well-known and respected professional association one can join. It is also one of the oldest, dating back to 1876. ALA “was created to provide leadership for the development, promotion, and improvement of library and information services and the profession of librarianship in order to enhance learning and ensure access to information for all” (Mission & History, 2008). An ALA accredited master’s degree in library and information science is required for employment as a librarian in the majority of public and private libraries. In addition to hosting the highly popular annual conference, ALA is responsible for conferring book awards, publishing practitioner resources, and advocating for legislation to uphold information access, literacy, information privacy, and intellectual freedom.
I have been a member of ALA off and on for the past decade as I have worked in public libraries and school libraries. My current school defrays the cost of teachers’ professional memberships, so I apply my allowance to ALA. Membership includes access to all of the ALA resources, and members can choose to pay a small fee to join one or more of the association’s eleven specialized divisions. When I worked in public libraries, I was a member of the Public Library Association and Young Adult Library Services Association divisions. Now, as a librarian in an independent high school, I am a member of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). In addition to the national AASL, I am also a member of the state chapter in Virginia known as VAASL.
My membership in ALA, AASL, and VAASL allows me to grow in my knowledge of the discipline through access to research and publications, specifically School Library Research, AASL’s peer-reviewed scholarly journal. School Library Research publishes “high quality original research concerning the management, implementation, and evaluation of school library programs” (School Library Research, 2012). I also receive regular news updates via the ALA press releases, AASL Digest e-newsletter, and the VAASL listserv. Another way my membership benefits me is through access to resources. ALA, through its specialized divisions, publishes standards, guidelines, and frameworks. These publications are written by librarians for librarians, and they reflect best practices in the field and also lay the groundwork for future advancements in libraries.
The opportunities to serve the field of librarianship within the ALA, AASL, and VAASL seem endless. Within each division, there are many committees, and each group is regularly open to new members as they are term-based. There are opportunities to serve as a local advocate or lobby for legislation and public policy changes at the national level. Each year, ALA sends representatives to Washington, D.C. for this purpose. Another way to serve is to join an award committee, such as a youth media award, and select recipients. The annual conference is yet another opportunity where members can serve in a volunteer capacity or present. VAASL also hosts an annual conference. I have submitted two proposals (gamification in libraries and starting a school archives) for this year’s conference which will take place in November. I expect to hear if I have been selected later this month. As I consider my new role as a doctoral student, I am now considering trying to submit a manuscript to School Library Research for publication. Not only would it be a great opportunity for me to serve the field, but it would also give me the experience of being peer reviewed and edited. Eventually, I would like to present on my doctoral research at the national ALA conference.
References
Mission & history. (2008, September 2). Retrieved July 1, 2019, from American Library Association website: http://www.ala.org/aboutala/mission-history
School Library Research (SLR). (2012, April 24). Retrieved July 1, 2019, from American Library Association website: http://www.ala.org/aasl/pubs/slr