PAVEing a Blog

The Wild Thing About Families…Tarzan the Musical

Posted on April 20, 2024 by Harry Brake

Being drawn into your surroundings before you realize it – sounds like a novel concept being “played” out in a musical or school play, but when you see it happening everyday, and then it comes to stage front and center, you tent to notice it more. Is this musical worth seeing one of two remaining shows? ABSOLUTELY- as the cast is able to carry you to an understanding of topics that carry way beyond the stage. hearing the comments, fears, doubts, and excitement of the cast leading up to the days of this first production has been a long time coming, so I was able to catch aspects of “trailers” for weeks now. Was it worth the wait? Did Tarzan the Musical deliver in unusual ways I had not expected?

What better way to portray a life filled with tough decisions, unsure steps forward, and being true to yourself than Woodbridge High’s rendition of Tarzan the Musical than through the yes of students themselves that often navigate what some would deem the pits, perils and problems of high school, often deemed a jungle itself? Let’s have the first run of this musical be your guide…

The Depth of the Jungle

There is not doubt that I have been the benefit of seeing some unusual, creative setups when it comes to stage scenery and props. I have to say, without giving the exact details away, the creativity, art, detail, and simpleness yet complexity that uses the light and shadows – from how the trees the jungle, the vines, the rocks, the platforms are depicted, amazing. Not needing the complication of complicated materials, and yet looking complicated, being able to focus on one area of the stage and see it differently several times, it works so well.

If you pay close attention, you see almost every dance of light look differently thanks to the choice of how rocks, the jungle, the trees, ledges, allowing characters to manipulate up and down are done. As a high school stage crew member, I remember the creative and often ingenious moves that often had to be made to turn what the audience expects into something they do not expect and leave loving more. It is without a doubt this was the case with the chosen material and approach to depicting the jungles that represent confusion, finding one’s way, and navigating to higher ground. LOVED the choices made and the look when the house lights are down, and when the spotlights are utilized al through this musical. It helped set the tone, keep the momentum, and heighten the very aspects of the musical that the characters strive to represent.

A HUGE kudos to Sharon and Slaye Workman, Gillian Cannon, Ricki Truitt, Kim Wharton, Carren Wright, Sheila Kintz, Scott Haldeman, Ryan Curl, Stacey Hartman, Jen Fisher, Rita Webb, Delaware Electric CoOp, Anthony Lucke, John Davis, and the WHS Custodial Staff that were “All-in” when it comes to making sure, sound, set, costumes, props were enabled and activities to match the mystery of a forest we as an audience found ourselves lost in.

Leading by Example

Jonathon Morehouse as Tarzan- Walking among familiar friends and discovering if the grass is greener on the other side. Jonathan as a person and main character certainly defines that concept. There is rarely a time you will not see Jonathan without a smile on his face and even when having an “eh” day, Jonathan always has an upbeat smile, tone, and word for those he comes into contact with. At first it is hard to match the stereotype of Tarzan ( Hulk-size, estranged, distant) to Jonathan, but then – few can wear the courage, depth, and redefinition of what Tarzan as a metaphor means to the overall musical. Indeed, Jonathan redefines how we look at any main character amidst the changes that newness of a situation. He looks as if he was made to be in a flying harness (not an easy adjustment) and looking at the audience intently, his ability to convey the value and importance of what is beyond the name of family – with all it’s weird inconsistencies, is super human. The difficult thing will be looking at Jonathan differently in the halls of school AFTER Tarzan the Musical.

Discovery and Decisions

Avery Kerrick as Jane – Discovering and taking the opportunities that are presented to you is actually what Avery does best. In school and events, you see this on a caliber that often looks natural to Avery but is a challenge to many others, From raising the bar on herself in FFA, to sports, to academics, to responsibilities such as representing WHS and academics in our state interviewing school board candidates leading up to elections, to infusing ensemble with her voice, her time as a senior has FLOWN. Her curiosity to her surrounds and the personal discoveries made, comparable to the famous Jane Goodall, come out clearly as she runs through classifications of all she finds in the jungle, all she observes and notes down, and all that she ultimately conveys to the audience.

Add the element to flight to that character list (she never blinked during flight, making it seem the most natural thing in the world, and the way Jane is able to convey the value of her environment and what it means ultimately to those in this world, come as an appropriate time leading up to Earth Day. Of course the conflicts you feel between nature vs nurture, progress vs preserving our plant, family vs science, are just a few of the themes you wrestle with as she makes. it clear these are the very themes so many high school students, and then contributing members of a “civilized world” wrestle with daily.

Her voice, as has been the example in the past, leads the way through some of the most difficult, emotional decisions that need to be made, and it is not hard to see the maturity of this character that Avery brings to the musical. It often is hard to separate this person from the stage when you see her quietly yet confidently in the halls, but her voice and boldness on stage can’t be forgotten, nor shoudld it be missed. Is is wrong to say one of the highlights of the st age was the way she took the audience’s breath away with how she represented an endearing moment between herself and Tarzan? She did and this is one small example of how Avery can sneak up on your expectations of what you would expect versus what you will experience with her talent and ability. From the way she wears her hair matching the most mature Dora the explore and Jane Goodall, to the endearing and surprising reactions she brings to this character, you feel as if you are seeing this musical and story for the first time, which is difficult to do in many cases. Not this one!

The Unknown jungle, but Familiarity in Family

Emerson Wright as Kala. When I first moved back to Delaware from Mexico, after being spoiled by musical and production after production put on by massive budgets and hard work from The American School Foundation’s Theatre Group, I had set the bar low for myself in realizing i was going to see my first school play/musical in a very rural area, small school compared to leaving a massive school and production group, and I will admit had prepared myself for a “not the same but a new experience” feeling. I was blown away at that time by the talent, detail, and planning in that first small musical I saw being back in Delaware with a production of Miracle on 34th Street and the lead at that time was Alyssa Anthony who just redefined what it meant to take a leading role and run away with it. No longer was I in a small time, rural community but I was shocked into realizing how great a production can be anywhere when you have a cast that believes it can be bigger than people think a role can be.

I say all this because seeing a soft-spoken, usually not loud or obviously in the spotlight student as Emerson in school, then seeing her onstage and running with a confidence that is hard to match against any character, you see how any musical, any setting, any plot can be turned on its head and be unexpected when you have heart. Indeed, Emerson tugs on many heartstrings to push the narrative of what is important, what is valued, what is taken for granted, what can be versus what is.

It is interesting how you expect a first night to be filled with mistakes, errors, trip ups, etc, that is often why people go to see a first night production to compare it to a final production, to see the process develop, No need, as from the very beginning, Emerson is able to tap into the roles of defying the going train of thought when it comes to family, she is able to transform into a character that holds a think clock of hair not her own, and define what it means to make decisions that often women have to make in a male-dominated world.

Bringing the wildness of the world to civilization is often something many try to find ways to do versus bringing civilization to the wildness as this often leads down irreversible, destructive paths in nature, relationships, and how we see and identify ourselves. I have seen Emerson grow as an actor, student, and person just in the moments since she first took the stage and that growth helps you understand what any actor/student/individual can do if they believe the can. Her voice reinforces the strength of what it means to be a female version of Tarzan, but she manages to do so with humility, passion and intensity. Certainly the Emerson you see on stage is not the Emerson you would expect to see when you pass her quietly in school, and I think that is the beauty of what avenues individuals are encouraged to be passionate about – well what it is all about. What can happen. What does happen.

Even when the first night the mic she was wearing went in and out (normal as tech figures things out on a trial run of any musical)- it never made her impact recede in the least. Everyone could still hear her voice that reached beyond technology and highlighted the passion her character needed to bring to reinforce what is considered important, sacred, and irreversible.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Avery Kerrick, Emerson Wright, Jonathan Morehouse, Tarzan | Leave a comment

“You Are a Star Child For Life.” – Wesley King.

Posted on April 13, 2024 by Harry Brake

“In the afternoon, we went to go choose our book of the week. I love our library time, even if the librarian thinks I am a weirdo.” – page 130 – Sara and the Search for Normal.

Brace yourself, this is a LONG read, but I advise you to take this post in chunks to see how this is all related – and see how important it is to reach students who have been crying for help, yet do it quietly- yet often being the quietest, are the loudest screamers for help in my 28+ years of being an educator. If anything, Wesley King‘s book has shown me this,

I am not quite sure when I became the person I am today that is kept up late by the worries, regrets, anger, and disappointments of students around me. It often keeps me up late and pushes me into emails that often get sent out anywhere from 1:00 to 4:00 AM.

They do drive me late into the night, but ultimately, no matter how much I try – separating the experiences that seep into my, that surround me all day, are almost impossible to separate from my persona life. They stay with me despite the hardest I try to keep them at a distance. I try to layer that distance deeper than the thickest layer of insulation you can imagine, surrounding myself with canines, felines, 19 + aquarium, white noise, family, quiet. As an educator, you understand this. Those outside of education, to many they wonder why educators and those in education work so darn hard, so many hours, are driven so much. Unless they also allow the emotions and frustrations of the many students to also seep into them on a daily basis, it will be impossible to understand, fro anyone to understand, unless they experience it.

This and more kept me up through 261 pages of Wesley King’s BRILLIANT YA novel, Sara and the Search for Normal. Coincidentally, this is Library month – and a quick FYI on some key events this month – then I will explain why this is important:

April is School Library Month

Right to Read Day April 8th

National Library Worker’s Day – April 9th

National Library Outreach Day – April 10th

Take Action for Libraries Day – April 11th

The theme for National Library Week 2024 (April 7-13).

National Arab American Heritage Day

National Poetry Month

So before you say it, let me say it. There are a hundred different days and events to celebrate in any given day, in any given calendar year- we can pick anything to celebrate we want, from pancake day, to flower day, to even Buffet Day (hold me BACK!) to even International Moment of Laughter Day – today- I laugh you not. 🙂

But, what we choose to celebrate- that often can help others- is sometimes the best choice, at least for me. I decided a LONG time ago, I can reach more students in need being a librarian than being an educator in a classroom, and out of the 1000 miscues and indecisions I have made, this has been the right one I have made. For 100 other people, their being en educator has saved 100 more students than I would have by remaining in the classroom- that;s just life folks, we are all different and tap into different ways to impact others. I think some os us just need to be brave and not be afraid to embrace one thing we are better at than another, and as for me, whew- I have a long way to go to become the person I want to be, especially as a librarian. However, students all along thew way have helped me realize how powerful, amazing, and magical the role of a librarian, and being in a library can be. I see it every day in the fears, boasts, and bravado of students every day. One of the best kept places in the world was being in Mexico City and Mexico, and that is another story for another day, but I kid you not, that is one of the BEST experiences anyone can have in realizing how magical Mexico is for your mind soul, and life. Again, another day.

Similarly, one of the most amazing, best professional secrets is the power and magic of a library and a librarian – and many, I would say a majority – would NEVER, EVER believe that, because they do not REALIZE what that means, Many have a preconception of what a librarian is, does, or is supposed do, that falls 90% short of the reality – I still am discovering this. Students have been the ones that have taught me and shown me what they need, thanks to being is this role. Now all we need is others to learn the same lesson to change their mental healthiness, their perspective of what litereacy and reading can be and is, what it means for them to take on the toughest of days, and have a space and person to coach them forward without having to be on any given field to be coached.

What if we never mentioned National Arab American Heritage month and the two students I see every day in my library (and I do) who are Arab American, never hear me say anything about it, ever. They probably would think that does not mean anything to me, hence, they seem themselves as irrelevant.

What if the students who are finding poetry is not about rhyming, but about expressing? That it can be the one means of expressing without ANY rules, how they deal with the depression, the pain of abuse, the isolation of being “different” than what everyone considers being “normal”, that not being the AP or honors students does NOT mean they are less, that not going to college but going into a trade or technical field they are AMAZING at, were made for, does not make them less, that never mentioning that poetry can be about farming, can be about lashing out at being underestimated and coming through a dark tunnel and being true to themselves, THAT would be a tragedy. Poetry deserves a chance as well, just as being Arab American, just as being a librarian, just as being able to not feel your very best some days but having a place to let that be okay and not having to fit into what others consider being a normal student every day- JUST being able to have a place.

The days we celebrate are important, because they also represent ways to reach students of every background and every ability level, and whether you realized this or not – they provide a road to reaching ever type of person, just as what a librarian and library can do. I could count on MAYBE my ten fingers and ten toes in a WEEK, trust me, a WEEK, how many stories I hear from students about how some teachers, some family members, some administrators, some business owners, some siblings have disrespected them verbally, physically, mentally, or just do not “get them? because these same people are looking for someone “better” than them. I hear this in 100 conversations that go around and around so many people – yes, in my school library.

People that know me know, I talk ALOT. I type/talk alot, I throw out sarcastic comments all the time ot get reactions, I like throwing statements out just to get reactions from people. I love it. That is just me. Yet, I could NEVER, EVER keep up with the disappointments and frustrations I hear from so many students on a daily basis, from the countless students that surround me in a place known as the library. I feel often like a sponge soaking it in until I feel like the world’s largest puffer fish just waiting to explode. Can you imagine how these students feel, with that feeling of trying to find ways to cope with these frustrations? Can you imagine what it feels like to them to not be perceived as “normal” because their peers think or see them as deviating away from what their choice of peers’ “normal” is? Try to, and just imagine your normal is like no one else you know, how do you cope each day with the “normal” expectation of life? How How How keeps flashing across your brain- and then imagine taking the one place where students can possibly go to just THINk about that during the course of a day – try to imagine.

Yes I get upset when the library where I have set strict guidelines for a list of 20 things needs to be done is overcome with more people’s conversations than. my mind can take in – absolutely. It just means I have had more conversations pass through my ears that are seething with frustrations from these students, more than I can offer solutions for, and absolutely it affects me. AB-so-lutely. YET, it often takes me some time to calm myself down in that agitated state to be THANKFUL they have felt they COULD come to a place, this place, the library, to vent, to grieve, to decompress, to voice their anger, to voice their bitterness, and YES…

…on top of all those realizations, on top of ALL THOSE, there is the typical teenager using a place to just wanting to get out of class. Of course, that welcome to teenage world. Trying to discern between that and all other purposes, amid the unrelenting calls for technology questions/problems/life threatening issues, to requests for this announcement, that student to come here, these students needs to be relocated to library without warning, “Do I have a Kleenex/bandaid/paper towel for the spill. pass to come down later to get a book (do they want a book or getting out of class?), do I have snacks, do I know why my chrombook cracked despite the weight of 90 lbs in my bookbag without being in a case ?, how do I send a pdf via a word document in a zoom session- Can I find that blue covered book about the girl who escapes the boy that has been eye candying her? – Why is Anne Franke banned is a question I need you to help me with in addressing my AP paper with APA citations… STOP.

REALIZE – this is a NORMAL day in any single day of school and unless you know this, it might seem too much, for the average, out of school out of classroom, out of library person. But it is the reality of our teens and I can assure you, whether it was COVID or post COVID, or even preCOVID, the mental balancing act for students has never been easy. EVER. You can place your definition of Normal ion the other layers of your spouse, sibling, parents, and friend’s definition of normal and it will STILL be hard to find an exact match for the person standing in front of you at the circulation desk, deal with i.t. :). That is the reality. So-

Upon realizing all these amazing scenarios in Sara and the Search for Normal, this month, I am asking YOUR help this month.

Knowing and realizing what I have discovered about school librarians, school libraries, public libraries, individuals in power that might not realize what libraries mean to students, community members and parents that might not be aware of what occurs and needs to occur in libraries, how paraprofessionals are needed alongside certified librarians to change this cultural of not being confident of oneself to being confident as a student – in this world of adversity and doubt of the qualifications of a certified librarian – you can indeed help me, help schools and help students in this way:

During this month reach out to your state Senator, State Representative and express that in talking and forming a two way conversation with someone you know as a librarian, you see how valuable a place a library can be, WHEN USED PROPERLY. This obviously goes forward to the same with a qualified librarian. ~
Reach out to your school administrator and school board and look at OTHER schools that not only have certified librarians in their schools, but WHAT HAPPENS that you LIKE that comes out of those libraries – and what you would like to see happen in your school library. Here are some things you might not have thought of – bringing authors that write about trades, vocations and skilled labor and talk about how this is also a part of real life and essential and not looked down on because it does not involve (dare I say the c word? COLLEGE!) but maybe an internship, an apprenticeship – letting students interview community members to get to REALLY know their community and inviting them into the schools to play a part and connect to their classes – letting students create podcasts/videos/literary art magazines/ participate in board meetings/community events – acquiring new technology and finding ways to use that technology in their community- finding places where students can lead/present/create/express – lead students to lobby and advocate in their legislative halls – (and 100 more things I can show on request thanks to students who have taught me. ~
Help me bring the Festival of Words back to a level of honor and remain in the permanent event status that it deserves to be in. Listen, you know as well as I do Festival are AMAZING- Apple Scrapple, RiverFest, Food truck competitions, Dover Days, Sea Witch Festival, Firefly Festival, and more – I need help in making sure Delaware has the BEST Book Festival on the East Coast for children, teens and adults, with maintaining a closeknit, community feel. (Hey, isn’t that Delaware?) I have made great contacts with amazing authors (Thanks to students) that are willing to come Delaware/Maryland, willing to meet and greet and introduce some amazing Independent Book stores to students and residents, and have the ability to create a portable “third space” for librarians, students, parents, and educators. All we need is your help to keep it. ! I have been lucky enough to have businesses step forward and offer to allow me to reconfigure a book festival that will remain here for all the above mentioned, but I need more individuals, community members, educators, librarians, those vested in what a literacy festival can mean for our students. I need your help in adding to that foundation to make that a reality. Please continue to identify those sources of sponsorship that are willing to bring that author, that artist, that poet, that panel, that workshop to the very students that will benefit and grow from that experience. Our state and our students deserve that experience. We had MANY MANY years of s successful run of Authors Among Us and I want this for Delaware.~
Reach out to the State Administrator’s Association and let them know – what school libraries and school librarians can do to further enhance student’s academic success, mental success, social success, and overall success in all schools in a district. ~
Become familiar with your state Librarian Resources such as DLA and DASL, and they can provide statistics, resources, and ideas on how you can address #’s 1, 2, 3 and 4. Anytime anyone tries to make anything tied to literacy political, avoid this tendency. Literacy and education is about being nonpartisan and providing connections, knowledge, and all information to everyone so that can make the best decisions for THEMSELVES. I certainly would never try to assume what is best for another person, but would try my very best to obtain all accurate information to make the best decisions that fit me. That is the purpose and mission of librarianship.~
Please read Wesley King’s Sara and the Search for Normal. 95 % of what you need to know about what librarians want for their patrons is all in there. Brilliant.~
In light of what “normal” is, the exciting opportunity April 17th presents an opportunity to discuss and address neurodivergency and this is SO SO prevalent is so many of our students- from young to college – and here is a chance to “brain”storm how these amazing characterstics can be also addressing the needs of our students now. This is an author visit that is so much more than just a read but a chance to delve into resources that our students needs to have help navigating!~
Contact DSEA’s President Stephanie Ingram and Secretary of Education Dr. Holodick, BOTH AVID readers and advocates of literacy – but without knowing what we can do to improve how our librarians, libraries, and actions to literacy can be improved, nothing different occurs. YOUR experiences, stories, and expectation are what will move change.~
DO not be okay with just knowing a librarian position exists (if you are lucky) in your school. If a school library and librarians exists, PLEASE express your desire to not USE that space for JUST a video game room, a study hall, a classroom that takes up all opportunities for students to decompress, explore, choose, investigate on their own. Story after story exists in our state of a librarian or library in name only – and nothing, ZERO, ZILVCH, NADA, being available to what our students need. FIND OUT HOW your librarian and library are being used and NOT in name only. This occurs WAY to much and hence, the misconceptions and stereotypes of what a librarian does or can do. You can help change this and you alone.~
Celebrate 2024’s Legislative Day, just as they did in 2017! Thank these legislators for what they do- Delaware Libraries Week 2024 is taking place thanks to the dedicated support of our legislative sponsors: Representative Baumbach, Representative Morrison, Representative Romer, Representative Dorsey Walker, Senator Huxtable, and Senator Sturgeon. They have brought this initiative to life through House Concurrent Resolution No. 106, representing the unified support and shared conviction of all Representatives and Senators. This support reflects the legislature’s understanding of libraries’ significant and transformative influence.

Questions?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Apple Scrapple, Authors Among US, DASL, DLA, Dover Days, Festival of Words, Firefly Festival, Food Truck C ompetition, House COncurrent Resolution No. 106, RiverFest, Sara and the Search for Normal, Sea Witch Festival, State Administrator's Association, Wesley King | Leave a comment

Don’t Betray Yourself in the Process – Ruta Sepetys’s Latest Greatest Novel.

Posted on April 3, 2024 by Harry Brake

In finishing one of thew books students can vote on for the Delaware Diamond voting –

I Must Betray You by Ruta Sepetys – the transparency of how honest people are willing to be with others, and to themselves is transparent itself. I find this ironic as the circle of betraying others from informing them and yet the idea of informing on others to save your own is a tale that is woven through so many periods of history – The Crucible, Nazism, McCarthyism, and modern day politics. The beauty of this writing comes in the form of how in calls to the carpet, so to speak, the untapped power so many youth, and older generations fold to based on their biases and ignorance of taking in a full spectrum of both sides of any story, and being nonjudgmental before making up their mind.

The incredible bravery, as well as the pain that so many individuals had to go through in just this one example that occurred in Romania, is all you need to know about why more people need to be informed about the atrocities of not only our past, but the past of so many other countries’ past. This knowledge of a true history of so much only sets each of us on the correct one.

I distinctly will always remember being in another country and hearing a leader of my own country put down, desecrate individual’s nationalities, slander people’s identities, and thought, this can’t be a United States I knew or have come to know. It has always been what I have been taught my those that have been respected around me, be it my family or generous individuals who have taken the time to teach me to respect others, you will often disagree with others, but putting down others and slandering individuals you do not agree with, is one of the most ultimate sins that you will carry in your own self.

When leaders take on this person, and try to make this seem to be a characteristic of strength, I t realize they are compensating for a hatred that runs deeper than actually represents a country that deserved better than standing on a platform of hatred. That is not what a country I have been born into has ever meant to represent. Whether I am in the country I was born into, or lucky enough to be learning about another country I am lucky enough to live in and respect their beliefs, there never – EVER is an okay pass to disrespect any other individual person verbally, even those that spew hatred, even though it is difficult.

I equate this also to the way the internet makes you feel. Watching social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and others, and paying attention to the constant barrage of pitting bullies and adverse situations to solving them by fighting, violence and paybacks as a solution, has its own paybacks and karma. I have seen similar plots in our everyday politics. it depresses you over a period of time in viewing such situations, it locks you into a state or sense of disillusionment, it chains you to feelings of desperation and depression.

It wears on you and changes you as a person. It even restricts your full potential of being your best, and clearing your mind to be able to be your best self. I see this in so much of the wording and actions of so called leaders today. This is why such feelings and examples of fake news need to be exposed, eliminated and replaced with healthier approaches how we receive and respond to each other.

I keep going back to the incredible courage, striving for TRUTH rather than fear-mongering, hatred and animosity generated that occurred in Romania during the reign of the Ceausescu family – while their country suffered, was brutalized, talked in the worst way about in any way that disagreed witt against them, sound familiar? We have no idea the brutality of other countries and the treatment that many receive when leaders consider themselves above so many other, yet all the more reason to expose such negative motives in our own country.

The chance to learn how to expose false narratives, rise above hatred spewed in speeches towards others, utilize courts to honor respect instead of for revenge, stand up for individuals of other races, beliefs, nationalities, religions, and sex, expose individuals that spew distrust, hate, and fear, eliminate this crazy belief that by banning ideas you might not agree with and limiting them to wide audience, and showcasing accurate and fair/honest media (versus subversive and biased media as a demon of society) – is all the basis of why it is so important for youth to learn why lobbying, advocating, representing, and voicing concerns and putting priorities that protect the characteristics that have made our country what it is (along with the bad) – are such important details to be protected and fought for, as well as to be acted on.

When so much awful motivations are stemming from Putin, Palestine and Israel conflicts, genocides occurring in Africa and the Middle East- our role as Americans has to be protecting, voicing, and action on concerns for ALL individuals and their plight. During National Arab – American Heritage Month (April) and the increasing role that climate plays in immigration movements all over the world, complacency, hatred, negative slander towards others, certainly has no place or time in representing individuals that say they are leaders.

Nonsense.

Those individuals representing the darkest aspects of our country are not worth the time, conversation, or thought of any action when better energies can be put towards improving and supporting the lives of individuals that are in much more desperate situations than ourselves. THAT is energy better spent than scrolling through social media and conspiracy theories and posting posting posting. Last time I checked DOING something to help others causes much more of a ripple effect than simply being the loudest mouth in a crown without any helpful action.

Amazing what can be gleaned from learning of other’s as well as our pasts. History and the spoken word can be a HUGE motivator, such as in Ruta Sepetys’ novel I Must Betray You, as long as we agree not to betray ourselves and who we are as a people and as a country.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged I Must Betray You, National Arab American Heritage Month, Romania, Ruta Sepetys | Leave a comment

Centers of Possibility. Your support needed.

Posted on March 29, 2024 by Harry Brake

Just a note to cheer you up for Easter 🙂

Our SGA officers have been interviewing all the school board candidates before elections and have been doing an amazing job – as said by one of the candidates:

“Today I had the honor and privilege to sit down in a podcast and answer questions from the Student Government Association(SGA) at Woodbridge High School about the upcoming school board election. To say I was impressed would be an understatement. This amazing group was so professional and demonstrated remarkable leadership and wisdom beyond their years. I left today’s interview and podcast feeling lighter than I have in a while about the future my kids have to look forward to. In closing, I was also fortunate enough to get a private tour of what I feel is one of the best high school’s that I have ever seen. Our community is truly blessed.Special thank you to Librarian Harry Brake and SGA Advisor Bradley Walker for having me come in today!”

While people often credit me like above, don’t be fooled.

I simply direct students to opportunities and put them in touch with them, parents, community members, educators all drive home the skills they need, even on the rough days, to make them capable 🙂. The librarian and library takes the curriculum and molds it into a new possibility.

Our students yesterday represented public and school libraries and Librarians ALL OVER DE. We have 5-6 Senators that asked to visit our school library in the next few weeks and see our school, having these students give them a walk through. That says alot about the values you instilled in them as students- it goes beyond our schools. Images here from the day, I was blown away seeing them advocate and lobby these legislators. AND Ms, McGill was AWESOME sharing opportunities and the desire to continue to find ways to represent civics taught in school and how we find ways to connect outside of school.

Third, the podcasts the students have been doing are AMAZING. The number of people listening to them has skyrocketed and we have three new ones coming out in the next few days. We are working with a new camera that allows us to create virtual tours of spaces, our school library being the first of many in the state. VERY exciting.

Due Knowledge • A podcast on Spotify for Podcasters– Public to School, School to Public Librarianship – This is a podcast tying together the public and school librarianship connections. Led by Donna Carter and Harry Brake. This episode utilizes a cell phone interview, WITH the snowball microphone, in place of using JUST the cellphone as the microphone in the last podcast – do you notice the difference?podcasters.spotify.com

As April approaches – and this is National Library Month, see the attached for the GREAT things students are doing – and tell/write/call your legislators that ALL schools in DE deserve to have a library AND a trained librarian where they can put their creative juices to the test. Where they can decompress. Where they can thrive.

Delaware State Representatives. https://legis.delaware.gov/Chambers/House/AssemblyMembers

Senators

https://legis.delaware.gov/Chambers/Senate/AssemblyMembers

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2nd Annual International Women’s Day – Friday, March 8th

Posted on March 10, 2024 by Harry Brake

When referencing the needs for a student’s third space in school, being the school library, a perfect example was on International Women’s Day at the Walter P.J. Gilefski Media Center. So many time conversations, uplifting messages, and sometimes just a space to hear quiet, have a place to calm down away from constant movement, and to be surrounded by possibility is needed to get through a day.

The school library experience and presence of a school librarian can do that and does do that.

Without the collaboration of Joy Conway and Communities in Schools, as well as other faculty members, this could not be possible. School libraries are crucial to the networking needed with others to achieve amazing things.

It was exciting to see the conversations many young women needed to have with professional women that were leaders in our state, and it was fitting that this occurred in a school library setting.

I can not emphasize enough when these spaces exist equipped with a certified librarian at the minimum, how therapeutic and energizing they can be to students, sometimes to be able to get through the day.

It was a blessing to have these amazing women be a part of a process of showing a path of success to other young women. As we approach School Library Month in April. please express to your local state representative, senator, and all legislators, how vital a role a certified librarian and an official school library students can visit are in aspects many people might not immediately think about. We will keep providing examples to keep you aware of the service school libraries and librarian perform that many might not be aware of.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Certified School Librarians, Commnunities in Schools, International Women's Day, School Librarians, Third Space | Leave a comment

Fitting Curiosity

Posted on March 9, 2024 by Harry Brake

It is fitting that here we are in MARCH! already, of 2024, and this being my FIRST blog post of the 2024 year (I am a little lagging) is about the magic nature holds.

It is funny how slowly I am moving through our Nanticoke River Watershed Conservancy Community read and yet, this particular book, Divining,

I find I do not want to end. The powerful connections made to trees and our lives, and what we take fro granted, feels as if I need a long period of time between chapters to have the details and connections settle in. It is worth it taking the same slow approach as trees do when they grow and enrich our communities.

https://harrybrake.com/nanticoke-river-watershed-conservancy-project-page/

I was pulled in to Chapter 12 with the ties to an object we see on the ground all the time (me, I notice more when walking my dogs) tied to trees I was unaware of or forgot who they belonged to, (referring to a tree as a person seems pretty normal to me). to the fact that as a librarian, I did not realize there was a children’s book naming trees (how did I miss that?)

I love there is something unique and creative in every chapter that stands out and isn’t that what we find in nature? Coming off humbled from a very successful #DoMore24DE campaign, I realize how lucky we are to be in a state where we have so many passionate, important, and powerful nonprofits that serve our communities, that we can support each other through events like #DoMore24DE, and the fact we have so many generous and passionate individuals that truly care about their environmental community. I for one want to do a better job of keeping tabs with them all year long, and not just once a year.

Youth, creativity, the environment, wise generational experts in our community, and literacy all intertwine. I continue to find ways to take all of these and combine into a ball, similar to the one the sweetgum tree drops each year before growing anew. That seems a better way of measuring our success and growth over time in a community. I am grateful for the many people still interested in making sure we live in an enriching community.

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Black History Month as a Deeper Movement and Cause

Posted on February 3, 2024 by Harry Brake

Despite the what many people view as holidays that fall into days, weeks and months, if used and applied to better our communities and the future of our world, they take on new importance to younger generations.

We are lucky to have Black History Month and heroes to look up to. You can take away the statues of those struggled and won over adversity and against racism, but those are simply icons of some amazing people that will remain forever.

A Jackie Robinson Statue in Kansas Was Stolen and Found Burned

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/jackie-robinson-statue-stolen-burned-in-kansas-2426349

This depraved act reminds me of so many false narratives and beliefs about so much around us today. If ever anyone needed to know why certified librarians and qualified educators are needed to be supported in their communities to desseminate information, it is today. Navigating information is more than reading, hearing, and seeing information.

There are depraved acts and depraved people that do not act for the diverse country we are – we depend on individuals to uphold the true nature of what America is – despite oppositions and negativity of all kind.

There are hosts of people that think they know what is best for educators and school librarians without ever having their experiences. Positivity and commitment to what is right will persevere. As many groups that want to conceal truths and mask with false truths, there are more individuals and groups that strive to keep information, education, and experiences on a level that is truthful, respectful, and resists negative, racist, derogatory, and false claims. I want to be kn own to belong to the latter group.

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Leaping into Librarianship at AASL – Thursday October 19th to Friday October 20th – HOLD ON!

Posted on December 31, 2023 by Harry Brake

After an amazing first day at AASL on Thursday – and having never been to Tampa, I was ITCHING just to see what the backbone of Tampa was like.

Following an amazing Opening General Session and Keynote, we headed to the Historic YBOR District. We being, how COOL was it that we had colleagues from Delaware together, and heading out on an adventure – it was amazing to be with Tom Gavin, Jen Ashby, and Susan Elizabeth Cordle outside of what we normally only saw of each other at meetings and such.

Taking the TECO street car there (free!) – EXCELLENT and loved. After seeing the YBOR District to me resembled much of what the main street of Mardi Gras would seem like with the historic store fronts, to see it is the only way to experience it. Settling in at Carmine’s we ate like kings and queens, with a waitress that was amazing. While claiming to have THE BEST Cuban sandwich, I would say – it was good but I wanted to wait to see if it was the best :) As we roamed the area we came across a Karaoke establishment and colleague librarians and despite stereotypes, the librarians RULED the night with karaoke, it was just – the BEST. Called the Double Decker, packed with the librarians, and especially amazingly cool librarians from the Dakotas, it was such a relief to not be worried about proving our professions and celebrating our accomplishments.

Friday- October 20th – whew. the layers of information we were scheduled to receive, and how this could be taken back and shared for goos use with our states – I was impressed.

Being gracious in attending the AASL Awards Breakfast, it was so exciting to see so many librarians celebrated as they were advocates for librarianship in so many ways in their home states. There is so little time or opportunity for librarians to get together to just learn, talk, and share outside of the internet and often, the hands on, sit down approach is what is needed to advance so many more aspects of honing our librarians to be the best place possible, essential even.

From the breakfast to the Friday general Session (I was so excited to see SORA being a sponsor of this general session as we have had great success with implementation of this service in our state) – speakers Heather Harding (Executive Director for Our Shared Future), Cameron Samuels, (YES! A student representing some topics worth examining in the Katy Independent School District in Texas), and Karen Smith, a board member in Central Bucks County, Pennsylvania, all helped begin a discussion on points all advocates of literacy are involved in, protecting the right to read. This mixed panel was AMAZING and huge tale aways from this session:

-I loved that the opening statement that Public Education is the foundation of our constitution – LOVED.

-Karen Smith, from the 4th largest district in PA, (2o0 miles north of Philadelphia, considered a purple state /county, was able to discuss the first hand struggles that had been ongoing with The Moms for Liberty organization in Pennsylvania.

-When the second panelist, a student from Texas, Cameron Samuels discussed the policy changes in his district, where books had been labeled as inappropriate materials, “classics” were being asked to be defined (not sure WHY this was so valuable to deciding what is considered a “classic”, and by whom?), the fact that 68 books had been challenged immediately in July of 2022 when the policy passed was concerning.

-It was obvious the community itself had not wanted this to occur at all, and yet this was occurring in the policies at the school board level. It has seemed 20 people and 20 people only out of the rest of the community had pushed this policy through, and at this point ACLU come onto the scene to see what a policy that was not a favorite to the majority was being passed.

-His ability to gather student’s voices together to be the voice that dictated opinions about texts was very very successful.

-Cameron stresses how vital is it for an extreme minority to no be able to push policies forward the community at large does NOT want, simply by being active and educating the community. Youth have a GREAT power to do so, Similar to Muslim extremists not representing the basis of Muslim religion, parallels can be definitely seen here in actions that can educate individuals on actual tenets of literacy.

-With a 600% increase in challenges since 2019 – let that sink in- it is obvious politics are landing on the front steps of schools.

-Cameron’s point that Banned Book Month is so much about education and litereacy was so so true- and he referenced how many Jewish students in the past have been registered as “skipping” when there are holidays not recognized by schools for Jewish students.

-Cameron questioned as a student how the Holocaust was not in his school curriculum (How?) and how individuals that are gatekeeping the narrative are not involving the opinions and interests of students themselves.

-Cameron mentioned is seemed this has been never about the books the books are simply the medium.

-Cameron as well as Karen Smith discussed how the school board is the best defense for these types of movements. Misinformation in the public needs to be addressed and discussed before policies that are rapidly passed, without proper information is received.

-Book policies instituted help increase the fair stance of a book and a theme, its topics, and how it is presented to be examined before radically “banning” anything.

-The point was made that parents have always had a chance to reach out to librarians, always. The main problem is – many parents are not even aware there is NOT a certified librarian in their school and if the parent is so unaware of this fact, or the multiple roles a librarian media specialist serves the school, how easy is it to simply censor or label material inappropriate when you do not have a certified librarian to help discern material appropriate for a collection? The answer is very easy and hopefully the public will begin to see the difference and purpose a certified school librarian has in the sequence to all of this.

-it is VITAL that certified librarians everywhere are doing their job but even more, so, TALKING about their job as we are here- otherwise, how possibly would anyone know outside of the stereotypical idea of a librarian, what is entailed?

-Ms. Harding stressed how vital it is for librarians to tell their stories, EVERYWHERE. There is no such thing as stealing information from librarians, it is called empowering each other.

-Bookstores and librarians, have been, and always will be, role models for how to deal with adversity, restrictions posed on freedoms, and how to analytically, methodically, positively address obstacles such as many are facing today.

-Librarians and librarians are indeed the third space students need to find solutions to obstacles of all kinds, as well as solution they encounter from all areas.

-Attending meetings, board meeting, librarians attending division / department meetings, DO NOT REINVENT the wheel, There are so many skilled and experiences librarians from every state that can support each other based on their experiences, and as a result, they are supporting students from all over the United States.

-Giving out books that have banned in some areas is a HUGE help to the students that cannot vote quite yet against such radical actions, AGAIN, Independent bookstores and certified librarians want to know avenues of how to meet their patrons halfway.

-Despite this being a hard time for librarians to telling their stories (librarians and book companies are being threatened, laid off, reduced in positions, sued, fired, harassed) again, FIND out of the myriad of librarians those that can share their resources and experiences and utilize that to support your student’s needs.

–When books like Rosa Parks are banned, books that help students navigate middle school like All’s Fair in Middle School is being limited to patrons, it is time that one major trait and talent school librarians, have, to utilize media to educate, inform, discuss (isn’t that what we are doing here?) to counter mismessaging about books that are perfectly aok to provide at the appropriate levels (excuse me, but having a certified librarian in the house makes the statement that you know the professionalism and expertise such a person brings to the school is valuable) is activated.

-Raising the awareness surrounding the absurdity of banning a book, addressing fines and jail time being put against LIBRARIANS in over literacy, is misplacement of actions that are misdirected. It is very scary to have individuals that so not see this.

One of the backbones of this amazing General Session on Friday was the impact that school librarians, with youth, with youth, with school boards, with parents have and can have. Minus a certified librarian in the mix and it is SHOCKING to see the down spiral of what is missing and what occurs. This is vital that the public sees what an impact certified school librarians, and that education received, has on any educational institution.

Having a bit of time at the end of taking this all in (it took awhile, 8 pages of notes and alot of contemplation) I was able to wander through the vendors and one of the best encounters was seeing the University of PITTSBURGH (Mary Kay Biagini was in the house!) represented at Tampa, my home town connection (and having had seen them at our own Maryland/Delaware Conference this past May, this was SUCH A HIGHLIGHT. Having talked with Dorcas Hand several times from Texas (via email) AND her being a gracious part of our October PD in Delaware, it was so exciting to see everyone IN PERSON and meeting new colleagues along the way, and a background of Pittsburgh to boot.

L to R – Mary Kay Biagini / Chair, Department of Information Culture and Data Stewardship
Associate Professor, Kristi Kaaland /Antioch University in Seattle, Dorcas Hand/School Library Advocate, Strong School Libraries Retired as Director of Libraries at AOS

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged Cameron Samuels, Carmines, Dorcas Hand, Heather Harding, Karen Smith, Mary Kay Biagini, Our Shared Future, TECO street car, YBOR District | Leave a comment

From Collection Development to Key Noting.

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Harry Brake

Following an amazing morning accepting the Toor Scholarship as well as attending an amazing workshop session on Echoes and Reflections – An AASL Author Talk on Collection Development was offered – which was my current class at Florida State University as I was creating a Collection Development Policy for my own High School Library. I wanted anything I could obtain regarding constructing a solid Collection Development plan. Her session was EXCELLENT.

The AASL Opening was phenomenal. There is a huge reminder that school libraries should definitely apply to the National School Library of the Year by January 01. Calvert County, Maryland’s Public School system in 2021 won, and no winner in 2022 (travesty) – so APPLY!

Sylvia Knight Norton- Executive Director of AASL helped encourage the phrase “Let’s Try This!” when it came to initiatives that school librarians are always willing to take on – as a characteristic of the determined school librarian. She reflected on being in this position 10 years ago and how so much has occurred in that time.

2023-2024 AASL President, Courtney Pentland was recognized for the incoming year as well as being part of the Oregon State Library Conference October 13th and 14th. The question about how much support has been given and needed from library associations was emphasized, and it was awesome to see a land acknowledgement was given for the location in Tampa recognizing the original inhabitants of the Tampa Bay area.

ALA President Emily Drabinski discuss the need to advocate and bring up over and over the need for Every School to be staffed by a certified librarian. The long-term impacts are priceless as I know, and many know, but many more are unaware of this fact. It is our job to inform on that fact and enable this asset.

It was AWESOME to see and hear from Florida Association for Media in Education (FAME) President, Kathleen Daniels. and the announcement of the Right to Read Rally at 5:30 PM this evening.

It was exciting to see the decisions made to travel to AASL in Florida to push forward one of the most vital assets we have, litereacy.

Yet, leading up to the key note speaker, Nikkolas Smith, ARTivisit, would be mind-blowing and energizing. Stay tuned for that information coming shortly!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged AASL, Courtney Pentland, Echoes & Reflections, Emily Drabinski, FAME, Kathleen Daniels, Nikkolas Smith, Sylvia Knight-Norton | Leave a comment

The End of 2023, but Much to Grow From.

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Harry Brake

As we begin to move towards the year 2024 – there are many loose ends that have not been addressed worthy of 2023 spotlights. A look back at the success of Festival of Words was one of them.

**The traditional Authors pass the mic at the author panel!**

With all good intentions, we wanted to have all authors interviewed and podcasts posted BEFORE Festival of Words. It just didn’t work out that way – however, with the first of two podcasts with author Ryan D. Gebhart, it provided us a look back and a chance to revisit aspects of Festival of Words 2023.

Going into the festival, we found the numbers attending were definitely higher than the previously year, and what didn’t change was the massive support given by the planning committee coming from ALL walks of life, from teachers, librarians, retired educators, DLA, divisions of DLA, the state library system, and the authors themselves.

Certainly when you hear a Festival is going to highlight and feature local authors, some might think of this being slightly less adequate than some of the larger conferences that bill and bring in famous authors and big names. Yet, the opposite occurred. The authors, bookstores, even the original prints of @MedicGrizzUniverse and companies that supported Festival of Words could not have been more comfortable, inviting and personable – and each one of them were celebrities in their own in the connections they made with the attendees. Authors served as mediators of panels, reached out to authors at their individual tables, and were available many times in between sessions, and the overall themes of local, approachable, connecting with interests of attendees, this was all present.

Were there aspects that needed attention to from an administrative level? Of course, there is always room for improvement and having the ability to come back to the drawing table and list those within a week following the event was and is a strength in finding ways to reach readers, librarians, and literacy advocates. Yet, seeing so many librarians, adults, young readers, teachers, authors, and representatives of bookstores, state service groups. and some of the most creative tables (Did you NOT love the antique typewriter and being able to receive a custom poem on the spot?!) – every minute of the festival was active and had a literacy hum.

**Students come in early for the AM author panel**

Students browsing graphic art, comic illustrations, getting authors to autograph books, enter raffles for some amazing prizes by some amazing sponsors, becoming familiar with independent bookstores in our state, hearing authors apply their craft to the attendees and involving them, discovering what the Delaware Library Consortium can offer, seeing UDLib Search providing information that some did not realize before, and MUCH more – despite the 2:00 PM end, there was a sense of “this could go on for another day!”

More than anything, I noticed amid students spinning a prize wheel, making customized buttons, and discussing what DASL was, the authors from the moment they arrived to the time they left, were involved in so many ways from many different places (be it their workshop, their tables, walking amid questioning attendees, their panels, even at lunch). I found the authors as some of the most generous, thoughtful, giving, creative authors I had ever met in one location. Hands down. (Maybe I should say page down?). It redefined what local mean to me and what Delaware and Maryland means to me when the word local is applied. We are so incredibly lucky to have the authors within our vicinity that we do have, and this was evident on December 02 at Festival of Words.

One thing I do know, with the new faces we saw as a part of supporting Festival of Words 2023, we need even more to build on the successes, improve the areas needing improving, and continue to move forward in the areas of literacy despite the setbacks we have overcome. The most recent had been COVID, but now with so many other obstacles that rival literacy, we need even more individuals to support and grow what literacy can become in our state. Please consider being a part of the planning and idea committee for Festival of Words 2024, as seeing the number of students realizing how unique this opportunity was for them. We need you and your ideas, ability, and creativity as this was easily the reason so many important authors were able to be a part of this year’s festival. Please think about reaching out to Andrea Rashbaum (festivalofwordsde@gmail.com) in being a part of the idea pool for Festival of Words 2024 – and in the meantime, enjoy the wisdom we discovered at Festival of Words.

Podcasts: