Reflections by others on my proficiencies at a Masters of WOU graduate

2. As a graduate of Masters in Education in Information and
Technology program at Western Oregon University, graduate
students are to met the vision of a MSEd graduate in seven areas of
proficiency.
1) be professionals and leaders in their field,
2) be able to express themselves competently in writing,
3) be reflective practitioners,
4) be conversant in the literature and research of their discipline,
5) know how to connect with all of their students,
6) be familiar with technology,
7) be able to synthesize the new knowledge they have gained from
all the classes offered within their degree program, and know how
to apply that knowledge in meaningful ways to improve their
practice, improve student learning, and advance the field of
education.

3. T h e f o llo w in g p r e s e n t a t io n is a w a y t o
g iv e y o u in s ig h t in t o m y r e a c h in g t h o s e
s e v e n p r o f ic ie n c ie s b a s e d o n t h e
o b s e r v a t io n s o f W O U in s t r u c t o r s a s
w e ll a s m y c o lle a g u e s a n d p e e r s in t h e
e d u c a t io n a l f ie ld . H o p e f u lly t h e s e
q u o t e s f r o m p r o f e s s io n a l e d u c a t o r s
s p e a k in g in r e f e r e n c e t o m y s k ills w ill
b e in s ig h t f u l o f m y q u a lit ie s a s a n
e d u c a to r a nd g ra d u a te s tu d e nt o f WO U .

4. 1. M S E d g r a d u a t e s w ill b e
p r o f e s s io n a ls a n d le a d e r s in
t h e ir f ie ld .
• they will know what it means to be a professional and will practice that as a
matter of habit.
• they will make connections with the professional world by attending
conferences, reading professional journals, participating in professional
development activities
• they will have leadership skills and will take on leadership roles in their work
• they will be change agents—they will advocate for change where it is needed
• they will be agents for social change
• they will be familiar with educational policy
• they will be critical consumers of information
• they will establish connections with the community and demonstrate outreach
skills
• they will be self-driven, growth oriented professionals
• they will provide leadership in program and curricular design

5. “Diana is a leader in creating successful, motivating technology
projects, that are tied to state and district standards, for students
from first through fifth grades. I have observed some of her
former students who are now in Middle School. They stand out
above the rest with their comfort level and ease with
technology.”
“Diana was an initiator in creating a Professional Learning
Community for the Teacher Librarians in schools in West
Salem. Through this PLC, lesson plans involving technology,
library and literacy skills, and teacher collaboration as well as
collection development ideas were shared and discussed in
detail. This PLC was used as a framework for other PLC's
throughout the Teacher Librarian community.”
Je n n i fe r G i b s o n -M i lls
C h a p m a n H i ll
L i b r a r y m e d i a T e c h n o lo g y T e a c h e r
W e s t P r o fe s s i o n a l L e a r n i n g C o m m u n i t y M e m b e r

6. “Diana is a consummate professional lending her expertise of library
collection knowledge and technology skills to colleagues during
Library Media meetings and Professional Learning Community
gatherings wherein the exchange of new ideas and best practices
were of the utmost importance.”
“Diana attended Oregon Association of School Library (OASL)
conferences twice a year. She conducted district level in-services for
district professional development days to disseminate information
gained through university classes and conferences attended. During
PLC meetings, she regularly shared book talks and new information
gathered from professional journals such as Booklist and from her
classes and conferences.”
D e b ra B a rn s
B u s h E le m e n t a r y
L i b r a r y M e d i a T e c h n o lo g y T e a c h e r
S a le m K e i z e r S c o p e a n d S e q u e n c e

7. “Diana is an extremely devoted teacher. She
truly loves what she does and gets along well
with student she teaches. In addition Diana
has always been a wonderful resource for staff.
She is always willing to help trouble shoot
technology problems, or her knowledge often
provides just the right resource or program
needed for any given project.”
K a th y S te w a rt
H a r r i t t E le m e n t a r y
K i n d e rg a rte n D u a l La n g u a g e

8. “As a parent of Diana’s former students, I
appreciate her ability to infuse technology into
all of her lessons. As a colleague, I appreciated
her willingness to share those ideas in the PLC
meetings that she initiated. The times we were
able to come together were valuable for
everyone involved. We were able to share ideas
for lessons, but more importantly, we were able
to develop of sense of community.”
M a ri e Z e n s
S w e g le E le m e n t a r y
Li b ra ry M e d i a Te a c h e r
S a le m K e i z e r S c o p e a n d S e q u e n c e
D e v e lo p m e n t T e a m

9. “Diana has proved to be a leader in our district, related
to library media services and how they connect to state
and district stands. She’s coordinated a PLC of other
elementary librarians who have been meeting regularly
to create a scope and sequence that connects library,
literacy and technology standards, aligning those with
what the homeroom teacher are doing in the
classroom.”
B i ll W i t t m a n
P r i n c i p a l L i b e r t y E le m e n t a r y

10. “ D ia n a ’ s s p o k e in m a n y o f o u r
m e e t i n g s . S h e w o u l d t a k e 5 - 10
m in u t e s t o im p r e s s u s w it h
n e w t e c h n o lo g y , t h e t h in g s s h e
h a d le a r n e d a n d n e w
re s o u rc e s .”
K r i s t e n T a y lo r
H a r r i t t E le m e n t a r y
3 r d /4 t h D u a l L a n g u a g e T e a c h e r

11. “While at Harritt, Diana has served for five years as the
Site Technology Coordinator, taught professional
development classes in Web 2.0 tools, established the
Harritt Library Media Cadet Program and led a Library
Media Focus Group which established a district K-5
Scope and Sequence.”
S te p h e n C o x
L i b r a r y /M e d i a P r o g r a m S p e c i a li s t
S a le m -K e i z e r S c h o o l D i s t r i c t

12. 2 . M S E d g r a d u a t e s w ill b e
a b le t o e x p r e s s t h e m s e lv e s
c o m p e t e n t ly in w r it in g .
• they will be skilled writers
• they will know how to write for an academic audience
• they will know how to write persuasively
• they will know how to communicate effectively with colleagues, students,
parents, and the community

13. “I loved reading your reflective
writing pieces. If only they could
be circulated in our school
system. Awesome Job!”
K a r e n Ja r e d
W a lk e r M i d d le S c h o o l
7 t h g r a d e L a n g u a g e A r t /S o c i a l S t u d i e s
te a c h e r

14. “Diana regularly interacts with parents, students and staff
via email, in person and on the phone. She also
communicates with library patrons through an effective
library media web page which she developed for her
school @: http://www.harrittmedia.blogspot.com/”
S te p h e n C o x
L i b r a r y /M e d i a P r o g r a m S p e c i a li s t
S a le m -K e i z e r S c h o o l D i s t r i c t

15. 3. MSEd graduates will be
reflective practitioners.
• they will strive to improve their practice
• they will think critically about their own practice
• they will understand how to evaluate their own work and how to apply what
they have learned to make necessary improvements
• they will not be complacent
• they will understand how theory informs their own practice
• they will apply new instructional practices as a result of reflection

16. B e r e f le c t iv e
p r a c t it io n e r s
“Diana practiced her skills with the highest level of
drive and concern toward professional growth to
continue to become the most knowledgeable and
effective media specialist she could possibly be. She
encouraged and helped her colleagues to do the
same. As one of her colleagues, I benefited
tremendously from our discussions, exchanges and
the collaborative lessons we created and refined
together.”
D e b ra B a rn s
B u s h E le m e n t a r y
L i b r a r y M e d i a T e c h n o lo g y T e a c h e r
S a le m K e i z e r S c o p e a n d S e q u e n c e D e v e lo p m e n t

17. 4. MSEd graduates will be conversant in the
literature and research of their discipline.
• they will understand the theories underlying teaching and learning and know
how to apply those theories to improve their own teaching
• they will know how to review and evaluate the research of others and apply the
findings to their own situations
• they will be familiar with best practices and be able to identify the theoretical
foundations that support these practices
• they will use research and theory to develop new instructional practices
• they will be theory-builders
• they will be critical consumers of research
• they will know how to collect and use data to evaluate programs
• they should understand and use action research

18. “During her eight years of media specialist service
to the Salem Keizer School District, Diana
organized and led a committee of SKSD media
specialists in the job of creating a scope and
sequence which aligned library use, literacy and
technology skills. The subsequent documents
created became the foundation for SKSD Library
Media curriculum.”
D e b ra B a rn s
B u s h E le m e n t a r y
L i b r a r y m e d i a T e c h n o lo g y T e a c h e r
S a le m K e i z e r S c o p e a n d S e q u e n c e
D e v e lo p m e n t T e a m

19. B e c o n v e r s a n t in t h e
lit e r a t u r e a n d
r e s e a r c h o f t h e ir
“Diana is an outstanding professional who is
d is c ip lin e
experienced, knowledgeable and caring. Diana
constantly strives to improve her teaching and
technical skills.
S te p h e n C o x
L i b r a r y /M e d i a P r o g r a m S p e c i a li s t
S a le m -K e i z e r S c h o o l D i s t r i c t

20. 5. MSEd graduates will know how to connect
with all of their students, whether they be
children or adults.
• they will be able to effectively work in a diverse environment
• no matter how diverse their student body, they will be able to make learning
meaningful for each and every student
• they will be able to help every student access, understand, and personalize
information
• they will understand how to connect with adult learners, whether in a classroom
situation, in conferences, or in professional meetings
• they will be culturally competent
• they will be aware of special education issues.

21. K no w ho w to c o nne c t
w it h a ll o f t h e ir s t u d e n t s
“ D ia n a W a n e k c o n s is t e n t ly c r e a t e d p r o je c t s
c o n n e c t e d t o s t u d e n t s liv e s . L a s t y e a r a t t h e
e n d o f th e ye a r , s h e a s k e d e a c h s tu d e n t to
c r e a t e a n A n im o t o m o v ie a c k n o w le d g in g t h e ir
b e s t f r ie n d s in t h e ir liv e s . M a n y o f t h e s e
e n d e d u p b e in g f a m ily m e m b e r s ; t h e y o f t e n
b r o u g h t t e a r s t o m y e y e s a n d a llo w e d e a c h
s t u d e n t t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o c o m p lim e n t a n d
h o n o r t h e c la s s r o o m p e e r s t h a t h a d m a d e a n d
im p a c t o n t h e m h e r e a t H a r r it t . ”
“ D ia n a f o u n d w a y s t o a c k n o w le d g e a n d
s u p p o r t a ll a c a d e m ic le v e ls o f s t u d e n t s . S h e
w a s a ls o q u ic k t o c o m m e n t o n s t u d e n t s ’
s k ills a n d e s p e c ia lly t h e s t r e n g t h s o f S p e c ia l
E d u c a t io n a n d E L L s t u d e n t s . S h e o f t e n m a d e

22. “When Salem-Keizer made the decision to place their library media
program on the chopping block, during the board meetings which
would determine the fate of this SKSD’s program, it was evident
Diana had successfully reached out to her school community by
the number of her students and parents who came to speak on her
behalf to attempt to save the program. While all of the attempts
were unsuccessful, her students’ and parents’ speeches regarding
how she had made such a difference in student reading interests
and technology abilities were resounding.”
D e b ra B a rn s
B u s h E le m e n t a r y
L i b r a r y M e d i a T e c h n o lo g y T e a c h e r
S a le m K e i z e r S c o p e a n d S e q u e n c e
D e v e lo p m e n t T e a m

23. “Last year Mrs. Wanek asked me to volunteer in
the media center in order to help those children
who had not had much exposure to working with
the computer mouse. This demonstrates her
concern and willingness to do what it take to help
students who need extra support develop critical
technological literacy skills.”
K r i s t e n K la y
H a rri tt P a re n t

24. “As a new teacher, I learned so much from watching Mrs.
Wanek teach and interact with students at Harritt
Elementary. She holds ALL of her students to high
expectations and teaches them with compassion, energy,
and a great sense of humor. With a dual language program
and culturally diverse student population, she was able to
find ways to teach technology by connecting it to what the
students were learning in class as well as taking their
background knowledge into consideration.”
B ri a n n e C a m e ro n
2 n d G ra d e D u a l La n g u a g e Te a c h e r
H a r r i t t E le m e n t a r y

25. “Diana is not content until every student is fully engaged.
Each of her students experiences success with a wide
range of media opportunities. She monitors participation
until she discovers any challenges students face. She is
actively engaged with each of her students to adapt &
support until they experience success.”
“Diana's selection of materials is consistently culturally
sensitive as are her assignments. She is sensitive to the
learning needs of a diverse population including bilingual,
bicultural and special education students.”
C i n d y V a n le v u n
H a r r i t t E le m e n t a r y
S p e c i a l E d u c a ti o n Te a c h e r

26. 6. MSEd graduates will be familiar with
technology.
• they will know when it is appropriate to use technology and when it is not
• they will know how to use technology in ways that enhance learning
• they will know what it means to be literate in a digital world, and will be able
help their students learn to locate, retrieve, evaluate, and use information
from a variety of sources

27. B e f a m ilia r w it h
t e c h n o lo g y
“ D ia n a t o o k a v a r ie t y o f
T e c h n o lo g y f o c u s e d c la s s e s . S h e
s p e n t c o u n t le s s h o u r s in
p r o f e s s io n a l d e v e lo p m e n t a ll f o r
t h e b e n e f it o f o u r s c h o o l, b u t
m o s t ly f o r o u r s t u d e n t s . U p o n
a r r iv in g f r o m a n y w o r k s h o p , D ia n a
w o u ld im m e d ia t e ly in c o r p o r a t e h e r
n e w le a r n in g a n d s k ills w it h g r e a t
e n t h u s ia s m . E v e r y w e e k w a s a
n e w , e x c it in g p r o je c t f o r k id s ; s h e
s h a r e d h o w s h e h a d ju s t le a r n e d
s o m e t h in g n e w a n d m a d e t h e m

28. "I have always been inspired by Diana's creativity
and ability to integrate fun and engaging projects
incorporating up-to-date technology at so many
different levels. Anyone who works with or has
Diana as a teacher is extremely fortunate!“
T e r r y S e lb a k
M o r n i n g s i d e E le m e n t a r y
Li b ra ry M e d i a Te a c h e r
S a le m K e i z e r S c o p e a n d S e q u e n c e D e v e lo p m e n t
Te a m

29. 7. MSEd graduates will be able to synthesize the
new knowledge they have gained from all the classes
we offer in our programs, and will know how to apply
that knowledge in meaningful ways to improve their
practice, improve student learning, and advance the
field of education.
•they will synthesize knowledge gained and use it to build theory
• they will use knowledge gained to introduce new approaches to teaching
• they will employ critical thinking skills as they apply knowledge gained in
coursework and new information encountered after graduation

30. B e a b le t o s y n t h e s iz e t h e n e w k n o w le d g e
t h e y h a v e g a in e d f r o m a ll t h e c la s s e s o f f e r e d
w it h in t h e ir d e g r e e p r o g r a m , a n d w ill k n o w
h o w t o a p p ly t h a t k n o w le d g e in m e a n in g f u l
w a y s t o im p r o v e t h e ir p r a c t ic e , im p r o v e
s t u d e n t le a r n in g , a n d a d v a n c e t h e f ie ld o f
e d u c a t io n .
“ L a s t y e a r , I r e m e m b e r D ia n a
c o m in g t o t h e s t a f f w it h a v id e o s h e
ha d c re a te d . S he s ho w e d s ta ff he r
v id e o a n d t a u g h t u s t h e e a s e t h is
t e c h n o lo g y . S h e e n c o u r a g e d u s t o
d e lv e in t o n e w t e c h n o lo g ic a l r e a lm s
a n d m a d e it e a s y , f u n a n d d o a b le
e v e n f o r t e a c h e r s r e lu c t a n t t o m o v e
in t o t h e n e w a g e o f c o m p u t e r s . ”

31. “Diana is a self-motivated, hard worker who strives to create the
best short and long term plans possible. Student emerge from
their K-5 experience with solid computer skills: everything form
Word to Publisher to PowerPoint to research-related skills and
Internet awareness. Her student not only learn the skills but
then apply them regularly to project.”
B i ll W i t t m a n
L i b e r t y E le m e n t a r y P r i n c i p a l

32. “Diana has ensured that she stay current on
new technology and software. She has taken
the Harritt student further into the world of
computers than the average elementary media
specialist. Diana has sued the computer to
teach not only basics computer skills, but also
basic internet navigation, research skills and
other programs such as Animoto.”
K a th y S te w a rt
H a r r i t t E le m e n t a r y
K i n d e rg a rte n D u a l La n g u a g e Te a c h e r