Elizabeth D. Wright has over 20 years of experience as a school librarian, teacher, and educational leader. She currently teaches AVID Elective and Spanish I at Mather High School in Chicago. She has a master's degree in library and information science and is fluent in Spanish. Wright is passionate about student-centered learning and equipping students with skills like critical thinking, research, and problem-solving. She has led numerous initiatives at Mather High to enhance educational technology, makerspaces, and family involvement.

1. ELIZABETH D. WRIGHT
4619 N. Dover Street ● Chicago, IL 60640 ● edwnelmezzo@gmail.com ● 773.620.6289 ● matherbookfinders.net
School Library Media Specialist with leadership experience in library programming; educational
technology; librarian collaboration with faculty, university professors, and public librarians; grant writing;
student makerspace workshops; school website redesign and content maintenance; district-wide library test
and curriculum development; advisory curriculum development; and facilitation of Parent Advisory
Committee and Gradebook Parent Portal. Passionate about equipping students to think critically, read
discerningly, write clearly, and engage with real-world problems; particularly through inquiry-based learning.
Dedicated to improving student learning, assisting other educators, and helping to fulfill the goals of the
academic institution Iserve. Fluent in Spanish.
EEDUCATION
Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, 2008
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, GPA: 3.98 (4.0 scale)
Master’s Degree in Hispanic Studies (Instruction and Materials in Spanish), 2001
University of Illinois at Chicago, GPA: 5.0 (5.0 scale)
Bachelor of Arts Degree, Major in English, Minor in Spanish, 1992
Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, GPA: 3.619 (4.0 scale)
AVID Summer Institute, August 1-4, 2016
San Diego, California, August 1-4, 2016
Training in teaching of the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) Elective Course
Umoja University, Umoja Student Development Corp., Dominican University, Summers 2011-2015
Professional and Curriculum Development for student social and emotional learning, college and career
readiness, and restorative justice strategies
CERTIFICATIONS & HONORS
Illinois State Type 09 Standard Secondary Teaching Certificate
Endorsements in English, Spanish, & Library Information Specialist for Senior HS
K-12 Library Information Specialist Licensure: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2008
Mather High School Teacher of the Month, June 2016
The ISLMA Johnson/Gilborne School Librarian Scholarship Award, 2008
Ruth El-Saffar Essay Award, University of Illinois Chicago, 2001
Post-DeVries Education Scholarship, 1991-1992
Calvin College Presidential Scholarship, 1988-1992
Calvin College Dean’s List, 1988-1992

2. TEACHING EXPERIENCE
AVID Elective Teacher and Spanish Teacher, Mather High School, Chicago, Illinois, 2016-present
(Library Position at Mather High School was eliminated, and I returned to the classroom.)
 Teach AVID Elective for juniors (a course in reading, writing, and college prep) and Spanish I.
 Facilitate monthly Mather Edtech Meetings for staff and apply for technology grants.
 Serve on the Advisory Team, the AVID Site Team, and the SAT Task Force.
School Library Media Specialist, Mather High School, Chicago, IL, 2008-2016
 Served as school library media specialist for grades 9-12: readers’ advisory, reference, tutoring, and
circulation services; resource selection for curricular, recreational, and personal information needs;
collection development; staff professional development and student training in multiple literacies
(information, media, technology, digital citizenship); scheduling and basic maintenance of equipment.
 Designed and implemented library programming, including a “librarians in training” club, Abraham
Lincoln Reading Program, World Book Night, “Scientists Visits Days” (professors mentored students
on science fair projects), monthly makerspaces, lunch time book clubs, and ACT preparation.
 Co-designed and co-implemented research curriculum with teachers from every department.
 Served on the Instructional Leadership Team, the Advisory Team, and the AVID Site Team.
 Lead the Library Department Teacher Collaborative Team to develop library programming.
 Coached students on introductory JavaScript, introductory HTML, and basic concepts of computer
programming and databases through Khan Academy and Microsoft Choose to Code.
 Trained and supervised student library aides.
 Migrated the library circulation system from Athena to SOAR.
 Founded the Mather Edtech Team and obtained 25 Chromebooks through the Wired to Learn Grant.
 Obtained and catalogued print and digital resources through Donors Choose, LBSS, and other grants.
 Co-sponsored Mather Art Club and the Empty Bowls hunger awareness fundraiser, 2011-2016.
 Sponsored “Mather Book Finders” Club to promote reading and train students in librarian skills.
 Created and maintained a student book review website at matherbookfinders.net.
 Facilitated the Parent Advisory Committee and lead a school-wide family literacy initiative.
 Served as liaison for Gradebook Parent Portal.
Spanish/English Teacher, Bilingual Coordinator, Amundsen High School, Chicago, IL, 2003-2008
 Taught British Literature and Spanish and served as Bilingual Coordinator.
 Served as Team Lead for the junior level of a small learning community.
 Formed and facilitated a Parent Advisory Committee.
Spanish and English Teacher, Arts of Living Alternative School (CPS), Chicago, IL, 2001-2003
 Taught Spanish I and II, Survey Literature, and World Literature to pregnant and parenting teens.
 Taught homebound students and tutored students after school.
Spanish Teacher, Morgan Park High School, Chicago, IL, May-June, 2001
 Taught Spanish I to grades seven through twelve, as a long-term substitute position.
Special Education Teacher, Elim Christian School, Crestwood, IL, Summers, 2000 and 2002
 Taught academics and social skills to students with physical, cognitive, and behavioral challenges.
English Teacher, Colegio Vida y Verdad, Caranavi, Bolivia, South America, Jan., 1998-Dec., 1999
 Taught English to Spanish-speaking students of grades four through twelve.

3. Language Arts and Spanish Teacher, Oak Harbor Christian School, Oak Harbor, WA, 1992-1997
 Taught language arts and Spanish to junior high school students.
EPROFESSIONAL INVOLVEMENT
Illinois School Library Media Association (ISLMA) Committee Work, Illinois, 2009-2010
Co-chair for Publicity Sub-committee of the ISLMA Conference Committee.
Served on the Nominations and Elections to the ISLMA Board Committee.
Served on the ISLMA Grants and Scholarships Committee.
Professional Development Presentations
Presentation requested by Illinois Computing Educators, Chicago Chapter, Mather High School, March, 2016
My student library aides, other librarians, and I hosted 5 teachers from Iceland and presented several
makerspace technologies.
Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries Professional Development Presentation, February, 2016
Presented on the design and implementation of monthly technology makerspaces through collaboration with
Chicago Public Librarians.
Chicago Public Schools Department of Libraries Professional Development Presentation, October, 2015
Presented on the use of AASL-EB online tool for planning and evaluating effective library programs.
Illinois School Library Media Association Conference, November, Tinley Park, Illinois, 2014
Presented on teacher-librarian collaboration for collection and curriculum development through the LBSS
Read for Information Grant.
RELATED EXPERIENCE
Mentor for High School Students, College Summit Retreat, Elmhurst College, IL, Summer 2004
Helped students write personal statements for college applications during a 4-day, on-campus retreat.
Director of School Musicals, Oak Harbor Christian School, Oak Harbor, Washington, 1996 and 1997
Directed student productions of Fiddler on the Roof and The Sound of Music.
Resident Assistant, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, Michigan, August 1990-June1991
Served as a resident assistant for college freshmen and sophomores.
EREFERENCES
Maureen LaRaviere, mlaraviere@collegeboard.org, 202-779-3760
Director, K-12, The College Board, Former Assistant Principal at Mather High School
Lisa Perez, leperez1@cps.edu, 773.553.6212
District-Wide Library Manager, Chicago Public Schools, Department of Literacy: Libraries
Chris Jones, cjones5056@gmail.com, 773.858.8441
Former Mather High School Head Principal, 2007-2016