Education Resources
Library literacy and support for
K-12 educators and students
Q&A with Katie McCormick
Katie is a Community Care Specialist at Phoenix-Talent School District
Walk us through a day in the life of a Community Care Specialist for the school district.
A day in the life of a Community Care Specialist is never the same. I spend the majority of my time responding to referrals made by parents, counselors, school staff, etc. I connect families with resources for rent assistance, food, mental health, basic necessities, dental, general and vision health and much more. I enjoy walking the school halls and checking in with students to see how they’re doing. Supporting our McKinney Vento families by continually checking in throughout the District is a significant responsibility. I monitor students' attendance to identify any barriers that are preventing them from coming to school. I coordinate the Oregon Battle of the Books for Orchard Hill Elementary, oversee and coach the Girls on the Run program for 2 sites in our District, and participate in multiple PTA’s. Searching and asking for donations from community partners and event planning are also a big part of my job.
Nowadays, what do you think is the greatest hurdle or barrier that students face? How can we as an educational community support them?
The greatest hurdle students face is instability in their lives or at home. A student's home life continues to have a profound impact on the development of a child. The educational community can support the students by providing a safe, predictable environment, full of positive role models who provide mentorship, and life lessons.
If by the end of the year, you could impart one bit of knowledge upon the students you work with, what message would you prioritize?
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind to everyone. Ask for help when needed. There are many people out there who want to support and help you if you just ask.
Among the community partners you collaborate with, what is a service or resource offered to school populations that you feel is underutilized?
I feel that our food pantries could be utilized more than they are currently by families in need. There are many food pantries throughout Jackson County that families qualify for and can receive free food from. Partners such as ACCESS, Rogue Food Unites, and First Phoenix Community Center are all amazing organizations offering free food, multiple days per week, to those in need.
Is there a memory from this past school year that is really special to you?
3 years ago, I started a “Secret Santa” program for students in our district whose families struggle financially over the holidays. This year I was able to coordinate 70 community members sponsoring Christmas gifts for our students. We also opened up our Community Care Corner this year, where we give out basic necessities such as hygiene items, diapers, wipes, food, clothing, school supplies, and more. Helping those in need is always a special moment for me.
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APRIL RESOURCES
Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan
Willow is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by sevens. It’s never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents. Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world.
Grade Level(s): 5th and up | Genre: Realistic Fiction | Lexile: 770LClassroom Resources
Lesson Plans
Kendrick Lamar Halftime Curriculum Guide (created by HollowayEd.D./ NCC and Berry Ph.D.)
Argument Identification Activity (from Civics Learning Project)
Creature Feature Lesson Plan (created by JCLS)
Loans and Credit Activity (from Gale In Context: High School)
Play Report Worksheets (from Drama Notebook)
Roll A Story Lesson Plan (created by JCLS)
Secret Sentence Stories Lesson Plan (created by JCLS)
Science and Technology Careers Lesson Plan (from Gale In Context: Middle School)
Story Mapping and Prediction Lesson Plan (created by JCLS)
Write a Letter to a Historical Figure Lesson Plan (created by JCLS)
S.M.A.R.T. Goal Setting Lesson Plan (created by JCLS)
Indigenous Nations Research Lesson Plan (created by JCLS)
Short Tasks
My Teacher is a Monster Readers’ Theater (from TeachingBooks)
Understand Activism Tic-Tac-Toe (from Gale in Context: Opposing Viewpoints)
Bilingual Summer Reflection Postcard Activity (created by JCLS)
Character Map Activity (created by JCLS)
Spanish Character Map Activity (created by JCLS)
Classroom Icebreakers (from edmentum)