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EDUCATION
University of Iowa--Iowa City, Iowa
Master of Arts, Library Science
Post-graduate work in administration, reading, and library science.University of Northern Iowa--Cedar Falls, Iowa
Bachelor of Arts, Elementary Education and Mathematics K-8
Maquoketa Valley High School—Delhi, Iowa
General diploma
College Level Instructor
Educator -- classroom teacher and Library Media Specialist (1963-1998)
- University of Wisconsin - Stout. Young Adult Literature in the Reading Program (2005- current)
- University of Wisconsin - Stout. Teaching Children's Literature in the Classroom (2004- current)
- University of Northern Iowa, adjunct instructor. Children's literature. (2003)
- Mount Mercy College, adjunct instructor. Children's literature, Educational technology, and Young Adult Literature. (1988- 2005 )
- Grant Wood Area Education Agency. Instructor of professional development courses, and courses carrying graduate credit through Marycrest College, Verturbo University, Drake College. (1976- 2005)
Literacy Activities
- Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Community Schools. Experience included classroom teaching in self-contained elementary classrooms, block schedules, and as a library media specialists in elementary and secondary schools.
- Major role in District's/Area Education Agency's staff development program
- Developed two year thematic correlation charts for district's reading series, to be used in multiaged classrooms
- Leadership role in establishing methodology, on building level, for reading instruction -- significant gains shown
- Software technical support
- Regularly collaborated with planning teams to develop long and short term goals/objectives for instructional units
- Documentation Project -- Zerzanek Collection of Children's Book Art, Cedar Rapids Public Library, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Documentation includes photographing over 900 pieces of original art, researching artists/writers involved with individual items, and preparing each photograph for publication on website, catalog, and so forth. (2002-2006)
Technology Support/Involvement
- Project Director for "Building a Community of Readers" A Grant Wood Area Education Agency initiative (Linn and Johnson Counties, Iowa) that attracted over 10,000 participants. 2001; 2002.
- Previous Promotions/activities
- Plan/promote special literacy events within the community in cooperation with building-level activities
- Evening of the Stars (authors/illustrators) attracted 80 participants at the Cedar Rapids Public Library
- Reading Conference involving 420 students and 24 teachers from 13 area schools
- Chair of charter planning committee for annual book/author conference attracting 300-450 participants each year (conference now in its twentieth year of existence); General advisor emeritus.
- Author residency involving area education agency and 5-10 area schools
- Experienced Macintosh user; some familiarity with IBM compatible computers
- Provided software technical support; limited hardware support (1992-1998)
- Teach technology courses to undergraduates and professional peers
- Word Processing: Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works
- Utilizing the Internet for information: search engines, evaluating sources, and so forth
- Graphics
- World Wide Web: HTML Coding, Netscape
Writer/Editor
Free-Lance Photographer
- Picture That! From Mendel to Normandy: Picture Books and Ideas, Curriculum and Connections—for T'weens and Teens (Teacher Ideas Press/Libraries Unlimited, forthcoming)
- Series Editor: The Author and You (A series published by Libraries Unlimited) Jacqueline Briggs Martin (2005); Jim Aylesworth (2005), Mary Casanova (2006), Jane Kurtz (2007), Deborah Hopkinson (2007), and others.
- Authors in the Pantry: Recipes, Stories, and More. (Libraries Unlimited, 2007)
- Best Teen Reads for 2007 (Hi Willow Research and Publishing, 2007)
- Young Adult Literature: A Quick Guide. Co-authored with Mary Ann Harlan and David Loertscher. (Hi Willow Research & Publishing, 2006, 2008, Revised editions )
- Young Adult Literature: A Quick Guide. Co-authored with Mary Ann Harlan and David Loertscher. (Hi Willow Research & Publishing, 2005)
- Authors in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories, and More. (Libraries Unlimited, 2005)
- Best Teen Reads: 2005 (Hi Willow Research and Publishing, 2005)
- Children's Authors and Illustrators Too Good to Miss (Libraries Unlimited, 2004)
- More than twenty published reference/resource titles for educators -- most recent include: Character Education: A Book Guide for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents, 100 Most Popular Children's Book Authors, 100 Most Popular Picture Book Authors/Illustrators; Internet for Schools (with Carol Mann Simpson); and Research Strategies for Moving Beyond Reporting. Publishers include: Linworth Publishers, Libraries Unlimited/Teacher Ideas Press, and Hi Willow Research and Publishing.
Published Book List- Columnist for Library Sparks, "In the Spotlight" published by Highsmith (2006-current)
- Columnist for School Library Media Activities Monthly (SLMAM) "The Book Bag" (2005-2007); "Author Central" (2007-current)
- Regular contributor to professional journals including, Library Talk, Book Report, Technology Connection (1995-2002), Library Media Connection and other professional journals. (1988-current)
- Developed model for Internet for Schools Workshop used nationally by Education Enrichment, Inc. (Norman, OK) to teach educators about the Internet and the World Wide Web (1998)
- Reviewer children's books, Kirkus Reviews (2002 - current)
- Associate Reviews Editor Library Talk (1999-2002)
- Editor "Cool Stuff on the Web" column for Library Talkand Book Report (Linworth Publishing), national periodicals with a readership of 30,000+ (1995-2001)
- Book (and technology) reviewer for School Library Journal (1976-1999)
- Contributor and co-editor Iowa Reading Journal(1985-1997)
- Contributing editor See Magazine, an arts magazine once published in the Midwest (1980-82)
- Editor and publisher of resource books on authors for the Iowa Reading Association and an independent publisher. (1987-95)
- Photographs have appeared in a dozen published books released by Libraries Unlimited, Teacher Ideas Press, Linworth Publishing; many periodical articles; and in a volume in the Houghton Mifflin Reading Series (on-line version).
- Photographs are published on the WWW on the websites of Carol Gorman, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, Craig Brown, Harrison Elementary School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa), 150 Years of Literacy in Iowa, and the American Library Association's page about the author/illustrator of the 1997 Caldecott Winner.
- Project-in-Progress: Photographically documenting approximately 900 pieces of original children's book art owned by the Cedar Rapids Public Library (Iowa)
Nationally recognized author and speaker in the area of literature based instruction and technology (Selected Presentations)
- Keynote/featured speaker at national/regional reading/curriculum conferences (selected)
- Alabama (Birmingham) Kindergarten conference SDE (2009)
- Maryland (Towson) Kindergarten Conference SDE (2009)
- Luncheon Speaker: Iowa Reading Association - Des Moines (2009)
- Indiana (Indianapolis) 1st grade conference SDE (2009)
- Pennsylvania School Library Association (2009)
- International Reading Association in Minneapolis (2009)
- Kindergarten Conference, SDE, New Orleans, LA (2008)
- American Library Association Conference (AASL sponsored forum - Research - Fueling the Authors' Fire), Anaheim, California, (June 2008)
- Missouri Association of School Librarians -- workshop (Author Visits: What are we teaching?; and luncheon keynote (April 2008)
- American Association of School Librarians (National Conference - Reno Nevada) October 2007
- Encyclo-media Conference sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Education - Oklahoma City, OK (August, 2007)
- Kindergarten Conference, SDE, Wichita, Kansas (2007)
- First Grade Conference, SDE, Wichita, Kansas (2007)
- Second Grade Conference, SDE, Schaumburg, IL (2007)
- Virginia Educational Media Association, Hampton, VA. (2006)
- Pennsylvania School Librarians Assocation - Hershey, PA (2006)
- First Grade Conference for Indiana Teachers (Staff Development for Educators™) Indianapolis, IN. (April 25, 2006)
- Iowa Reading Association --Keynote: Read-Succeed: A Quest Worth Taking - Des Moines, IA (April 6, 2006)
- "Take Care of Yourself Retreat" Cedar Rapids, IA Building a Family of Readers: 10 ways to accomplish the single most important goal you can have to develop healthy, happy, successful citizens. (April 1, 2006)
- Lee County Reading Association, Keokuk, IA "Building a Community of Readers" (March 16, 2006
- NCTE -- 2005 Annual Convention, November 17-22, 2005, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Panel: The Importance of Research in the Creation of Fiction and Nonfiction: An Author's View (with Carol Gorman, Patrick O'Brien, Jacqueline Briggs Martin, and Diane Stanley)
- American Association of School Librarians - Whetting the Reader's Appetite (concurrent session) - Pittsburgh, PA (October 2005)
- Encyclo-media Conference sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Education - Tulsa, OK (2005)
- American Association of School Librarians - The ABCs of a Literate Classroom Environment (day long workshop) - Pittsburgh, PA (October 2005)
- What's New in Books for Young Adults - 2005 (for Institute of Educational Development - IED) Buffalo, NY (May 2005)
- What's New in Books for Young Adults - 2005 (IED) Baltimore, MD (May 2005)
- What's New in Books for Young Adults - 2005 (IED) Reno, NV (May 2005)
- What's New in Books for Young Adults - 2005 (IED) Portland, OR (May 2005)
- Pennsylvania School Librarians Assocation - Hershey, PA (2005)
- Wisconsin Educational Media Association - Green Bay, WI (2005)
- What's New in Books for Young Adults - 2005 (for Institute of Educational Development - IED) Orlando, FL (Dec. 2004)
- What's New in Books for Young Adults - 2005 (IED) Jackson, MI (Dec. 2004)
- What's New in Books for Young Adults - 2005 (IED) Pittsburgh, PA (Nov. 2004)
- What's New in Books for Young Adults - 2005 (IED) State College, PA (Nov. 2004)
- Pennsylvania School Librarians Assocation - Hershey, PA (2004)
- Wisconsin Educational Media Association - Madison, WI (2004)
- American Association of School Librarians Conference - Kansas City, KS (2003)
- Virginia School Library Media Association Conference - Richmond, Virginia (2003)
- Tennessee State Media Association Conference - Buchanan, TN
- International Reading Association - Atlanta, GA
- International Reading Association - Indianapolis, IN
- Iowa Educational Media Association - Council Bluffs, IA
- American Association of School Librarians Conference - Indianapolis, IN
- Kansas State Reading Association Conference - Hays, KS
- Core Knowledge Curriculum Conference - Williamsburg, VA
- Encyclo-media Conference sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Education - Oklahoma City, OK
- Multi-Cultural Reading and Thinking Project, Arkansas Department of Education - Little Rock, AK
- International Reading Association Conference -- Toronto, Canada; Indianapolis, IN
- Colorado State Reading Conference - Denver, Colorado
- and other sites throughout the Midwest and the United States.
- Created and maintain personal web site
- Created and maintain Web Site of Jane Kurtz, author
- Created and maintain Web Site of Jacqueline Briggs Martin, author
- Created and maintain Web Site of Laurie Lawlor, author
- Created and maintain Web Site of Craig Brown, author and illustrator
- Created and maintain Web Site of Carol Gorman, author
- Created and maintain Web Site of Jim Aylesworth, author
- Redesigned Web Site of Wendy Halperin, author and illustrator (2006)
- Created 150 Years of Literacy in Iowa Web Site with Harrison Elementary Students.
- Created Harrison Elementary Web Site with students. (1997)
- Review CD ROMS, videos and other media for Technology Connection, a section of Library Talk and Book Report; School Library Journal; and Science Books & Films;
- Hosted a network interactive research activity as "Bookwoman" for Scholastic Network. Activity involved over 200 classrooms nationwide, generating research clues, e-mailing, and mentoring student researchers.
- KidsConnect; Volunteer (1997-99) -- an online service sponsored by the American Association of School Libraries, a service designed to respond to young learners questions for research help.
- Virtual Desk Reference; Volunteer (1999-present) -- an online reference service hosted by the University of Syracruse, a service designed to respond to questions for research help
- The ReadIn Volunteer (1999-2002)-- an online program to promote literacy and reading.
- Research/interviewer, Frank N. Magid Associates
- Book Review and commentaries were aired on KCCK-fm, a national public radio affiliate (five years)
- Wrote and obtained grants for development of web page, sponsorship of reading conference, sponsorship of author residency and author days
- Owner Blue Button Gifts - http://www.bluebuttongifts.com -- an IOWA company (est. 2004)
- Drove US Mail Star Route
- Restaurant manager -- VIP Lounge Marion, Iowa (1980s)
- Small business owner/bookkeeper S&M manufacturing; McElmeel Construction (1970s)
- Candidate for State House of Representatives (1998); School board (2005)
- Campaign manager for state house campaign; local city council election
- National Education Association (life member), Iowa State Education Association, Cedar Rapids Area Education Association
- International Reading Association, Iowa Reading Association, Cedar Rapids Area Reading Association (President local council, 1986-87; Secretary State council, 1987-88; President local council, 2001-2002)
- Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
- American Library Association
- AASL Publications Committee (2008-2010)
- AASL Research Grant Award Subcommittee (2008)
- ALSC - Member Caldecott Award Committee (2007)
- AASL - Program Committee for Pittsburgh Conference (2005)
- Member School Age Programs and Service Committee (2003)
- AASL - Member Publications Committee (1994-2001)
- ALSC - Member School Librarian's Workshop Scholarship Award Subcommittee (1999-2000)
- Top Ten Online Educators (2004), Innovative Teaching
- Celebrate Literacy Award - Iowa Reading Association, 2003
- Celebrate Literacy Award - Cedar Rapids Area Reading Council, 2003
- Nominated Iowa Teacher of the Year, 1997
- Linn County Teacher of the Year, 1996
- Selected as a member of the advisory board for Technology Connection (1996-1998)
- Selected as a member of the advisory board for the International Reading Association's Reading Journal (1993-96)
- Honored for contribution to staff development program, Grant Wood Area Education Agency
- Named Iowa Reading Teacher of the Year, 1987
- Co-Chair Theme Basket Committee for Mercy Medical Center Auxilary's Spring (2008) Style Show
- Active promoter of reading activities in the community
- Member of the Linn County Plumbers Board of Appeals (1994-present)
Vice-Chair (2000- present); representative to Metro Area board (1999-present)- Member of the Metro Area Plumbers Board of Examiners and Appeals (1998-present)
Chair, 2000, 2002.
- Member literary club (Foldpak)
- Member Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Available upon request
©1998-2008Sharron L. McElmeel
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Last Updated: January 1, 2008