Mary Herrera
Professional Experience
2008- Present Teacher for Plano ISD
Responsibilities include:
- Reference interview in the library with students to ascertain what they are looking for in a book or to help them widen their literary repertoire.
- Create and adapt lessons, assignments, and assessments to meet the varying needs of each student.
- Analyze data to identify target students and to create effective interventions.
- Incorporate technology that creates a more authentic learning experience for students, such as Google Classroom, Google Docs, Google Sites, using YouTube for learning, Flipgrid, Padlet, various bibliography sites, databases like Ebsco for research, and more.
- Created resource videos for students who need further instruction in challenging areas like grammar and created technology how-to videos using Screencast-O-Matic and Screencastify.
- Collaborate with my teams to constantly improve student learning and teaching effectiveness.
2004- 2008 Teacher Aide for Plano ISD
Education
2017- Present University of North Texas School of Information Science Masters in Library Science- School Librarianship (Expected Graduation August 2019)
2004-2008 Collin College American Literature, World Literature I & II, British Literature, and Creative Writing
1997-1999
Johnson and Wales University BAS Food Service Entrepreneurship
Magna Cum Laude
1995-1997 Johnson and Wales University AAS Pastry Arts
Magna Cum Laude
Certifications
- School Library Certification (expected August 2019)
- English 4-8
- English as a Second or other Language Certification EC-12
- Generalist 4-8 Certification
- Special Education K-12 Certification
Clubs and Groups Sponsored
2017- Present
UNT Future School Librarians Facebook Group– I began the group because I had formed friendships in classes that I wished to maintain. Each semester more and more classmates join. Those in the group help each other with tips, advice, and moral support.
2011- Present
Creative Writing Club– Otto Middle School
This club is for students who wish to be writers. I teach the skills needed for writing novels such as outlining, character development, plot development, and how the publishing industry works. If formed the club 7 years ago and membership has grown to about 20 members in 6-8th grade.
Activities
I am now serving on the Digital Citizenship Committee at Otto Middle School. This is our 2nd year for this committee. Last year we developed several lessons to teach digital citizenship for to be taught to all 1100 students in the school. This year we developed a second year of instruction that builds on last year’s curriculum. By the end of next year, we should have a year of curriculum for each grade level.
On April 20, 2019 my short story, “Desperate Trolls Call for Desperate Measures” was published in Youth Imagination Magazine.
I keep a blog, reviewing books and giving writing under the pen name Kathryn Fletcher on QuillandBooks.com
I maintain this website, bookwyrmpages.com that documents my journey through my MLS adventure. After I graduate, I hope to continue this website to document my librarianship journey and use as a professional resource.
I have been an Otto Middle School Poetry Slam Judge for our for the last 4 years.
Honors and Awards
Leadership Plano
I represented Plano ISD to Leadership Plano, showcasing how teachers are integrating technology in the classroom to achieve more effective learning. I was tasked with showcasing how Hyperdocs which offer students learning ownership, choices, and self-pacing.
I co-authored and was awarded a grant for $1000 to purchase books for the 6th grade English teacher’s classroom libraries.
I was nominated for the superintendant’s award by my peers.
I wrote a Fantasy short story, about a boy with Autism. The story was awarded honorable mention in the Writers of the Future International Writing Contest. It was published in Youth Imagination Magazine Issue 71 under my pen name Kathryn Fletcher.
Memberships
Texas Library Association
Proficiency Checklist
For my masters degree we had a proficiency checklist of skills which our mentor had to observe or document our proficiency in that area. Here is mine:
Book Wyrm Pages 