LASALLE PARISH ELEMENTARY
TEACHER OF THE YEAR 2008-2009

Susan Allbritton

Librarian

Jena Elementary School

It has been an honor and privilege to be voted as Teacher of the Year for the 2007-08 school year. Not many school librarians are selected for this honor. I work diligently to give our students special activities that encourage reading. I am a certified elementary school teacher with Pre-K and Nursery school certification and a Master’s Degree in Elementary School Counseling. I also have Library Science certification. I have been teaching close to twenty years, and have held may present position as school librarian for 7-8 years. I serve on many committees and help plan many activities. Children’s Book Week and Louisiana Week are two activities that I help plan and oversee. I could not do it without a great team of teachers, staff, and administrators. Thanks to everyone for their hard work. Our goal is to create activities that inspire and educate children as well as give them special memories to carry with them throughout their life. Hopefully, they will look back with fondness on their days at JES and remember all the neat things they learned in such a special way.

Our school library is set us with lots of reading centers and storybook friends such as Cookie Monster, Mudge and Fudge (stuffed dogs), Curious George the Monkey, Arthur, Dr. Seuss, and lots of teddy bears and other stuffed friends. They students love to sit with them and read or look at books. The atmosphere is very “child friendly”. We have storytime on the carpet and then we have reading center time. Library rules include these three things during storytime: Zip you lips, and turn on your eyes and ears. They must also whisper during reading center time-so that everyone can enjoy their books. Good listeners earn treats in the library. My goal is for children to associate fun with books and reading. This helps instill an intrinsic love for reading and helps students become lifelong readers.