To: Head of School

From: Dottie Barrow

Subject: Media Center Evaluation

Date: March 23, 2010

The Georgia Department of Education has established target indicators and categories for school media
centers. I recently evaluated the Frederica Academy Media Center using the state’s rubric. Each of the
five categories had a rating option of basic, proficient, or exemplary.

In the first category, numbers 1, 2, and 4 were rated as exemplary. Because we are a small school and
we have two media specialists and a computer teacher, we have the time needed to collaborate and
plan with the classroom teachers. Number 3 and 5 are rated as proficient. Number 6 is basic. I am
familiar with the lexile framework, but it is not something that we use. Generally the classroom teacher
does the assessment of student achievement.

In the second category, number 7 is exemplary. Frederica Academy is less than base size and a full time
media specialist is employed and available all day.

In the third category, numbers 8, 11, 12, and 13 are exemplary. There is an instructional room in the
media center allowing students to use the library even when groups are scheduled for instructional
lessons. Print and non-print resources are available on the school network. The patron circulation
program is not accessible outside of the school. However, the subscription databases are accessible
outside of the school network. Frederica Academy subscribes to GALILEO for GISA schools. Because this
is something that we pay for, it helps to motivate the staff to use the databases. We teach and
encourage the students to use the subscription databases. Number 9 is proficient. We do have areas to
produce and present information, but we do not have a recording studio. Number 10 is “No”. We do not
have a central electronic media distribution system for television and radio programs and there are no
plans for this in the future.

In the fourth category, number 14 is “No” because we are a private, independent school and do not
have a system media contact person. Number 15, 16, 17, and 18 are exemplary at the local level. The
administrative staff, media specialist, and media committee work together on policies and funding for
the media center.

In the fifth category, number 19 is proficient. The administrative staff encourages the media specialists
to attend conferences often. The staff is also supportive of using the media specialists for staff
development opportunities.

Since we are a private, independent school, some of the Georgia DOE target indicators do not apply to
us. Never the less, they are a good guideline to be aware of. In order to move from basic to proficient in
number 6, I will work with the classroom teacher to develop rubrics or other tools to assess student
achievement. In an attempt to move from proficient to exemplary in number 19, I would like to request
to be included in planning the staff development program for the school staff and would like to assist in
teaching and organizing sessions.