Library

More Than Books: TuesD Chambers

At Ballard High School 2022, TuesD Chambers can barely contain her excitement.

TuesD Chambers BHS Librarian-Teacher

Her love for her role as teacher-librarian is evident throughout the library. She has made the room a place where students can connect. There is a room for arts and crafts, areas for clubs to gather, and spaces for classes to meet. 

“What I believe is with any library it has to be more than books,” she said. “Your library has to be the heart of the school for everyone.” 

When the pandemic forced schools to close for nearly a year, Chambers had to get creative to attract students to check out books.

She organized curbside book checkouts – but with a twist. Students with a green thumb could pick up plant starters. One check-out day had a pet parade, and another had a band playing. The excitement around the library continued once schools reopened.

With the help of students, she created a group called Library Leaders. The goal is to build a community where everyone can be included, even if they don’t like to read. “We’ve done everything from ‘Blind Date with Books’ to podcasts to playlists to decorating the library … I learned pretty quickly that a library can’t exist with just one person.” 

Like Robert, Chambers also spends the bulk of her day supporting classrooms. Her library opens early and is usually packed with students before she even arrives. Once school begins, Chambers will spend four or five periods a day co-teaching a class. “I’m constantly doing the things teachers don’t have time to do,” she said. “I’m supporting staff in a way that I hope makes their lives easier and makes it more seamless for students to get resources.” 

Chambers knows the value of her role as Ballard’s teacher-librarian and others throughout the district. She is proud of the way students have found their place and built a community in her library. 

“To me, this is the biggest classroom in the school.” Read full article on the SPS website.

BHS Appreciation Instagram Account

How to Submit an Appreciation Post | Follow These Steps

Email ballard.appreciation@gmail.com or DM the Appreciation @ballard_appreciation and include the following information. 

Step 1

Give us the name of the person you appreciate! It can be anyone that is part of our school community. If possible give us their Instagram @username so we can tag them in the post!

Step 2

Tell us a little bit about why you’re nominating them for the post. This doesn’t have to be a lot! Just a small “I appreciate so-and-so because they are very helpful when people need it” totally works!

Step 3 (optional)

Give us your Instagram @username. This is completely optional! This is so we can tag or mention you in the caption so your are alerted your nomination has been posted if you email use. Or, you can ask us to keep the nomination anonymous. 

Step 4 (optional)

Give us a background or design for the post. This is also completely optional. When you send us your nomination you can attach a photo of a background or design for the post. For more clarification, the background design used on our image above is the diagonal stripes. Otherwise the creator of the post will choose one.

Step 5

Send!   You can send us your nomination in two different places. The first is to DM us on our Instagram @ballard_appreciation. The second is to email us at ballard.appreciation@gmail.com. Which ever is easier for you!

Thank you!

Congratulations To Ms Chambers!

2019 Washington State Teacher Librarian of the Year!

Visit the Washington Library Association website for more information and a complete list of 2019 WLA Award Winners!

Congratulations Principal Wynkoop!

Ballard High School Library is excited to share that Mr. Wynkoop has won Principal of the Year for Washington State Libraries! Mr. Wynkoop’s unwavering commitment to literacy and the library is evidence in the countless hours he spends in staff and student book clubs and the funding he provides for literacy and resources. His support of new technology (VR and AI) in recognition of the changing landscape of learning is profound and his co-leadership in the Digital Learning Instructional Innovation Cohort is noted and admired. We appreciate everything Mr. Wynkoop does to make the Ballard High School library the place we all want to be.

Beaver Community 2017-18!

I am thrilled to announce we won the $100,000 grant award from Farmer’s Insurance 2017-2018!

The award was unveiled at a faux assembly for 9th graders in 2017 where Ms. Chambers was surprised by her family, district officials and representatives from Farmer’s Insurance. Structural work will take place and equipment will be received sometime in 2018 and we anticipate the Learning Commons being 100% transformed during the 2019-20 school year. Thank you to every one who voted! Our community is the best and it is so, so clear that it is Always Great to be a Beaver!