Middle school team leader teacher's perceptions of the North Carolina school library media centers' impact process

This qualitative study examined the perceptions of the school library media specialists and teachers in middle schools in two school districts located in North Carolina. The study investigated the flexible access and school collaboration aspects of the IMPACT grant from the North Carolina Department of Education. The results of the study derived from focus and individual interviews. The effectiveness of the IMPACT grant generated four prominent categories, Creating Conducive Educational Climate; Strengthening the Bond; Assessment and Mutual Respect. The participants acknowledged that the students had ownership over their learning. The participants reported that the use of assessment, evaluating critical analysis, and the validation of students' personal accomplishments was a means of reflected practice for their learning. The implications of this qualitative study presented a new set of vocabulary to describe the process between the media specialists, teachers, and students using the terminology of strengthening the bond to replace the word collaboration; more accurately describes the relationship between the media specialist, teachers and students. The participants stressed the need for more student involvement by capitalizing on the students' individual expertise. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended that new terminology be adopted throughout state in North Carolina Public Schools that incorporate words such as 'creating conducive educational climate' and 'strengthening the bond.'...