In the heart of General Smallwood Middle School, the library stands as a beacon of learning and guidance, much like its media specialist, Heather Beaton, who was recently nominated for the Maryland School Librarian of the Year Award. This recognition comes from the Maryland Association of School Librarians and highlights Beaton's extensive contributions to student success and academic growth.
With nearly three decades in education, Beaton's journey began as a social studies student teacher at Maurice J. McDonough High School. Her tenure there lasted 28 years before she transitioned to the role of a school librarian, starting at Mt. Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary School and later moving to Smallwood.
Heather Beaton is the school librarian at General Smallwood Middle School. Before becoming a media specialist, she spent 28 years teaching high school social studies.
Beaton, whose professional life has been deeply intertwined with Charles County Public Schools (CCPS), expressed a long-held desire to work in librarianship, which she pursued when the opportunity arose. At Smallwood, she finds herself deeply engaged with secondary students, who utilize the library's resources for complex, content-driven projects. Beaton shared, "The secondary level is more my area. I enjoy the age group. They are fun and funny."
Her role extends beyond just managing library resources. As Smallwood's History Day coordinator, she actively participates in community-building activities, including reading aloud to students with special needs, hosting book clubs, and serving as the school's public relations liaison. Beaton's ability to connect on a personal level is profound, evidenced by her relationships with students and their families, some of whom are second-generation learners under her tutelage.
Dedra Van Gelder, CCPS content specialist for library media, praised Beaton's approach, noting, "Heather's wealth of experience as a career educator and her constant student-centered focus are invaluable." She emphasized that a successful school librarian must be innovative, knowledgeable, collaborative, resilient, and well-grounded in teaching fundamentals.
Heather Beaton, left, likes working with middle school students at General Smallwood Middle School, including seventh-grade students Kaiden Riggs, left, and Maggie Donahue. She said the age group are fun and their classwork prompts them to use the resources in the library often.
One of Beaton's notable projects involves working with the school's Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) classes to select books tailored to individual student interests, a task that requires both patience and insight. This initiative reflects her philosophy of making the library a welcoming space for all students, including those who are reluctant readers, by connecting them with literature that resonates with their personal interests.
The nomination for the state award underscores Beaton's impact on her community and the field of education, illustrating her role not just as a librarian, but as an integral part of the educational ecosystem at General Smallwood Middle School.
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