Katie has provided online and in-person training to hundreds of library professionals and educators from around the country. She regularly teaches online workshops on library outreach to Latino and Spanish-speaking communities and bilingual storytime programming. Katie loves working with individual organizations to develop specialized training (in-person or online) that addresses their unique challenges.
Examples of ongoing workshops which Katie regularly offers are listed below. Descriptions are provided to give potential clients a sense of the topics in which Katie has extensive experience training library staff; any training contracted will be customized and adapted to serve the organization’s unique needs. Depending on the needs of the organization and Katie’s availability, training sessions may be presented as webinars, online courses, or through in-person workshops.
In-person workshop rates range from $1,500 for half-day to $2,500 for full-day sessions. Expenses for travel from Lexington, KY, hotel accommodations, and meals are also required. Contact Katie for more information on availability and rates for online training sessions.
Katie is also certified to provide training to Kentucky Early Childcare Education professionals and staff as a Specialty Trainer. She offers a variety of trainings to KY early childhood educators in two speciality areas: 1) Early Literacy and 2) Yoga/Mindfulness.
The Space Beyond the Comfort Zone: Frank Talk about Diversity and Inclusion in Public Libraries
Your next favorite book could be a diverse read. The most meaningful program you’ve ever hosted could be one designed to authentically engage a diverse audience. However, if we as professionals aren’t intentionally challenging ourselves to broaden our lenses, we–as well as the communities we are here to serve–may miss out on these experiences. In this workshop, participants are challenged to face issues of privilege, bias, and exclusion head-on in order to make space in our buildings and on our bookshelves for a more equitable representation of all children and families. Participants brave enough to acknowledge their own comfort zones and move beyond them will come away from the experience with an enriched understanding of why intentional inclusion is critical to the work of librarianship, empowered to embed inclusion in all aspects of their work, and excited to share what they discover with all members of their communities.
Building Relationships, Building Bridges: Library Outreach and Marketing to Latino and Spanish-Speaking Families
Public libraries across the country experiencing growth in their Latino and Spanish-speaking populations face similar challenges in connecting these communities with library service. Though libraries may offer Spanish-language materials and/or programming, these services may not attract the targeted community as desired. This workshop is designed to help libraries to bridge the gap and increase the use of their services by Latinos and Spanish-speakers, with particular emphasis on reaching first-generation immigrants and their families. Participants will increase their knowledge of Latino cultural values that impact library use, develop an understanding of common barriers that impede library use, and develop strategies for overcoming those barriers. Participants will also identify key people/organizations within their own communities for potential partnerships. This course is strongly recommended as a prerequisite for “Bilingual Storytime at Your Biblioteca.” No Spanish language skills required!
Bilingual Storytime at Your Biblioteca
In this workshop, participants learn how to present bilingual storytimes (English/Spanish) for various ages, regardless of their own language skills. Video demonstrations, best practices, online resources and discussions direct participants as they learn how to successfully deliver the various elements of bilingual storytimes, either on their own or with a bilingual community partner. Participants will find new books, rhymes, songs, plans and resources that they can immediately put to use in their bilingual storytime programs. Upon completion of the workshop, each participant will have developed two bilingual storytime plans. No Spanish language skills required!
Bilingual Storytime and Library Outreach
A longer training session which blends the objectives of the two previously described workshops. Often when libraries recognize that Latino and Spanish-speaking families are underserved in their community, they turn to bilingual storytime to help close this gap. However, without the necessary foundation of outreach and relationship-building, such new programs rarely bring in the families the organization is hoping to attract. This workshop helps participants understand the role of outreach in launching a successful bilingual storytime. Through community leader interviews and local research, participants begin the outreach process, as they also learn the mechanics of developing bilingual storytime programming.
Stories, Songs, and Stretches!®
Note: Many workshop topics and lengths are available to make this program available to all training needs and budgets. Visit the website above for more detailed information.
Participants learn how to use yoga and movement as tools to enhance their preschool storytime or circle time programs. This training thoroughly explains how yoga and movement can support young children in their physical, social-emotional, and early literacy development. Basic yoga poses and creative movement ideas that anyone can share with young children are instructed. Extensive guidance is given on selecting books, songs, and other materials that inspire the use of yoga poses and movement in the storytime setting. No prior yoga experience required!
Mindfulness for Educators
Mindfulness training for educators and those serving young people. Covers the science of mindfulness, adapting mindfulness for young audiences, and establishing a personal practice.
Selecting Culturally Diverse Print Materials to Support Early Literacy Skill Development
Participants learn about the importance of providing preschool children ages 3 to 5 with print materials that present a mirror of their own culture and a window to different cultures. Participants are exposed to a variety of high-quality, culturally diverse print materials and gain experience selecting their own materials for classroom use.
¡Cuéntame un cuento! An Introduction to High-Quality Latino Children’s Literature
Participants learn about Latino culture as represented in high-quality picture books. They will be exposed to picture books by outstanding Latino authors and illustrators, and learn techniques for sharing these great books with young children. Participants will have an opportunity to practice selecting and using picture books which are bilingual or incorporate Spanish-language words and phrases into predominantly English text.
Past training clients include South Carolina State Library, State Library of North Carolina, Idaho Commission for Libraries, Kentucky Public Library Association, New Hampshire State Library, Mountain Comprehensive Care Center, Clark County (KY) Public Schools, Webjunction, First Book, Missouri State Library, Library of Virginia, Library Juice Academy, Child Care Council of Kentucky, Family Care Center, and Jessamine County (KY) Community Early Childhood Council, among others.