By Jeanne Buckley, Magda Kalkowska, Lisa Loffredi, and Natalie Kekki
This paper was part of the proceedings of the Canadian School Libraries TMC8 Research Symposium, held in Toronto on January 31 and February 1, 2025. The paper may be also accessed on the CSL Research Archive website.
This paper presentation by a team of secondary teacher-librarians in York Catholic District School Board really illustrates the power and potential of collaborative research. What do you do when presented with a common challenge? Learn how this team worked together to investigate their problem and put their collective expertise and creativity together to address their advocacy issues.
Jeanne Buckley is the teacher-librarian at St. Robert Catholic High School in Thornhill, Ontario.. She has been a teacher-librarian for 25 years in both secondary and elementary schools. She has a Master’s Degree in Education with a focus on Teacher-Librarianship from the University of Alberta. Her professional interests include supporting students in academic research, particularly in the Extended Essay portion of the IB Diploma program, and in experiential learning — leading the Aviation and Aerospace Major, a SHSM program at her school. She is the secondary co-president of the York Catholic Teacher-Librarian Association.
Magda Kalkowska has been a Teacher Librarian at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Academy in Keswick, Ontario for the past two years. She has over 20 years of teaching experience with the YCDSB in various departments including Canadian & World Studies, English and Religion. Her professional interests lie in supporting teachers with grant writing, STEAM integration and library advocacy. Magda’s personal interests include hiking, reading and travel.
Lisa Loffredi is an experienced educator and librarian with 22 years in various teaching roles. Currently, she serves as the teacher-librarian at Sacred Heart Catholic High School in Newmarket, part of the York Catholic District School Board, where she strives to cultivate a passion for reading, writing, and lifelong learning among students. Additionally, Lisa is a member of the Forest of Reading Steering Committee, focusing on the Blue Spruce and White Pine nominees, and also serves on the editorial board for “The Teaching Librarian”, the official magazine of the Ontario School Library Association.
Natalie Kekki, teacher-librarian at St. Brother André Catholic High School in Markham, Ontario, will celebrate 30 years in education this year. She has been enjoying the privilege of supporting students and staff as teacher librarian over the past 6 years, previously served as Department Head of Modern Languages for 19 years, and has taught French, English, Religion, and Special Education, including 8 years in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Natalie is passionate about literacy, equity, and student empowerment, and leads the school’s Student Wellness, Feminist Alliance, and ASPECT committees. She especially values working with students in the Functional Life Skills program. Her current goals include developing experiential project-based learning opportunities, building community through collaboration, and enhancing the library user experience. Natalie has a genuine love for research, libraries, and learning.