In RISD, school librarians are knowns as LITEs, or Library and Information Technology Educators. All of the LITEs in RISD have classroom teaching experience and a master’s in library and information technology. April is School Library Month, and RISD will be highlighting some of the wonderfully talented LITEs across the district all month.
Carla Cortinas taught all subjects in kindergarten through fourth grade during 14 years in the classroom, and this is her first year as a LITE at Stults Road Elementary.
“I believe the most important part of my job is to foster a love of reading and help students succeed in their academics,” Cortinas said. “I try to put books into every student’s hands and connect them with books that will grow their imagination and build a love of reading. I use my experience in the classroom to help create fun and engaging lessons. My favorite thing about being a LITE is that now I can reach every student in the school every day.”
Stults Road Elementary Principal Ron Anthony credits Cortinas with helping create a peaceful environment in the library where students can come and sit when they are having a tough day and need a place to calm down.
“We understand the library is in direct competition with the internet and social media. As educators, we must work to make our school library more appealing to students and become a place where they want to hang out. Ms. Cortinas has done a great job this year creating a culture in the library where students enjoy entering an environment that sparks learning and student growth,” Anthony said.
Her passion and enthusiasm for learning and reading is evident when she greets every student with a smile and kind word every day to let them know they are loved, wanted, and seen at school.
