The short version:

Jennifer LaGarde is a lifelong teacher and learner with over 20 years in public education. Her educational passions include leveraging technology to help students develop authentic reading lives, meeting the unique needs of students living in poverty and helping learners (of all ages) discern fact from fiction in the information they consume. Jennifer is the coauthor of the books Fact VS Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking In the Age of Fake News (ISTE, 2018) and Developing Digital Detectives (ISTE, 2021) with Darren Hudgins. Jennifer is a part-time lecturer with Rutgers University where she teaches in the MLIS program. Courses taught include: Emerging Literacies, Young Adult Literature and Children's Literature. Jennifer is also the Library-Literacy Mentor with Bookelicious. Jennifer currently lives, works, reads and drinks lots of coffee in Olympia, Washington. Follow her adventures at www.librarygirl.net or on Twitter @jenniferlagarde.

 

The long(er) version:

Jennifer LaGarde (aka library girl!) is a lifelong educator and learner. With over 20 years of experience in public education, Jennifer has served as:

• a classroom teacher

• a teacher librarian

• district digital teaching and learning specialist 

• district school library media lead

• state-wide library/technology support consultant for NCDPI

• independent contractor/consultant 

• Adjunct faculty at both Rutgers and Antioch Universities. 

  • Courses designed and delivered:​

    • School Library Program Management​

    • School Library Collection Development

    • Developing Digital Detectives: Information Literacy in the Digital Age

    • Emerging Literacies

    • Young Adult Literature

 

Jennifer earned her Bachelor's degree in Secondary Education with a concentration in English/Language Arts from the University of NC at Wilmington. And she earned her Master's in Library Science from Appalachian State University. She also holds National Board Certification in the area of School Library Media. Some of the awards and distinctions she has received include:

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• ALA, New York Times and Carnegie Corporation’s "I Love My Librarian Award,"

• Library Journal Mover and Shaker

• AASL Social Media Superstar: "Social Justice Defender."

• Salem Press Blog of The Year

 

Jennifer has published numerous articles on best educational practices for journals like Teacher Librarian, ISTE, School Library Connections and Knowledge Quest. She's also the coauthor of the books Fact VS Fiction: Teaching Critical Thinking In the Age of Fake News (ISTE, 2018) and Developing Digital Detectives (ISTE, 2021) with Darren Hudgins. Jennifer currently resides in Olympia, Washington where she spends time chasing after her two dogs, drinking lots of coffee and updating her award winning blog The Adventures of Library Girl where she proves you don’t have to be super hero to be a teacher librarian, but having a cape sure helps.

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Headshots (and stuff like that) can be found here.

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