Krista Welz | Movers & Shakers 2017 – Educators

“I’m what you would hashtag #NeverNotWorking,” says Krista Welz, library media specialist at North Bergen High School. “I’m a 24-7 librarian.” This might sound like exaggeration, but it reflects Welz’s all-in approach.
Krista Welz

CURRENT POSITION

Library Media Specialist, North Bergen High School, NJ

DEGREE

MLIS, Rutgers University, NJ, 2011

WINNER

YALSA Teens’ Top Ten grant, 2014 and 2016; North Bergen High School Educational Services Professional of the Year award, 2016–17

FAST FACT

Welz also reviews apps and books for School Library Journal

FOLLOW

@kristawelz (Twitter); kristawelz.com; edcampurban.org; mackintysl.com/advocates/krista-welz

Photo by Melissa Welz

MS_logo_300x81

#NeverNotWorking

“I’m what you would hashtag #NeverNotWorking,” says Krista Welz, library media specialist at North Bergen High School. “I’m a 24-7 librarian.”

This might sound like exaggeration, but it reflects Welz’s all-in approach. Consider her response to finding out in summer 2014 that her school district was migrating that September to Google Apps for Education (GAFE, now called G Suite for Education): she immediately studied for and passed the certification exams to become a Google educator. “I wanted to make sure I was knowledgeable in GAFE so that I could teach/assist both teachers and students,” she says. After months of training teachers, she became a Google-certified trainer.

She took this training national with a September 2015 webinar for the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) on using G Suite apps as an everyday library management tool. (She’ll conduct another one for AASL this spring.) Locally, at the BELS (Bergen Electronic Library for Schools) library consortium, she provides website-building workshops and runs the site design mentoring program. She’s busy on social media, too, promoting the integration of educational technology in learning. One example is #NJLibChat, a twice-monthly Twitter chat she created.

Recently, she launched the nonprofit Edcamp Urban, which hosts an unconference organized and facilitated by K–12 educators. “I invited every school librarian I could find, along with the county’s school teachers and administrators,” she says of the inaugural event, held in October 2016. “The day was incredibly professional and engaging.” The next event is March 25.

At her own library, she increased annual circulation in her first year, 2013, by 97 percent. She also updated the 1960s-era collection and upgraded the outdated PCsto new Chromebase computers. When Welz won a James Patterson/Scholastic Reading Club award in 2016, she used that $5,000 to buy an 82" HD monitor for the library.

She’s now pursuing her doctorate in educational technology leadership at New Jersey City University.

“Krista has a deep wealth of knowledge and is respected by the entire staff,” says George Solter, superintendent of schools at North Bergen. “The movement to blended learning has left some staff members very anxious, and Krista has supported [them in] the infusion of technology across the district.”

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Judy Romero

Kudos on a job well done! We are fortunate to have you.

Posted : Mar 16, 2017 07:02


Susana Gausconi

Congratulations Krista! It is such a pleasure working with you :)

Posted : Mar 16, 2017 05:00


Jared Keshishian

Congrats Krista. You truly are a pleasure to work with and a great asset to the district.

Posted : Mar 15, 2017 09:01


Melissa

So proud to be your twin sister #twins #sistersforever

Posted : Mar 15, 2017 06:29


Drita Turdiu

Congratulations Krista!

Posted : Mar 15, 2017 03:56


Bibiana Prada

Krista is one of the most passionate educators I know. Krista's knowledge and amazing kind disposition is infectious. It is an honor to call her my friend and #EdCampUrban Co-founder.

Posted : Mar 15, 2017 02:31


Mark Sternberg

Congratulations Krista !!!! You add so much to the High School. Along with being a tremendous help to the faculty, you are one of the nicest people on staff.

Posted : Mar 15, 2017 12:37


Ken Miller

While this is really great, I still think ice cream at seminars would be helpful. You the best, congrats!!

Posted : Mar 15, 2017 12:27


Jennifer King

Congratulations Krista! I am looking forward to attending your Edcamp next Saturday and learning more great things from you! You are truly an inspiration!

Posted : Mar 15, 2017 12:09


Denise Arenas

Congratulations Krista! You're an asset to the high school and the school district!

Posted : Mar 14, 2017 11:34


Alejandra (Ali) Vasquez

Congratulations Krista! I am still using the apps and websites you mentioned in our Fall workshop. Looking forward to attending the upcoming Edcamp Urban March 25th.

Posted : Mar 14, 2017 11:30


Robert Kornberg

Congratulations to Krista, an outstanding teacher/educational support leader!

Posted : Mar 14, 2017 10:51


Stephanie Stern-Protz

It is a privilege to have Krista as an innovative leader. She is inspiring.

Posted : Mar 14, 2017 10:19


Lanelle Campbell

Super proud lady! Congrats!

Posted : Mar 14, 2017 10:03


Sarah Dugger

Krista Welz is an inspiring educator. I am still using things I learned from her three years ago. Thank you and congrats to Krista.

Posted : Mar 14, 2017 07:10


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