Kylee Niec
Tennessee Tech University alumna Kylee Niec started her journey wanting to be a teacher.
It wasn’t until her junior year that she took a class called Young Adult Literature;
this class changed her trajectory completely. She now helps children along their reading
journey as the school librarian at Pickett County K-8.
“This class and Dr. (Julie) Howard heavily influenced me in my decision to pursue my master’s degree in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in library science,” Niec said. “Dr. Howard is such a remarkable teacher and human being.
She is more interested in you doing the work and reading and exploring multiple viewpoints and genres than she is in grades and technical things. I aspire to teach like her.”
Niec said that she really enjoys seeing her students work together and learn to like reading. She enjoys getting to know each student and helping them through their reading journey.
Niec said, “Some students claim they do not like reading but I am not 100% sure that
is true. I think finding what you like to read is key. Choice is key. Allowing students
the freedom to choose what to read when you can is so powerful. There have been many
studies done that show that allowing students the freedom to choose what to read will
give positive results.”
Niec works with kindergarteners all the way up to eighth graders. Each of them has
different curriculums she aims to teach.
“For K-fourth grade, I try to read a book, have them do work that lines up their standards, and then allow them to ‘play’ with stem bins for the reminder of the class and check out books. The middle school schedule is a bit different. I see fifth and seventh grade about once a week for 30 minutes. Sixth and eighth grade come in three times a week for about 30 minutes.
For middle school, I try to work on different skills such as research, digital citizenship, career-based things, critical thinking and problem solving,” she said.
There are lots of misconceptions about what school librarians do. Many believe they
just check books in and out.
Niec said, “I am trying to help the teachers with the standards they must teach. We
are not only reading books but working on skills and standards to go with the books.”
Many librarians stock shelves and do inventory when not teaching.
She mentioned that student teaching at Park View Elementary under Brittany Reese was
very impactful. “I aspire to teach like her,” she said.
Niec said, “Tennessee Tech gave me opportunities to meet with various school librarians and listen to them and hear what they had to say about day-to-day life on the job or topical things.”