The First Year in a MakerSpace School District

A panel discussion with the school library media specialists from the Granby Public School District, where MakerSpaces were launched district-wide last year. Discussion will cover funding, scheduling, student engagement, and variations on the space and offerings K-12. We will discuss our successes, our challenges, and where we’re headed in Year Two.

Casey LaPlante

Casey is the Library Media Specialist at Granby Memorial High School in Granby, CT. A graduate of Simmons College with dual Master’s degrees in Library Science and Education, Casey has been serving young people in both school and public libraries in New England for close to twenty years.

Andrew Piro

Andrew Piro is the Library Media Specialist at Granby Memorial Middle School. He is currently in the second year of running a makerspace.

Laurie Smith

Laurie Smith has been a school librarian since 2000, when desktop computers were optional in classrooms. A graduate of UConn and Cambridge College, she loves to read, craft and take pictures, and has been inventing and innovating her whole long life. She teaches technology and library skills to grades 3-5 at Wells Road Intermediate School in Granby, and is the Technology Coach in this school with 400 students and one-to-one Chromebooks. It has been her delight to explore the MakerSpace culture and resources and to bring them to her students and to help them navigate the creative world of STEAM.

Amber Wyzik

I am a School Media Specialist and Technology Coach for the Kelly Lane Primary School in Granby CT. I was a Children’s /Teen public librarian in Avon CT for 9 years before I made the switch to school libraries in 2012. I also have 2 little girls at home that keep me very busy “making” things. For as long as I can remember I have been a “maker” which is why I think I’m so passionate about offering this space to my students!

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The headquarters for the Maker Movement in Connecticut.

Our mission is to positively impact lives by enabling access, innovation, and education.

Location: 960 Main St, Hartford, CT

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Casey LaPlante – Granby Public Schools

Andrew Piro, Granby Public Schools

Laurie Smith – Granby Public Schools