We are proud to announce that library media specialist Kimberly-Celeste “K.C.” Boyd, MA, MEd, MLIS, will be giving the keynote address for the 2017 conference, “Don’t Fit In, Stand Out!”
K.C. Boyd is the Lead Librarian for East St. Louis School District #189 in East St. Louis, IL. She is also a doctoral student and Adjunct Professor of Library Information Science at Dominican University in River Forest, IL. Boyd is a second generation educator and holds Master’s degrees in Library Information Science, Media Communications, and Education Leadership. Her favorite quotes, “Reading is the gateway skill that makes all learning possible,” and “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth,” drives her commitment to serving marginalized African American children, young adults, and school communities.
Boyd previously served Chicago’s Bronzeville community as a school Library Media Specialist and Director of Social Media at AUSL Wendell Phillips Academy High School. She was the recipient of the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Department of Libraries 2012 and 2014 VITAL Technology Grants. Through these grants, Boyd has successfully help transform the educational landscape for Level 1-ranked Phillips high school through integrating technology into the curriculum.
During her tenure with Chicago Public Schools, Boyd has worked at the elementary, high school, and administration levels. She is also the former coordinator for the Mayor Daley Book Club for Middle School Students. As the creator and producer of the award-winning ‘Behind the Paws’ students news program, she has help heighten the image of Phillips Academy.
Boyd is credited for the creation of the first NOOK Street Literature Book Club for Teens in the country. A staunch advocate for school libraries, she is widely known and respected for her work with educating parents, teachers, and district officials on promoting leisure reading for children and teens. Her blogs, The Audacious Librarian and MissDomino, document her work with high school students, discuss the effective use of technology in k-12 education, and review books for teens and adults. Additionally, she is a sought-after and popular conference presenter at the local, state, and national levels. She was awarded the coveted CPS ‘Ones to Watch Award’ and has been inducted into the CPS ‘Librarian Hall of Fame.’ She was featured on the Chicago Public Schools’ ‘Social Media Toolkit Page’ and has been named a CPS ‘Social Media Trailblazer.’
Boyd has been featured in a number of national publications. She has been interviewed by Education Weekly about her work with reluctant readers and appeared in School Library Journal and Library Journal for her work with Pinterest. In addition, she appeared on the October 2014 cover of School Library Journal in the article, “Chicago Hope: High School Librarian K.C. Boyd.” She has also been recognized by Library Journal as a 2015 Mover and Shaker and was awarded the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s 2015 Leadership Award.
Her book donation program for the Montego Bay Public Library–St. James Parrish is an extension of her work in Chicago. It is Boyd’s belief that all children, despite economic circumstance, have the right to read and should have access to books that reflect themselves and encourage inquiry. Boyd can be reached at kcboyd1@gmail.com and frequently Tweets at @Boss_Librarian.
