Being future-ready to make a meaningful impact

with Karen Bonanno and invited mentors

Are you ready to transform your school library into a dynamic hub that truly makes a difference? The School Library Professional Accelerator is a comprehensive 12-week mentor program designed to empower you to become future-ready. In this program, you’ll evolve as a catalyst for change, gaining the insights and skills needed to make a meaningful impact on your school community.

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, school libraries play a crucial role in fostering learning, innovation, and community engagement. This program, led by experienced mentor Karen Bonanno, will provide you with the essential knowledge, skills, and strategies to elevate your professional practice and lead with confidence.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
The program is structured around three key components, each meticulously crafted to ensure your holistic growth and development:

Core Foundations

• Developing Your Knowledge: Gain a deeper understanding of current trends, theories, and proven school library management.
• Implementing Effective Practices: Learn to integrate innovative strategies that enhance your library’s services and reach.
• Leveraging Your Engagement: Discover techniques to boost engagement with students, staff, and community stakeholders.

Growth Essentials

• Building Your Mindset: Cultivate a growth-oriented mindset essential for leadership, innovation, and resilience.
• Expanding Your Leadership Capabilities: Develop strong leadership skills to lead collaborative initiatives and drive innovation in your library programs.
• Developing a Sound Strategic Plan: Learn to create a clear, actionable strategic plan for your school library.

Sustainable Practices

• Strategies for Continuous Improvement through Evidence-Based Data and Review: Implement data-driven approaches to refine and enhance your library’s programs and services consistently.
• Expanding Collaborative Partnerships: Foster strong relationships with colleagues, parents, and community organisations.
• Consistent Mission Alignment with the School’s Strategic Direction: Ensure your library’s initiatives are in sync with your school’s broader strategic priorities.

WHAT’S INCLUDED
To support your journey and ensure your success, the School Library Professional Accelerator program provides:

• 2 x 1:1 Strategy Calls: Kick off your program with a personalised call to set your goals and wrap up with a final session to solidify your plans.
• 1 x 45-minute Weekly Group Mentor Online Sessions: Engage in dynamic group discussions, share insights, and learn from the collective experience of your peers.
• Access to a Private LinkedIn Community Group: Connect with fellow program participants for ongoing discussion, collaboration, and exchange of ideas.
• Unlimited LinkedIn Messaging and Unlimited Email with your mentor, Karen Bonanno: Get personalised guidance and support whenever you need it directly from Karen.
• A Talent Dynamics Profile: Gain valuable insights into your natural strengths and how to best leverage them in your professional role.

MEET YOUR MENTOR
Karen Bonanno brings a wealth of experience and expertise to guide you through this transformative program. Her dedication to fostering future-ready school library professionals ensures that you will receive unparalleled support and insights. Karen will guide you every step of the way and help you navigate the challenges that arise.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who is this program for?
This accelerator is designed for school library professionals who are eager to stay current with modern library practices, develop their leadership skills, drive change, and significantly enhance their impact.

What outcomes can I expect?
You’ll gain in-depth knowledge, sharpen your leadership skills, and develop a strategic mindset that paves the way for improvement and lasting, meaningful impact within your school community. The program is designed to equip you with the mindset, strategies, and practices necessary to navigate the ever-changing landscape of school libraries. By focusing on Core Foundations, Growth Essentials, and Sustainable Practices, you’ll not only future-proof your school library programs and services but also position yourself as a leader and catalyst for positive change in your school community.

How is the program structured?
Your 12-week program commences on completion of your registration. It features two one-on-one strategy calls (one at the beginning and one at the end) and weekly 45-minute group mentor sessions on a Tuesday evening. Additional ongoing support is provided through a private LinkedIn community and direct access to Karen via messaging and email. If you are unable to attend the group mentor sessions, you will have access to the weekly recordings.

How much time will I need to commit to the program each week?
You can expect to spend 45 minutes per week in the live group mentor session, plus additional time for implementing strategies, reflection, and engaging in the LinkedIn community. Most participants find that 2-3 hours per week is sufficient to experience real progress and results.

What makes Karen Bonanno the ideal mentor?
Karen brings over 45 years of experience and expertise in education and school libraries, providing personalised insights and guidance needed to transform your school library effectively. Her mentorship is focused on actionable strategies and realistic implementation. She has been a teacher, teacher librarian, head of department, acting deputy principal, regional school library advisor, and state education officer for school libraries, before commencing independent work. She held the position of Chief Executive Officer for the Australian School Library Association for twelve years. She has worked as the Executive Secretary for the International Association of School Librarianship for six years.

How do I secure my place in the program?
Enrolment is simple. You select your preferred enrolment option below, complete the registration process, and Karen will contact you with the next steps. As our commitment is to personalised support, spaces are limited.

Here’s what our mentees are saying:

“We have both thought this was exactly what we needed and are very excited to see where this new knowledge takes us. Once again, thanks for the fabulous mentorship. We appreciate your time, guidance, and wisdom.” ~ Mel & Kate, QLD.

“I recently completed the School Library Professional Accelerator program with Karen Bonanno, and it was exactly the professional learning I needed at the right time. After five years at my current school, the library had found its rhythm and was moving in the right direction – but I was asking myself: where to next? Karen’s guidance and mentoring helped me answer that question with clarity and confidence. Through her structured yet flexible approach, my team and I were able to step back, reflect on our strengths and challenges, and identify the opportunities ahead. Together, we developed a comprehensive strategic plan, complete with an executive summary, evaluation methods, and a clear roadmap for the next few years. Thanks to Karen’s expertise, we now have a purposeful plan that not only lifts the library but also strengthens our service and builds deeper connections with our school community. Her ability to empower, mentor, and guide has made a lasting impact on both my leadership and future directions of our library.” ~ Katrina Cunningham, NSW.

Ready to Accelerate Your Impact?
Join the School Library Professional Accelerator program and take the next step towards becoming a truly impactful leader in your school community.

Still not sure if this is for you?

Feel free to use the calendar below to book a 15-minute chat with Karen to explore this opportunity.