About This Episode: Take a walk through Bryant, Arkansas with Parkway Elementary's Library Media Specialist, Chrystal Burkes. In this episode we learn about some of the biggest misconceptions about libraries and how to make them an innovative, fun hub of learning for everyone.  

Guest Bio:

Chrystal Burkes started her journey to be an educator at the University of Central Arkansas in 2006. After graduating, Chrystal began teaching third and fourth grade while she completed her Master’s Degree in Educational Theory and Practice through Arkansas State University. She adopted cutting-edge teaching practices such as a flipped classroom teaching model and flexible seating ideology in your classes.        

Chrystal then completed her second Master’s Degree in Library and Media through Southern Arkansas University’s graduate program in August 2018.  Inspired by her graduate courses, Chrystal took on additional leadership roles in your school building such as coordinating a school-wide digital citizenship event and heading a weekly technology training program for teachers and staff.  This work earned her the honor of being named Bryant Teacher of the Year 2017-2018. Eventually, she progressed to being named Teacher of the Year for her co-op area, and later was named a top-four semifinalist for Arkansas Teacher of the Year. That same year, Burkes was also awarded Little Rock Family Magazine’s 2019 Amazing Educator Award.       

In August 2018, Chrystal became the Library Media Specialist at Parkway Elementary in Bryant. She was also  recently named Arkansas Association of Instructional Media’s (AAIM) Library Media Specialist of the Year 2020.       

She has continued to bring innovative and engaging lessons to her students every day by incorporating technology, real world examples, and student interest into her lessons. She isn’t afraid to step out of the norm and challenge herself and her students to new ways of thinking and learning. Her goal is to help all students and teachers become educated citizens and positive contributors not only in their classrooms, but ultimately in society.

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