I am a librarian at Highland Park Middle School in Dallas, Texas. I am passionate about connecting kids with books and am a strong advocate for student choice in reading. My interests include children's and young adult literature, motivating readers, school library programming, picture books and mentor texts, the reading preferences and practices of tweens and teens, and building reading and learning communities. I am a lifelong learner.
- Doctoral student in Library and Information Studies - Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Texas, 2011-2012
- Master of Library and Information Science - University of North Texas, Denton, Texas, December 2006
- Bachelor of Science, Education Curriculum and Instruction - Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, December 1991
- Middle School Librarian, 2012-present; Lead Librarian, 2014-present – Highland Park Middle School, Highland Park ISD, Dallas, TX
- Middle School Librarian, 2007-2010 – Pat & Catherine Fowler Middle School, Frisco ISD, Plano, TX
- Elementary School Librarian, 2003-2005, 2006-2007 – John F. Hightower Elementary, Plano ISD, Plano, TX; Rose Mary Haggar Elementary, Plano ISD, Dallas, TX
- Graduate Teaching Assistant, Library Materials for Children course, 2011-2012 –School of Library and Information Studies, Texas Woman’s University, Denton, TX
- Language Arts and Reading Teacher, Grade 6, 2001-2003 – Arch H. McCulloch Intermediate, Highland Park ISD, Dallas, TX
- Elementary Classroom Teacher and Instructional Specialist, Grades 1-4, 1991-2001 –John S. Bradfield Elementary, Highland Park ISD, Dallas, TX; The Covenant School, Dallas, TX; John S. Armstrong Elementary, Highland Park ISD, Dallas, TX
Professional Memberships
- American Library Association (ALA)
- American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
- Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
- Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
- Texas Library Association (TLA)
- Texas Association of School Librarians (TASL)
- Young Adult Round Table (YART)
- Texas Computer Education Association (TCEA)
Service
- Member, ALSC Sibert Informational Book Award Selection Committee - American Library Association, 2022-2024
- Member, National Chapter of the Year Award Committee - American Association of School Librarians, 2022-2023
- Past Chair and Web Administrator, Texas Association of School Librarians - Texas Library Association, 2022-2023
- Chair, Texas Association of School Librarians - Texas Library Association, 2021-2022
- Member, YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction Selection Committee - American Library Association, 2020-2021
- Member, Steering Committee, North Texas Teen Book Festival - 2016-present
- Member, Annual Conference 2019 Programming Committee - Texas Library Association, 2017-2019
- Team Leader, Young Adults' Choices Project - International Reading Association, 2016-2019
- Member, Caldecott Award Selection Committee - American Library Association, 2016
- Chair, TALL Texans Round Table - Texas Library Association, 2016-2017
- Secretary, Texas Association of School Librarians - Texas Library Association, 2014-2016
- Member, Intellectual Freedom Committee - Texas Library Association, 2014-2016
- Advisor, Texas Lone Star Reading List Committee - Texas Library Association, 2013-2014
- Chair, Texas Lone Star Reading List Committee – Texas Library Association, 2011-2013
- Member, Young Adult Round Table Executive Board, 2011-2013
- Member, Membership Committee – Association for Library Service to Children, 2012 -2014
- Member, Christina B. Woll Memorial Fund Selection Committee – Texas Library Association, 2012-2013
- Member, Librarians’ Choices Project, 2011-2013
- Participant, William C. Morris Seminar – Association for Library Service to Children, 2012
- Co-chair, YALSA 2012 Midwinter Marketing & Local Arrangements – American Library Association, 2011-2012
- Member, Texas Lone Star Reading List Committee - Texas Library Association, 2007- 2010
- Volunteer - Dallas Museum of Art, Arts and Letters Live program, 2004-present
- Recipient of the Highland Park Education Foundation Howie Award, 2022
- Chosen by colleagues as the Highland Park Middle School Teacher of the Year, 2022
- Recipient of the Standing TALL Award, 2019
- Awarded HP Arts Arts in Education Teacher of the Year, 2015
- Selected for the TALL Texans Leadership Institute, 2013
- Virginia Chandler Dykes TWU Scholarship Recipient, 2013
- Profiled on the Association of Library Service to Children (ALSC) Blog, 2013
- Winner of Texas Association of School Librarians Middle School Blog of the Year, 2012
- Recipient of Texas Association of School Librarians Scholarship Award, 2012
- Profiled on Texas Sweethearts: Writing for Kids and Teens from the Heart, 2011
- International Reading Association, Alpha Upsilon Alpha Honor Society, Texas Woman’s University
- Cap & Gown Chapter of Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, Texas A&M University
My father was in the oil business, so I grew up in Texas oil towns and a few years overseas in Stavanger, Norway (an amazing experience). But most of my years were spent in West Texas which instilled in me a love for football. ;)
After graduating from high school, I attended Texas A&M University where I studied Education Curriculum and Instruction. I met my husband there in History 101. We have been married for almost 30 years.
My first job out of college was at Armstrong Elementary in Highland Park ISD. I am forever thankful to principal Dr. Ken Thomas for taking a chance on a brand new, rookie teacher. After teaching for several years in elementary and middle school, I realized that my favorite part of the job was sharing literature with children and fostering a love for reading. So, I decided to become a librarian. I earned my Master's in Library Science at the University of North Texas and began work as an elementary school librarian.
From there, I moved up to the middle school level, opened a new library (a wonderful experience), and started work on my Ph.D. at Texas Woman's University. As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I had the chance to teach an undergraduate class to education majors focusing on how to incorporate children's literature into the classroom. It was such a privilege to share the love of literature with soon-to-be teachers.
My husband and I have lived in Dallas since we married. We thoroughly enjoy what the city has to offer - great restaurants, live music, and sports. We also love to travel, spoil our dogs, and spend time with friends and family. We have four nephews and one niece, four of which are fellow Aggies. Two of our nephews are also married to Aggies, and we are now a great aunt and uncle several times over!
Someday we hope to live at the beach or in Aggieland. But for now, we are happy in the big city and always looking forward to the next adventure.
- Email: jillbellomy@gmail.com
- Blog: www.jilliciousreading.net
- Twitter: @jillbellomy
- Instagram: @jillbellomy
Credits:
Created with images by vloveland - "graduation scroll cap" • jenikmichal - "books library alphabet" • Wokandapix - "classroom school education" • jarmoluk - "hands friendship friends" • Jason Leung - "untitled image" • TOMOKO UJI - "untitled image" • niekverlaan - "keyboard button key"