For the past three years, Lashonda Roberson has served as the librarian at Yvonne A. Ewell Townview Center.
With two decades of experience in Dallas ISD, she is now focusing on preparing students for their next big leap in education.
“Once I got into education, I realized all the important things that teachers do to establish foundations for students,” she said. “I began to realize how passionate I was about education and that it was a pathway to helping the community. I became a lifelong learner.”
After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Prairie View A&M University, Roberson became a 7th-grade science teacher in Dallas ISD. Roberson, who has a master’s degree in library science, saw her chance to become a librarian when the media specialist at Townview retired.
“I have always had a keen sense of working with young people,” she said. “Even as a teenager, my friends always would tell me that I would be a great teacher. So, I had a natural path into education.”
At just 17, Roberson paved her own path to college, relying on the library as a resource to achieve her goals.
Roberson is driven by a personal commitment to guiding students who are also on college and career pathways. This is rooted in her experience of navigating that journey on her own.
Roberson spends her day managing the space and updating library resources. She said she feels proud to be able to guide students in accessing information. She has prepared the library to promote student autonomy, encouraging them to explore and conduct research based on their personal needs and steps in only as needed.
“Our library is very active in the morning. Students know that they can come in before school and start their day,” she said. “They do homework, they socialize, some students print, and students often come in throughout the day with passes from their teacher.”
Roberson provides opportunities for her students to engage in real-world issues and enhance their problem-solving skills early on.
Last month, Roberson hosted a health and culture fair, engaging over 500 students in the ways food can impact mental health and decision making.
The event, which included medical professionals from UT Southwestern and Parkland Health, reminded students to prioritize their health as they prepare for their careers.
Students were encouraged to remember their role as citizens, to give back to society within their respective fields, and to use empathy when looking for ways to bridge gaps in the community.
Through mindfulness, meditation, and scientific knowledge about healthy eating, Roberson is preparing her students to sustain themselves and the world around them.
“This is my goal, to always plant seeds,” Roberson said. “If we make as much available as possible, then I think it’s going to set a foundation for the students that they will continue to run with.”
