One for the Record Books

by Jose Guerrero

The Bentsen library is excited about another school year and the return of all students that are ready to take charge of all our new reading challenges and embrace the love of reading. Bentsen teachers are also getting ready and staying in compliance with HB 900 by cataloging their classroom libraries using the district's resources, TeachingBook.net. TeachingBooks provides teachers with

a wealth of resources to enhance their literacy instruction and engage students with books

. We are all excited in meeting the need of all students and once again fostering the love reading and developing lifelong readers.

by Monica Arguelles

My name is Monica Arguelles, and I am thrilled to join Donna Wernecke Elementary School as the new librarian! I’ve had the privilege of being part of the Sharyland ISD community for the past several years as a 6th grade teacher at Lloyd and Dolly Bentsen Elementary. With 23 wonderful years of experience as an elementary bilingual educator, I’ve had the joy of teaching every grade level—and now, I’m excited to bring that passion for learning into the heart of the school: the library.

I completed my Master’s in Library Science at Sam Houston State University, and I’m eager to apply that knowledge by creating a vibrant, accessible, and engaging library experience for all students. Reading has always been one of my greatest loves, and I can’t wait to share that joy with our students by opening the doors to the incredible world of books.

My vision is to make our library a warm, welcoming hub where curiosity is sparked, imagination is encouraged, and our entire school community can come together. I hope to collaborate closely with teachers and staff to create a space that supports learning, celebrates literacy, and helps our students grow into thoughtful, confident, and critical thinkers.

Whether you have questions, ideas, or simply want to chat about books, my door is always open. I’m excited to be part of the Donna Wernecke Elementary family and look forward to an inspiring year together.

by Oneida Aleman

RD Martinez Elementary librarian, Ms. Aleman presented to teachers and staff, outlining exciting updates and initiatives for the 2025-2026 school year.

The session highlighted technology updates, HB900 refresher, SB13, and new resources to foster a love of reading, support student literacy, and enhance library services across all grade levels.

by Josie Saldana

The school year is off to an excellent start! The North Junior High librarian, Mrs. Saldana, kicked things off with an energizing presentation for teachers, spotlighting amazing library services, technology tools, and the new campus reading initiative program — Beanstack.

In partnership with the RLA department, the library will lead the charge in bringing Beanstack to life on campus. This interactive program will fuel a love of reading through book logging, digital badges, and friendly reading challenges. With new reading goals each six weeks, Beanstack is sure to keep students engaged and motivated all year long.

by Nicole Cruz

Presenting at the Sharyland ISD District Level UP Conference on August 5th and 6th was definitely a great way to start the 2025-2026 school year for Sharyland District Lead Librarian Nicole Cruz. She was able to connect with elementary, junior high, and high school classroom teachers on topics like Discovery Education and Bell to Bell Impact with Classroom Read Alouds. One of the best parts of this conference was reconnecting with her former student Lupita Perez. Lupita serves Jessie Jensen as an instructional classroom aide. She served as a SHS library ambassador and even a substitute teacher. She made Mrs. Cruz smile when she shared that she is working on earning her Texas teacher certification. Best Wishes to Lupita. It is great to see the full circle moment of student to teacher.

The final session of the Sharyland ISD Summer Reading Program was a fantastic way to wrap up a season filled with stories, smiles, and success!

HEB sponsored grants for more than 73 summer reading programs across the state. Across TLA District 4 which encompasses all of the Rio Grande Valley and north through Corpus Christi and Nueces County, only 10 grants were awarded. Six were granted to public libraries and only 4 were awarded to schools. Sharyland ISD was one of the 4!

Three summer sessions were held at John H Shary Elementary Cafeteria including June 10, June 17, and June 24. All elementary and secondary campuses were represented by students and parents.

This summer, our program grew stronger with each session—and today’s finale was no exception. Students and families came together once more to celebrate imagination, creativity, and a shared love for reading.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our incredible volunteers, the SISD Child Nutrition Department for once again providing delicious lunches, and a special shoutout to our friend H-E-Buddy for showing up and having a blast with our kids!

Every child left with a free book to keep the joy of reading going at home. What a summer!

by Thanya Montemayor

RHE Librarian, Thanya Montemayor, is so excited to start the year and spread the love of reading. Get ready to meet the challenges this year and rise to success!

by Monica Silva

Hello! I’m Monica Silva, and I’m honored to serve as the librarian at John H. Shary Elementary. I strive to make our library a warm, welcoming space where students can explore new ideas, discover their passions, and build the skills they need to thrive in a world full of information. Whether I’m recommending a great book, guiding research, teaching digital literacy, or incorporating STEM into lessons, my goal is for every student to feel inspired, encouraged, and supported.

Outside of school, my greatest joy is spending time with my two children, Daniel and Bianca. I also love traveling, enjoying the outdoors, and finding creative ways to make learning fun. I’m looking forward to another exciting year of reading, exploring, and growing together at John H. Shary Elementary!

by Denise Cirlos

I’m thrilled to begin my 5th year as librarian at B. L. Gray Junior High! This year, I’m on a mission to spark a love of reading through engaging literacy challenges, special celebrations, and fun incentives for reaching reading goals I’m also eager to team up with our amazing teachers through "Lunch & Learn" sessions, resource sharing, and classroom support. It’s going to be a great year of learning, growing, and reading together!

by Wally Trevino

The library is ready for a brand-new school year, and we can’t wait to see all the curious readers walk through the doors! Our shelves are filled with exciting stories, colorful picture books, and fascinating facts waiting for you to discover. Whether you love adventures, mysteries, funny tales, or learning something new, there’s a book here just for you. This year, we’ll explore new authors, join fun reading challenges, and enjoy special library activities. So get ready to open your mind, and get ready for another amazing year at Olivero Garza Elementary Library.

by Alma Paredes

The Shimotsu Library is waiting and ready for checkouts once again. This summer at Shimotsu we’ve been rearranging and organizing our stacks so everyone is able to find what they are looking for. It’s an ongoing project and can’t wait to work on some dynamic displays this year and user friendly labels. We are excited to get the year started so our books don’t feel lonely anymore!

by Albert Ramos

I would like to introduce myself and my goals for our students on this years first Smore Edition. This is my 20th year at Jessie Jensen Elementary as a librarian. I feel that this year I would like to connect more with our students and get to know them better. I would like to have more dialogue with them and see what they really enjoy reading and learning about. In the past years, I feel I have been more concerned about them getting prepared for the next grade level, and not discussing their reading and learning enough with them. This year I would like to make it a priority to be more intentional in knowing them and their educational goals!