With a BA from Minnesota State University–Moorhead and 16 graduate credits in Library/Information Technology from St. Cloud State University, Katy Tessman has a vast professional communications experience and diverse educator background. Following are a few highlights from her professional accomplishments.
Project Manager
From building relevant and diverse book collections that provide windows and mirrors for students to creating Makerspaces in media centers giving an outlet for students, fueling engagement, creativity, and curiosity at the same time, Katy assists school media specialists across the country, look to the future by helping create new media centers managing budgets of $20,000-$300,000+.
- craft results-driven proposals
- collaborate with sales representatives on new customer meetings to build rapport
- manage projects through to completion, including; cataloging and processing titles, packaging, scheduling delivery, and coordinating shelving of new collections
Literacy Champion
Katy is passionate about helping schools transform their libraries to be future-ready media centers. Katy loves building relevant and diverse book collections for schools to provide windows and mirrors for students.
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| Building a Diverse Book Collection |
| Supporting Adolescent Striving Readers with Engaging Texts |
Writer
Katy Tessman is a blog content curator and regularly contributes to MackinCommunity.com authoring research-based industry articles and thoughtfully curated content about newly published books.
| 5 Benefits of Reading Picture Books Aloud to Secondary Students |
| Books - Help Guide Convos about Race, Racism, and Antiracism |
| Partnering Fiction & NonFiction in Classroom Libraries |
| 3 Important Steps in Creating Interesting Book Talks |
Katy's article "Glimpses int a Better Understanding of the Human Experience Through New Poetry Books" was the most read blog article in 2022.
Katy is a self published author of two picture books:
- Our Mama is a Beautiful Garden: A family's breast cancer journey as told through the innocent and sweet voices of two young brothers.
- Hero Now Crowned: A magical reimagining of Katy Tessman’s song Hero Now Crowned.
Professional Development Educator
Katy Tessman leads Professional Learning workshops and webinars for educators, presenting educational trends throughout the nation.
- "Maker-spacing Your Distance Learning" webinar for Mackin Professional Learning
- "Literacy and Making : Transforming your Workshop into a Makerspace" professional learning workshop at TIES Conference
- Maker Education hands-on workshop at Best Prep, Minnesota Technology Integration Workshop.
- Maker Education hands-on workshop for librarians at Arrowhead Library System, Minnesota
Public School Educator
Making and tinkering are powerful and empowering ways to learn. Katy coordinated the first MakerSpace in the Media Center at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School. Katy believes in the importance of providing an outlet for students to fuel engagement, creativity, and curiosity.
| 5 Factors When Offering MakerSpace Experiences in the Media Center |
Communications/Marketing Manager Experience
MARKETING: Managed the development, production, and distribution of a variety of marketing communications materials (brochures, spec sheets, direct mailers, capabilities pieces, statement stuffers, advertisements, point of sale, distributor/dealer kits) including graphic design, writing, digital photography, proofreading, and production.
WEB DEVELOPMENT: Created new content and look and feel of customers' websites. Led the reorganization and update of the marketing communications department Intranet sites that provided information to worldwide distributorships.
ADVERTISING: Created and managed plans, budget, and placement in national trade and business publications and in community newspapers.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: Created and managed a database of over 1200 local and national media contacts and utilized them to achieve accurate and timely communications of events. Managed the publicity that contributed to single ticket sale efforts resulting in record sales of the holiday production Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas for two consecutive years at The Children's Theatre Company.
SALES: Coordinated marketing activities that contributed to record subscription sales. Exceeded the group sales ticket goals by 13%.
MANAGEMENT: Hired and supervised personnel at civic events, which promoted a positive image of company to the community.
WEB DEVELOPMENT: Created new content and look and feel of customers' websites. Led the reorganization and update of the marketing communications department Intranet sites that provided information to worldwide distributorships.
ADVERTISING: Created and managed plans, budget, and placement in national trade and business publications and in community newspapers.
PUBLIC RELATIONS: Created and managed a database of over 1200 local and national media contacts and utilized them to achieve accurate and timely communications of events. Managed the publicity that contributed to single ticket sale efforts resulting in record sales of the holiday production Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas for two consecutive years at The Children's Theatre Company.
SALES: Coordinated marketing activities that contributed to record subscription sales. Exceeded the group sales ticket goals by 13%.
MANAGEMENT: Hired and supervised personnel at civic events, which promoted a positive image of company to the community.
Outreach Experience
As an AUTHOR & SINGER-SONGWRITER, Katy shares her story, talent, and positivity to those who need it.
❖ Young Survival Coalition's guest speaker at Gilda’s Club-Twin Cities
❖ Star Studios at Children's Hospitals & Clinics, Minneapolis and St. Paul
❖ Angel Foundation fundraiser concert at 318 Cafe in Excelsior
❖ Lenten worship guest speaker at various churches
❖ Spokes model for Breast Cancer Superhero Portrait Project
❖ Young Survival Coalition's guest speaker at Gilda’s Club-Twin Cities
❖ Star Studios at Children's Hospitals & Clinics, Minneapolis and St. Paul
❖ Angel Foundation fundraiser concert at 318 Cafe in Excelsior
❖ Lenten worship guest speaker at various churches
❖ Spokes model for Breast Cancer Superhero Portrait Project