Or Equivalent: Milwaukee Mistake
Hey y'all you may have read about my involvement with an ALA accredited equity case in Milwaukee:
Then they rescinded the offer.
I have a string of expletives a mile long. This chaos cost me the roof over my head, the earning potential for my family and provides another example of the high scrutiny Black female leaders endure, where the goal is to wield “an ugly and effective weapon to blunt the power of Black women, to suggest through word and attitude that she will never be enough, that she will never belong in the halls of power.”
But let's direct our focus on my response to the utter dumpster fire my life has blazed into because I chose to lead in my profession...again.
1. Degree biases and inequity. Saying that only ALA accreditation degree holders apply enforces a higher educational expense, shows an outward prejudice against near identical degree coursework and conflicts with an integral belief that librarians embrace: intellectual freedom, because it amplifies that only select institutions meet their requirements in an elitist fashion. It comes across as a censorship of intellect and snobbish to say the least.
These folks in Milwaukee acted like my degree had a virus of some sort. I have CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) because my background is in education. If any one of those council members and/or mayor attended public schools, then this is a slap in your former educator's face.
2. The humiliation of not being enough.
One of my joys in the hopes of leading Milwaukee libraries was that it combined many facets of me: a strong arts and music conviction (I'm a cellist), the love of Black and German cultures and the immense support the city had for its libraries until now. One of my favorite songs right now is Du bist gut genug = You are good enough.
Never in my life did I think I'd be welcomed as an "unqualified outsider" to Milwaukee, which is how I was treated and informed how the council members viewed me leading up to today's infamous confirmation hearing that I am no longer allowed to participate as a candidate. In this case, my years of experience in the community as a school librarian was for nothing. Are schools not a part of the community in Milwaukee? Aren't the same kids, teens and adults walking into both schools and libraries? Truth be told, because school is mandatory, a school librarian has more direct contact with kids and the adults that teach them than public librarians.
Nevertheless, being the sole-information literacy source for thousands of students, faculty and staff in an education setting didn't mean squat to a city of approximately 700k. We have former teachers and coaches that can lead as govenors like in Minnesota or Delaware, but a school librarian administrator becoming a public librarian director is the ultimate insult for the city of Milwaukee?
Think about how the Milwaukee resident feels that saw this position open, recommended I apply for it, celebrated the joy with me when I was chosen, just to feel the humiliation at how the city treated me. It is almost as equitable to my own embarrassment for engaging with Milwaukee. That this now regretful experience is associated with my credentials, name and advocacy efforts sickens me.
The article that tried to labeled me inexperienced in public librarianship was written by a pundit named Jeramey Jannene. Me a PUBLIC school LIBRARIAN turned library LEADER who eventually became a library ADMINISTRATOR didn't have professional experience in my 13 years as a librarian and almost 25 years as a public school EDUCATOR. Dude, your implication of anything other than qualified reeks and demonstrates a daftness of inexplicable proportions. The same public taxes that build public libraries, build public schools and allot for public services. I've worked in collaboration and education of public librarians, including professional development for public librarians. Furthermore, in addition to my library experience, I have an ethical and accountability approach towards the advancements of AI. I did that on my own to protect the citizens I serve, to enhance my repretoire of skills to meet technological mandates and to create awareness from a librarian's perspective.
3. Respecting the law.
I remember, an ALA accredited degree or equivalent was in the original job posting. I did not take a screenshot on June 2, 2026 when I applied for the job, therefore I do not have evidence. But listen up, they had more than 3 months to investigate, interview and inquire about me. Futhermore, they CHOSE me. I survived 3 interview rounds, 3 reference checks and a background check. 90 days from when I applied to the date of my offer letter, they had ample opportunity to learn about me and my professional experience. I'm sure I went against other applicants with ALA accredited degrees and THEY STILL CHOSE ME.
I would have never applied if "or equivalent" wasn't on the original job posting. I have encountered an infinite amount of library job openings that mandate an ALA-accredited degree. It is like a "whites only" sign but in "literacy code." It's a strong analogy but it aligns with how it feels when you don't have it and are a single-income provider that's already earned the same masters degree from another university while holding down a full time job. I will not incur upwards of $40k debt to duplicate my degree just for the label of ALA-accreditation, especially when I have over a decade's experience in my field.
There's data that supports the costly price of accreditation. It's also fair to note that the library profession as a whole is 85-88% white (2023, Kendrick, Curtis L. | Changing the Racial Demographics of Librarians ). It's hard to see those numbers and not think that steps are taken to keep the ecosystem just the way it has always been. Those ALA accredited universities are predominantly PWIs, which is a whole different layer of drama when you come from a background like my own. Both the University of Wisconsin Madison and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee are PWIs and the only pathway for ALA accreditation in Wisconsin.
Having said that, my point is this: Wisconsin state law allows 2 pathways to obtain the accreditation public library administrators need to lead the libraries:
Simply put if they wanted me, then all the mayor had to do was follow the law. All Milwaukee council members had to do was allow me the opportunity to present myself today and follow the law if they wanted to confirm my appointment. All they had to do is accept my years of successful, professional library leadership and my Masters of School Library and Information Science degree. Read and follow the law. Simple reading comprehension, civic duty and legal adherence. That's it.
But we live in a society now where laws are not followed; where council members bully or silence voices in their communities; where information doesn't need to be credible; where leaders are convicted criminals; where school librarians are censored and threatened with arrest; and where accreditation is used as a weapon.
Where's Kerry Washington or Viola Davis when you need them? This whole experience has left me in disbelief and anger. I started to feel like I wasn't enough due to the rejection. The lyrics of my aforementioned favored song changed from good enough, to not good enough. Du bist nicht gut genug = You are not good enough. The mental anguish of it all and the public embarrassment of a rescinded offer is the reason I had to respond in my own voice. No one gets to make a mockery of my efforts or shun me as though I am not worth my weight in librarianship. Read this site, twice if you must. There isn't much of librarianship I haven't provided sufficient evidence of mastery or accreditation through primary experience as a primary resource.
Milwaukee, you made a mistake. It wasn't me that wasn't good enough. But you.
PROST.
Then they rescinded the offer.
I have a string of expletives a mile long. This chaos cost me the roof over my head, the earning potential for my family and provides another example of the high scrutiny Black female leaders endure, where the goal is to wield “an ugly and effective weapon to blunt the power of Black women, to suggest through word and attitude that she will never be enough, that she will never belong in the halls of power.”
But let's direct our focus on my response to the utter dumpster fire my life has blazed into because I chose to lead in my profession...again.
1. Degree biases and inequity. Saying that only ALA accreditation degree holders apply enforces a higher educational expense, shows an outward prejudice against near identical degree coursework and conflicts with an integral belief that librarians embrace: intellectual freedom, because it amplifies that only select institutions meet their requirements in an elitist fashion. It comes across as a censorship of intellect and snobbish to say the least.
These folks in Milwaukee acted like my degree had a virus of some sort. I have CAEP (Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation) and Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) because my background is in education. If any one of those council members and/or mayor attended public schools, then this is a slap in your former educator's face.
2. The humiliation of not being enough.
One of my joys in the hopes of leading Milwaukee libraries was that it combined many facets of me: a strong arts and music conviction (I'm a cellist), the love of Black and German cultures and the immense support the city had for its libraries until now. One of my favorite songs right now is Du bist gut genug = You are good enough.
Never in my life did I think I'd be welcomed as an "unqualified outsider" to Milwaukee, which is how I was treated and informed how the council members viewed me leading up to today's infamous confirmation hearing that I am no longer allowed to participate as a candidate. In this case, my years of experience in the community as a school librarian was for nothing. Are schools not a part of the community in Milwaukee? Aren't the same kids, teens and adults walking into both schools and libraries? Truth be told, because school is mandatory, a school librarian has more direct contact with kids and the adults that teach them than public librarians.
Nevertheless, being the sole-information literacy source for thousands of students, faculty and staff in an education setting didn't mean squat to a city of approximately 700k. We have former teachers and coaches that can lead as govenors like in Minnesota or Delaware, but a school librarian administrator becoming a public librarian director is the ultimate insult for the city of Milwaukee?
Think about how the Milwaukee resident feels that saw this position open, recommended I apply for it, celebrated the joy with me when I was chosen, just to feel the humiliation at how the city treated me. It is almost as equitable to my own embarrassment for engaging with Milwaukee. That this now regretful experience is associated with my credentials, name and advocacy efforts sickens me.
The article that tried to labeled me inexperienced in public librarianship was written by a pundit named Jeramey Jannene. Me a PUBLIC school LIBRARIAN turned library LEADER who eventually became a library ADMINISTRATOR didn't have professional experience in my 13 years as a librarian and almost 25 years as a public school EDUCATOR. Dude, your implication of anything other than qualified reeks and demonstrates a daftness of inexplicable proportions. The same public taxes that build public libraries, build public schools and allot for public services. I've worked in collaboration and education of public librarians, including professional development for public librarians. Furthermore, in addition to my library experience, I have an ethical and accountability approach towards the advancements of AI. I did that on my own to protect the citizens I serve, to enhance my repretoire of skills to meet technological mandates and to create awareness from a librarian's perspective.
3. Respecting the law.
I remember, an ALA accredited degree or equivalent was in the original job posting. I did not take a screenshot on June 2, 2026 when I applied for the job, therefore I do not have evidence. But listen up, they had more than 3 months to investigate, interview and inquire about me. Futhermore, they CHOSE me. I survived 3 interview rounds, 3 reference checks and a background check. 90 days from when I applied to the date of my offer letter, they had ample opportunity to learn about me and my professional experience. I'm sure I went against other applicants with ALA accredited degrees and THEY STILL CHOSE ME.
I would have never applied if "or equivalent" wasn't on the original job posting. I have encountered an infinite amount of library job openings that mandate an ALA-accredited degree. It is like a "whites only" sign but in "literacy code." It's a strong analogy but it aligns with how it feels when you don't have it and are a single-income provider that's already earned the same masters degree from another university while holding down a full time job. I will not incur upwards of $40k debt to duplicate my degree just for the label of ALA-accreditation, especially when I have over a decade's experience in my field.
There's data that supports the costly price of accreditation. It's also fair to note that the library profession as a whole is 85-88% white (2023, Kendrick, Curtis L. | Changing the Racial Demographics of Librarians ). It's hard to see those numbers and not think that steps are taken to keep the ecosystem just the way it has always been. Those ALA accredited universities are predominantly PWIs, which is a whole different layer of drama when you come from a background like my own. Both the University of Wisconsin Madison and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee are PWIs and the only pathway for ALA accreditation in Wisconsin.
Having said that, my point is this: Wisconsin state law allows 2 pathways to obtain the accreditation public library administrators need to lead the libraries:
Simply put if they wanted me, then all the mayor had to do was follow the law. All Milwaukee council members had to do was allow me the opportunity to present myself today and follow the law if they wanted to confirm my appointment. All they had to do is accept my years of successful, professional library leadership and my Masters of School Library and Information Science degree. Read and follow the law. Simple reading comprehension, civic duty and legal adherence. That's it.
But we live in a society now where laws are not followed; where council members bully or silence voices in their communities; where information doesn't need to be credible; where leaders are convicted criminals; where school librarians are censored and threatened with arrest; and where accreditation is used as a weapon.
Where's Kerry Washington or Viola Davis when you need them? This whole experience has left me in disbelief and anger. I started to feel like I wasn't enough due to the rejection. The lyrics of my aforementioned favored song changed from good enough, to not good enough. Du bist nicht gut genug = You are not good enough. The mental anguish of it all and the public embarrassment of a rescinded offer is the reason I had to respond in my own voice. No one gets to make a mockery of my efforts or shun me as though I am not worth my weight in librarianship. Read this site, twice if you must. There isn't much of librarianship I haven't provided sufficient evidence of mastery or accreditation through primary experience as a primary resource.
Milwaukee, you made a mistake. It wasn't me that wasn't good enough. But you.
PROST.
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