As an educator for almost 25 years, Kristel has experience with the wee ones to adult learners. She started her career as an elementary music teacher and an opera singer. Life and learning led her to two other passions, literacy and technology, the perfect mix for a teacher- librarian. After earning her Master of Music Education from ECU, she went back to ECU for her Master of Library Media Studies; she is also a National Board certified teacher. She currently works as a high school librarian at Knightdale High School, an urban setting in Wake County Public Schools. There she strives to make the Learning Commons the hub of the school by providing the students and staff with access to high quality literature and research materials, as well as technology, collaborative learning spaces, a makerspace, and a music studio.  Kristel has become very active as an advocate for students and staff in the past few years.  She believes that fighting for intellectual freedom and creating inclusive libraries are foundations of the library profession.