After fourteen years at Moorestown Friends School, Lower School Librarian Deb Alterman will retire after the 2018-2019 school year.
Ms. Alterman has a diverse job. Her responsibilities include managing the Lower School library curriculum and teaching across a wide variety of developmental stages. She plays a crucial role in cultivating the warm environment of the MFS library, helping to craft seasonal book displays that are both beautiful and engaging.
Many Upper Schoolers speak fondly of spending time in Ms. Alterman’s Lower School class. Senior Mya Corsey recalled listening to Ms. Alterman read aloud, putting on different voices for each of the characters. As Lower Schoolers, they would fight over which colored squares to sit on during reading time. Ms. Alterman was careful to make sure that each student had a chance to sit near the front.
Ms. Alterman was aware of how much impact the library can have on a young student. Senior Liz Huettl said, “[Ms. Alterman] taught me that it’s a good thing to be excited about reading, and that all good things start in a story.”
Alongside Lower School Director Kelly Banik, Ms. Alterman curated the Lower School library collection based on the philosophy of “mirrors and windows.” The idea was that students could both see themselves reflected in books but also be exposed to new worlds.
Ms. Alterman is known for closely she has worked with other Lower School teachers. She said she cherishes “magical moments when it seems I may have helped someone find the right books or resources just when they needed them.”
Third grade teacher Ted Quinn spoke about how Ms. Alterman supported the unit his class did on immigration: “She’s done a great job of finding books and stories that make it clear that immigration is a dynamic and ongoing thing … And she’ll find lots of books that … represent a lot of different people’s experiences.”
Lower School Director Kelly Banik further emphasized Ms. Alterman’s enthusiasm for instilling a love of reading in her students. Whenever children expressed an interest, she would be at the classroom door “with two arms full of … books that are age-appropriate.”
Ms. Alterman has been integral in developing a positive educational background for Lower Schools to build upon. Beyond inspiring many students to pursue independent reading, she also taught practical and long-term skills, such as how to find a legitimate research source and how to cite it.
As Ms. Alterman moves forward with her journey, she leaves behind a legacy of deep care and commitment to the Lower School. Senior Sonia Patel said that Ms. Alterman’s retirement feels as though an integral part of the Lower School experience was also leaving.
Ms. Alterman’s plans for retirement including studying at a Master Gardener program and participate in “meaningful volunteering,” especially in public libraries. She said, “I can’t imagine not being involved in [the MFS library] or other libraries in some way.”
