Hello! My name is Amanda Biela and I am the Thorp Librarian. I have a passion for all things books and reading. My mission is to help students discover unknown settings, meet fascinating characters and have myriad adventures all within the pages of books and along the way develop a lifelong love of reading. My educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in History/Political Science and secondary education from Illinois College and master’s degree in Social Sciences focusing on Urban Education from the University of Chicago. I have taught both at the middle and high school levels in English and Social Studies. Additionally, at Thorp I serve as the assistant coach for the debate team and the advisor for the school yearbook.
In my personal life, I am mom to three extraordinarily awesome kids– 21yr old Theodore (Junior at Illinois College), 18 yr old Clara (Freshman at Cornell College) and 16 yr old Thomas (Sophomore at Rickover Naval Academy). Along with Michael, my husband of 24 years, my favorite thing to do in my spare time is to travel with my kids (See picture: Zion National Park this past December)! I am on a quest to go to all fifty states–only two more to go (Oregon & Hawaii)! I love seeing our nation’s beauty and being able to share it with my children. I would be remiss if I didn’t also mention that my house is ruled by three regal cats: Ringo, George and Paul–Yes, we are Beatles fans!
Favorite Quote: “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.”--George R.R. Martin. My goal is to help students start living those thousand lives and exploring places they never knew existed by visiting the Thorp library and picking out a book to read!