St. Cloud State University graduate student Mark Therrien is only a week into his role as the library media specialist at Sand Creek Elementary School in Coon Rapids.
But he said it already feels like a dream job.
“As a specialist teacher, I enjoy that I get to see every student in the school each week,” Therrien said. “Reading and learning can have such an impact on people, and I love that I now get to work with students as their teacher.”
Therrien began working in the school’s cafeteria in 2023 when his twins Ryan and Reese began kindergarten. He enjoyed the atmosphere and role of supporting students, and the idea of teaching began to take root in his mind.
About 15 years after earning an undergraduate degree in business from Bethel University, the 39-year-old returned to school as a St. Cloud State student in January 2025. He is simultaneously working towards his graduate certificate in post-baccalaureate teaching and his master’s as a library media specialist.
The timing couldn’t have been better. A library media specialist position opened at Sand Creek Elementary this summer, and he was hired into the role while he completes his coursework at SCSU.
“The graduate program has been really eye-opening,” Therrien said. “The classes have been so helpful in learning how to approach teaching and relating to students from different cultures.”
One class from this summer Therrien highlighted was taught by Dr. Jenny Hill, an associate professor in the Department of Education. ED 624 focuses on how to select materials for school libraries and recommend age-appropriate books and digital resources to children.
“Library media specialists teach information literacy, are instructional partners for teachers and serve as leaders in running and curating the library,” Hill said. “Their work impacts the whole school.”
The job also includes coordinating local author visits, of which Therrien has plenty of experience. While he was a stay-at-home dad before his twins started elementary school, he received inspiration from his oldest son Cal as he began to become an avid reader.
“I wanted to take that love of reading and try to spread it to as many kids as I could,” Therrien said. “I wanted to make a fun book that was based on our family’s experiences.”
He came up with “The Megavan,” illustrated by Kevin Cannon. The story follows a trusty family van that transforms into whatever the family needs for the day.
“Not every student who comes through our program is already a published author,” Hill said. “It’s excellent that he wants to leverage his experience and make it a career to share his love of books with students. We want students to become lifelong lovers of reading.”
“The whole process taught me a lot, and it helped me meet people in the industry,” Therrien added. “Seeing how the book impacted people definitely played a part in my desire to become a library media specialist.”
Therrien plans to complete his degree in 2027. Visit the SCSU website to learn more about the master’s program.
