When Rayanne Polm was just five years old, she stepped onto a rolling bookmobile in Copperas Cove and announced to her mother, “When I grow up, I’m going to drive the bookmobile. I’m going to be a librarian.”
That childhood dream never left her. Today, after years of perseverance Polm serves as a lead librarian at Reeces Creek Elementary. One of only four lead librarians in Killeen ISD. And now, she has achieved a milestone that brings her story full circle: she has been selected as one of only 42 librarians in Texas to join the prestigious TALL Texas Leadership Development Institute this November.
Polm’s path to her dream job was far from easy. While putting herself through college, she worked in the school cafeteria for nearly five years, later serving as both a classroom aide and teacher before finally stepping into her long-awaited role as librarian. Through every season of her journey, she clung to the belief that libraries are more than books and quiet corners, they are gateways of discovery.
Her dedication didn’t go unnoticed. When longtime lead librarian Mia Moore retired, she tapped Polm as the one to step into her place. “You’re the future of the library,” Moore told her. At first, Polm doubted herself, but Moore’s confidence planted a seed of belief. That moment helped Polm realize her role wasn’t just to keep a library running, it was to reimagine what a library could mean for the next generation.
Stepping Onto the Statewide Stage
Being chosen for the TALL Texas Leadership Development Institute is no small feat. Most librarians apply multiple times before being accepted, but Polm was selected on her very first attempt. She also earned a few scholarships including the June Kahler Berry Scholarship, which will fully fund her participation in the program.
The institute, hosted by the Texas Library Association, has cultivated leaders across all types of libraries since 1994. Its mission is clear: equip librarians to advocate, collaborate, and inspire on behalf of their communities. For Polm, the opportunity is both humbling and energizing.
“It’s amazing, because it means I can help not only the librarians in our district, but all of our students too,” she said. “I want them to have the best library program possible."
Carrying the Torch for KISD
In fact, Polm is only the second Killeen ISD librarian ever selected for the TALL Texas program — the first being in 1997. She hopes to bring back new skills to share with colleagues, particularly in communication, advocacy, and leadership. Already, she works closely with campuses that lack certified librarians, helping paraprofessionals manage their campuses’ library programs.
“I think everybody should have a voice and know how to use their voice,” Polm said. “This program will help me believe in myself the way others already believe in me — and then help me pass that on to others.”
From a little girl who dreamed of driving the bookmobile to a lead district librarian standing on a statewide stage, Polm’s story reflects the power of hard work and resilience.
Her journey is a golden example for students across Killeen ISD that dreams are worth chasing, no matter how winding the path.