Elementary School Librarian - SY24/25 - Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

TITLE:  Librarian

LOCATION:  TBD

The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is a nationally recognized urban school district that serves approximately 22,000 students and 60+ different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. KCKPS is home to Sumner Academy, the #6 highest rated High School in the Nation and #1 High School in Kansas according to the US News rankings.

With Head Start/preschools, 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 college and career academies/high schools, we are the fifth largest district in the state of Kansas and our student population is approximately 56% Hispanic, 24% African American, 9% White, and 6% Asian. To serve our students, the district employs approximately 4,000 employees including more than 1,800 teachers.              

JOB GOAL:

To ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information.  To empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information.   To instill a love of reading and learning in all students and ensure equitable access to information.   To collaborate with classroom teachers and specialists to design and implement lessons and units of instruction, and assess student learning and instructional effectiveness. To provide the leadership and expertise necessary to ensure that the school library program (SLP) is aligned with the mission, goals, and objectives of the school and the school district, and is an integral component of the learning/instructional program. To prepare students for college and careers in a global society, and at every level, performance is on-track and on-time for success.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Information Specialist:   The school librarian ensures equitable access and responsible use of information by:

• in accordance with district policy, developing and maintaining a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, and the teaching styles and instructional strategies used within the school community
• cooperating and networking with other libraries, librarians, and agencies to provide access to resources outside the school
• evaluating, promoting, and using existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, supplement school resources, connect the school with the global learning community, communicate with students and teachers, and provide 24/7 access to library services
• understanding copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property, and assisting users with their understanding and observance of the same
• organizing, maintaining, and updating the collection for maximum and effective use

Program Administrator: The school librarian maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of the school library program by:

• using strategic planning for the continuous improvement of the program
• ensuring that school library program goals and objectives are aligned with school and district long-range strategic plans
• using effective management principles, including the supervision of personnel, resources, and facilities, in developing and implementing program goals and objectives
• using evidence of practice, particularly in terms of learning outcomes, to support program goals and planning
• generating evidence in practice that demonstrates efficacy and relevance of the information literacy skills curriculum and use of all library resources
• efficiently maintaining and submitting required records and reports to support library usage
• supervising and evaluating support staff, which may include educational assistants, computer education assistants, volunteers, and student assistants
• creating and maintaining in the school library a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, flexible, and conducive to student learning
• selecting and using effective technological applications for management purposes

Teacher:   As a teacher, the school librarian empowers students to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. The school librarian supports students’ success by guiding them in:

• reading for understanding, for exposure to diversity of viewpoints and genres, and for pleasure
• using information for defined and self-defined purposes
• building on prior knowledge and constructing new knowledge
• embracing the world of information and all its formats
• working with peers in successful collaboration for learning
• constructively assessing their own learning and the work of their peers

Leader: The school librarian demonstrates his/her role as a visible and active leader within the school community, an advocate for the school library program, and a professional member of the school library community by:

• implementing 21st Century Skills into the curriculum.
• creating an environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning, resource-based instructional practices, and collaboration with teaching staff
• encouraging the use of instructional technology to engage students and to improve learning, providing 24/7 access to digital information resources for the entire learning community
• remaining current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs
• being skilled and effective in oral and written communication.
• using excellent human relations skills.
• being courteous and professional at all times.
• maintaining a neat and professional appearance.

Instructional Partner: The school librarian demonstrates his or her role as an essential and equal partner in the instructional process by:

• participating in the curriculum development process at both the building and district level to ensure that the curricula include the full range of literacy skills (information, media, visual, digital, and technological literacy) necessary to meet content standards and to develop lifelong learners
• collaborating with teachers and students to design and teach engaging inquiry and learning experiences and assessments that incorporate multiple literacies and foster critical thinking and promote a love of reading and lifelong learning
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Valid Kansas teaching certificate. 
• Valid Kansas Library Media Specialist Certification and/or Master’s Degree In Library Science or Information Science
• Experience prerequisite to be determined by the Director of Libraries.

COMMUNICATION

Maintains communication with teachers, other school personnel, and parents/guardians to enhance cooperative action which will meet the educational needs of students.

Compiles data for statistical purposes.

Maintains confidentiality regarding educational records.

ORGANIZATION

Maintains a daily log of school/staff visits and documentation.         

Maintains the daily environment of the school library, collection, and supplies.

Utilizes existing technology effectively in the performance of duties.          

Performs other related work as required.           

REASONING ABILITY:  Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:  Ability to read and analyze and interpret general professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.  Ability to write reports, general curriculum and learning theories, correspondence, and protocols.  Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, parents, students, and the general public.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  The employee must occasionally push items of 50 pounds such as pushing on a bike or wheelchair, or moving/rearranging furniture.  While performing the duties of the job the employee occasionally may visit a child’s home.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually loud and is a standard acceptable level for this environment. Is directly responsible for students’ safety, work output and well-being.

OTHER SKILLS and ABILITIES: Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students.  Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents and community; ability to speak clear and concisely in written or oral communication.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: 186 days                                                                       

SALARY:  Based on USD #500 Salary Schedule

FLSA STATUS:  Exempt         

REPORT TO:  Director of Libraries and Building Principal

EVALUATION:  Performance will be evaluated in accordance with Board of Education policy

For more information regarding Title IX please contact:

District Compliance Coordinator

2010 N. 59^th Street

Kansas City, KS 66104

913-279-2262

Title IX@kckps.org