Head Librarian & Capstone Chair

Davis Chicago • Chicago, IL

20h • Onsite

About The Position

Davis School Chicago is hiring a founding Head Librarian & Capstone Chair to build and lead the school’s library, research and information-literacy curriculum, Capstone program, and internship and partnership programs. The position is a member of the academic leadership team, reports to the Principal, and combines daily teaching with program development and department leadership. During the school’s launch years, the Chair will teach research and information literacy while establishing the programs and library; as the school grows, the role will include increasing dedicated time for curriculum development, faculty collaboration, and partnership building.

The Chair will design and lead a vertically aligned research curriculum from ninth-grade information literacy through Capstone, drawing on the American Association of School Librarians’ National School Library Standards. The role includes developing a dynamic library as a center for learning and collaboration; opening the library with its collection, digital resources, systems, and learning spaces; and designing and operating a makerspace. The Chair will oversee Capstone experiences and establish internships and mentorships with universities, research institutions, businesses, cultural institutions, and civic organizations across Chicago. The programs should promote advanced research, information literacy, ethical scholarship, intellectual independence, and meaningful work-based learning, and prepare students for college-level research.

As a founding leader, the Chair will recruit, mentor, supervise, and evaluate department faculty; coach teachers; lead professional learning and collaborative planning; and co-lead the school’s instructional leadership team. The role also includes analyzing student achievement and assessment data, fostering interdisciplinary learning, supporting effective use of educational technology, and showcasing student work through presentations and public events. The Chair will partner with the Principal and academic leaders on strategic planning, staffing, budgets, scheduling, accreditation, school improvement, and compliance, and will establish safety and risk practices for partnerships, internships, and makerspace activities.

Davis School Chicago is a Jewish college-preparatory high school scheduled to open in downtown Chicago in fall 2027. The school describes its culture as combining warmth and intellectual rigor, and values inquiry, evidence, debate, tradition, innovation, and meaningful engagement in Jewish life. Being Jewish is not a requirement for this role.

Requirements

• Master’s degree required; the posting accepts a degree in Library and Information Science, Humanities, Curriculum, Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of successful secondary (grades 6–12) teaching or school-library experience required.
• Ability to teach research and information literacy and to develop rigorous research, library, and Capstone programs.
• Ability to build programs, systems, and partnerships from the ground up and lead a department.
• Ability to collaborate with faculty and school leaders on curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student learning.
• The posting states that fewer years may be considered for candidates with exceptional craft and that hiring prioritizes mastery rather than seat time.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from an American Library Association-accredited program.
• Doctorate.
• Illinois School Librarian or Library Media Specialist certification.
• National Board Certification.
• High school (grades 9–12) experience.
• Leadership experience, particularly department, administrative, or instructional leadership.
• Experience in a college-preparatory, independent, Jewish day, or faith-based school.
• Experience building internship, mentorship, research, library, or makerspace programs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and articulate the vision for research, library, and Capstone education in alignment with the school’s mission and educational philosophy.
• Design, implement, evaluate, and continuously improve a vertically aligned research curriculum from ninth-grade information literacy through Capstone, grounded in AASL National School Library Standards.
• Establish curricular coherence and rigor across grades and disciplines, and promote connections with the humanities, STEM, Jewish studies, and the arts.
• Create the library as a center for student learning and faculty collaboration; plan its space, collection, digital resources, and systems with the Principal and design team.
• Design, equip, and operate the makerspace, including training and safety systems and connections to coursework and Capstone projects.
• Build and oversee Capstone experiences, including standards for student research, original work, presentations, and defense of evidence-based claims.
• Develop internship and mentorship relationships with Chicago-area universities, research institutions, businesses, cultural institutions, and civic organizations.
• Design and run internships according to the NSEE eight principles of good practice; prepare, brief, monitor, and debrief students and incorporate learning into the wider school community.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, supervise, and evaluate department faculty.
• Coach teachers; lead department meetings, professional learning, curriculum reviews, collaborative planning, peer observation, and coaching cycles.
• Co-lead the school’s instructional leadership team and foster a collaborative, accountable, high-performing department culture.
• Teach research and information-literacy skills and model exemplary instruction, inquiry-based learning, source evaluation, evidence-based writing, and project-based learning.
• Build a reading culture and collection, and develop a learning-games program that is supported by instruction and evaluated for learning impact.
• Partner with faculty on authentic assessments, student experiences, and effective integration of educational technology and emerging instructional tools.
• Analyze student achievement data and assessment outcomes to improve teaching and learning.
• Showcase student achievement through Capstone presentations, research symposia, competitions, public events, and portfolio-worthy work.
• Partner with families and school leaders to support student growth, belonging, dialogue, and academic success.
• Serve as an ambassador for research, scholarship, and the library in the school and broader community.
• Advise the Principal and academic leadership team; contribute to strategic planning, accreditation, assessment, school improvement, and institutional initiatives.
• Help manage departmental budgets and resources, and coordinate department scheduling, course offerings, and staffing needs.
• Ensure applicable reporting, accreditation, and regulatory compliance.
• Establish safety and risk practices for partner vetting and agreements, supervision, student and family consent, and makerspace training.
• Help establish traditions and signature programs that distinguish the school’s research, library, and internship programs.

Benefits

• Paid time off
• Holiday pay
• Medical insurance
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Annual salary range of $77,543–$137,099, plus a leadership differential of $4,000–$8,000 based on leadership experience

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager