HEAD LIBRARIAN & CAPSTONE CHAIR

Davis Chicago•Chicago, IL

11h•$77,543 - $145,099•Onsite

About The Position

Davis School Chicago is seeking a visionary and entrepreneurial Head Librarian & Capstone Chair to establish and lead the library, research, and internship programs for a new Jewish college-preparatory high school opening in Fall 2027. This founding leadership role involves building the library of tomorrow, which will serve as a makerspace, a hub for learning games and game design, and a launchpad for students to connect with opportunities in downtown Chicago. The position requires a passion for cultivating intellectual curiosity, academic integrity, advanced research skills, innovation, and scholarly excellence. The Head Librarian & Capstone Chair will be an academic and instructional leader, responsible for developing a vertically aligned research curriculum, overseeing Capstone experiences, and fostering a culture of inquiry and scholarship across all disciplines. This role combines teaching, program building, and leadership, with a focus on connecting students to the city and preparing them for rigorous college-level research.

Requirements

Master’s degree required in Library and Information Science (ALA accredited preferred), or Humanities, Curriculum, Education, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
3+ years of successful teaching or school-library experience required.
Some form of leadership experience with adults is preferred; instructional leadership preferred.
Ability to build and lead a department with high health and high results.
Proficiency in instructional leadership, coaching, observation, and research instruction centered on student work.
Experience with curriculum and assessment grounded in AASL standards.
Experience in building and running a library program, including collection, systems, space, and budget.
Experience developing partnerships across a city for work-based learning.
Ability to model exemplary teaching and instructional leadership.
Ability to ensure curriculum and instruction prepare students for success in selective colleges and universities.
Ability to promote inquiry-based learning, source evaluation, evidence-based writing, and project-based experiences.
Ability to cultivate a reading culture and a living collection.
Ability to advance the effective integration of educational technology and emerging instructional tools.
Ability to design and run an internship program based on NSEE principles.
Ability to prepare students for professional settings and champion portfolio-worthy student work.
Ability to partner with families and serve as an engaged presence in the school community.
Ability to participate in school-wide strategic planning and institutional initiatives.
Ability to assist in developing and managing departmental budgets and resources.
Ability to coordinate department scheduling, course offerings, and staffing needs.
Ability to ensure compliance with applicable reporting, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
Ability to own the safety and risk framework for the library, makerspace, and internship programs.
Ability to help establish traditions, signature programs, and distinguishing features of the school's programs.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate preferred.
Illinois School Librarian or Library Media Specialist certification preferred.
National Board Certification a major plus.
College-preparatory, independent, Jewish day or faith-based school experience is a plus.
Exceptional craft with fewer years of experience may be considered.
Experience with game design and learning-games programs.
Experience with AI integration in education.

Responsibilities

Develop and articulate a compelling vision for research, library, and Capstone education aligned with the school’s mission.
Lead the design, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of a vertically aligned research curriculum from ninth grade through Capstone.
Architect the research and Capstone sequence from first principles, ensuring it is classroom-embedded, seminar-based, and aligned with best practices for work-based learning.
Promote interdisciplinary learning experiences connecting research and information literacy with various disciplines.
Build the research and library program on the AASL National School Library Standards.
Analyze student achievement data to strengthen teaching and learning.
Build a culture that values intellectual curiosity, academic integrity, ethical scholarship, and independent thinking.
Create a dynamic library and research environment that supports student learning and faculty collaboration.
Design, equip, and run the makerspace, including training and safety systems.
Build internship and mentorship relationships with Chicago institutions and develop signature experiences.
Serve as an ambassador for research, scholarship, and the library within the school and broader community.
Showcase student achievement through Capstone presentations, research symposia, competitions, and public events.
Recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, supervise, and evaluate department faculty.
Foster a collaborative professional culture focused on continuous growth and instructional excellence.
Serve as an instructional coach, providing regular feedback and support to teachers.
Lead department meetings, professional learning initiatives, and curriculum reviews.
Support faculty in creating engaging, student-centered classrooms.
Ensure curriculum and instruction prepare students for success in selective colleges and universities.
Ensure the research sequence meets or exceeds the demands of AP-level and college research.
Promote inquiry-based learning, source evaluation, evidence-based writing, and project-based experiences.
Build a serious learning-games program, digital and tabletop, that teaches students something.
Teach research and STEM through game design.
Cultivate a reading culture and a living collection built on books worth loving.
Partner with faculty to develop authentic assessments that measure student growth and mastery.
Advance the effective integration of educational technology and emerging instructional tools.
Design and run the internship program based on the NSEE's eight principles of good practice.
Make the library the launch pad for the city, preparing students for professional settings.
Champion portfolio-worthy student work for college admissions.
Partner with families to support student growth and academic success.
Serve as a visible and engaged presence in the school community.
Help cultivate a culture of belonging, respect, dialogue, and intellectual engagement.
Serve as a key thought partner to the Principal and academic leadership team.
Participate in school-wide strategic planning and institutional initiatives.
Contribute to accreditation, assessment, and school improvement efforts.
Assist in developing and managing departmental budgets and resources.
Coordinate department scheduling, course offerings, and staffing needs.
Ensure compliance with applicable reporting, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
Own the safety and risk framework for the library, makerspace, and internship programs.
Help establish traditions, signature programs, and distinguishing features of the Davis research, library, and internship programs.