SY 26-27 Library Media Specialist - Elementary

Fitchburg School District•Fitchburg, MA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Library Media Specialist (LMS) is responsible for delivering a high-quality instructional experience aligned with school district curriculum standards. The role involves empowering students and staff to become effective users of information technology and media, guiding the use of district technology resources, and fostering critical thinking, research skills, ethical information use, and digital citizenship. The LMS aims to instill a love of learning and ensure equitable access to information resources. Collaboration with classroom teachers to design and implement instructional units and assess student learning is a key aspect of the position. Essential duties for all faculty include classroom instruction, conferences with students, parents, and colleagues, and active participation in departmental work on curriculum development, activities, and pedagogy.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
Master’s Degree in a program accredited by the American Library Association or from a master’s level program in library and information science.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary license in one of these area(s): Library - All Levels.
Knowledge of current education legislation/regulations.
Knowledge of DESE Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards.
Ability to work effectively with teachers, support staff, and parents and advocate for children to effectively problem solve.
Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills and ability to work with all stakeholders.
Belief in the commitment to increasing personal growth, both academic and social-emotional, to obtain the highest level of achievement for every student.

Nice To Haves

SEI Endorsement

Responsibilities

Collaborate with classroom teachers as a partner in the instructional process.
Collaborate to design, teach, and assess learning experiences that incorporate inquiry learning, information literacies in their formats, critical thinking, and self-assessment.
Provide and plan professional development.
Promote a love of reading and lifelong learning.
Promote instructional technology to improve learning.
Teach students to build on prior knowledge to construct new knowledge.
Teach search techniques, including online search engine, database, and catalog searching.
Provide learning experiences in the elementary grades as guided by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and district standards and requirements, while creating an environment that is conducive to student learning.
Monitor and supervise students, through effective classroom management.
Promote high standards and expectations for student achievement.
Be responsible for using innovative approaches, and instructional strategies including the effective use of technologies, to increase student learning and confidence to learn.
Follow professional practices consistent with the district's policies in working with students, parents, and colleagues.
Attend and participate in faculty meetings and other assigned meetings and activities according to school policy.
Maintain and improve professional competence through attendance at professional development events, and by self-generated activities that meet district expectations and the requirements for recertification.
Be responsible for effective planning and assessment of curriculum and instruction.
Guide the learning process toward the achievement of curriculum standards and establish clear objectives which reflect these standards for all lessons, units, and projects.
Differentiate instruction and provide appropriate opportunities for learning using response to intervention (RTI) framework.
Implement the district's mission, philosophy of education, and instructional standards and objectives.
Develop a schedule to meet and instruct assigned students in the locations and at the time designated.
Maintain accurate and complete records as required by district policy and administrative regulation.
Assist administration in implementing all policies and rules governing student life and conduct and, for the classroom, develops reasonable rules of classroom behavior and procedure, maintaining order in the classroom in a fair and just manner.
Establish and maintain open lines of communication with students, colleagues, and parents concerning both the broad academic and behavioral progress of assigned students.
Promote equity and appreciation of diversity to ensure equitable opportunities for student learning, including, implementing specific strategies for students with special needs, with 504 plans and/or English learners (EL).
Consult with Instructional Technology/Digital Learning Staff as needed to teach Digital Literacy and Computer Science Standards in lessons.
Serves on decision-making teams, school improvement, and accreditation activities; presenting at meetings.
Support teachers in the integration of technology into the teaching and learning process by providing professional learning, modeling, and coaching.
Benchmark the Library Media Center (LMC) program to school, state, and national standards.
Assist in the research, development, and evaluation of new methods and digital tools that advance the Library and Technology programs.
Guide, coach, and facilitate teachers and administrators in acquiring digital literacy skills.
Stay current in professional practices, and educational research; maintain active professional memberships.
Advocate for the LMC through an effective public relations program.
Collect and analyze data to improve instruction; demonstrate correlations between the LMC and student achievement.
Administer the LMC budget to support program goals.
Perform other duties that may be assigned by the building principal/assistant principal.