Librarian (McWhorter)

Mesquite ISD - Compensation PlansProfessional Compensation PlanPay Grade: 3Shift Type: Full-Time
Wage/Hour Status: Exempt
Reports To: Principal/Director - Library Services

EMPLOYMENT BEGINS: 2025 - 2026 School Year

PRIMARY PURPOSE:

• To supervise and manage the school library facility, creating a teaching and learning culture centered on innovation, collaboration, exploration, deep thinking, and creativity. Provide resources, instruction, and experiences for all learners that support personalized learning, inquiry, critical thinking, and problem solving. Serve as teacher, instructional partner, and information specialist who embeds literacy, information and technology skills into the instructional program of the school.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education/Certification:

• Master's degree from accredited college or university
• Valid Texas teaching certificate
• Valid Texas librarian or learning resources specialist certificate

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE/SKILLS:

• Knowledge of current best practices in library and information science.
• Ability to instruct and engage students with a variety of instructional strategies, including the use of technology.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, public relation, and interpersonal skills are required.

EXPERIENCE:

• Previous successful teaching experience of at least two (2) years in the classroom.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

• Serve on decision making teams in the school.
• Take an active role in school improvement efforts and initiatives.
• Ensure that library program goals are aligned with school and district improvement plans.
• Create an environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning, resources-based instruction, and collaboration with other teachers on campus.
• Create and maintain a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, flexible, and conducive to student learning.
• Participate in the curriculum development process to ensure that lessons include the full range of literacy skills (information, media, visual, digital, etc.) necessary to develop critical thinkers and informed decision makers.
• Collaborate with teachers to design and teach engaging learning experiences and assessments that incorporate multiple literacies and foster critical thinking.
• Share information on district policies and best practices concerning such issues as selection of instructional materials, self-selected reading, reconsideration of materials, copyright, privacy, and acceptable use.
• Understand copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property, and assist others with their understanding and observance of the same.
• Encourage the use of instructional technology to engage students and to improve learning, providing 24/7 access to digital information sources for the entire learning community.
• Evaluate, promote, and use existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, supplement school resources, connect the school with the global learning community, and communicate with students and teachers, and provide 24/7 access to library services.
• Evaluate the library program using district, state, and national program standards.
• Collect and analyze data to improve instruction and to demonstrate correlations between the library program and student achievement.
• Collect data that is used to inform continuous program improvement.
• Use a variety of evidence and instructional data to support program goals.
• Remain current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs.
• Join with teachers and others to plan and implement meaningful experiences that will promote a love of reading for pleasure and information.
• Providing and planning professional learning opportunities for campus and district staff.
• Share expertise by presenting at faculty meetings, parent meetings, and professional learning sessions.
• Read widely in the area of children's and/or young adult literature.
• Develop and maintain a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, the teaching styles and instructional strategies used in the school community that is in accordance with district policy.
• Establish processes and procedures for selection, acquisition, circulation, resource sharing, etc. that assures appropriate resources are available when needed.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Clerical aide(s), student aides, and volunteers as necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Mental Demands:

• Maintain emotional control under stress
• Communicate well in verbal and written modes
• Tolerating numerous interruptions
• Meet multiple demands and deadlines

Physical demands/environmental factors:

• Climbing, stretching, frequent light lifting of books and boxes up to 35 lbs., squatting.
• Reaching with hands and arms and frequently repeating the same hand, arm or finger motion.
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.

The foregoing statements describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this job and are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills that may be required.