Hello Everyone-
After 7 years, I am leaving my position at Presidio Hill School to focus on
writing young adult novels. I have loved being a librarian, but for now it
is time for me to try on something else. I am copying the job description
below if anyone is interested in applying or knows of someone who might
want to apply as well. The job will also be listed at NAIS, CAIS, T4SJ and
a few other places by the end of the week:
Presidio Hill School
San Francisco, CA
Job Title: Librarian/Media Specialist TK-8
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports To: Head of School
Start Date: August 2018
School Description
Presidio Hill School is an independent, progressive school located in the
Presidio Heights neighborhood of San Francisco and serves a diverse
population of 220 students enrolled in transitional kindergarten to 8th
grade, with a faculty and staff of approximately 45 people. Established in
1918 by artist-educator-activists Helen Salz and Flora Arnstein, Presidio
Hill School is the oldest continuously operating progressive school in
California, with a mission and deep history connected to social justice.
Our new Librarian/Media Specialist will have demonstrated passion and
experience leading a school-wide library/media program and working with
students and a school community that explicitly strives to be inclusive.
Presidio Hill offers its students a challenging, project-based curriculum
that attends to their intellectual and social-emotional needs and prepares
them to be agents of positive social change. Guided by a skilled and caring
faculty, students learn to be confident and curious, to be creative problem
solvers and independent, critical thinkers. Learning at PHS is
collaborative and active. We place great value on the arts as both an
academic discipline and an essential element of a meaningful life. Situated
on the edge of the Presidio, our school takes full and frequent advantage
of the park’s 1500 acres; whether they are studying science, art, social
studies, or literature, the Presidio is a rich and vital “classroom” to our
students. Our new librarian-designed and flexible library space is
organized around genre and provides an active and welcoming hub for our
students of all ages, both during the day and after school. The library
includes an attached maker-space, a librarian’s office, and a small outdoor
reading patio.
Our vibrant, diverse, and supportive community allows students to explore
their unique voices, traits, and talents; our emphasis on the importance of
community and justice encourages students to develop self-awareness,
personal character, resilience, and an understanding of their role as
stewards of the planet and citizens of the world.
Presidio Hill School seeks a faculty and staff that reflects the broad
range of diversity in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our school is strongly
committed to promoting cultural competency in all interactions and
programs. Invested in the growth, happiness, and preparation of our
teachers, we provide generous support for their professional development.
Position Description
Presidio Hill School seeks a full-time Librarian/Media Specialist to
begin August
2018. Qualified candidates will demonstrate a deep understanding of and
interest in the developmental nuances of elementary school-aged children,
progressive education, and anti-bias teaching practices. Candidates will
ideally have prior experience as a librarian in a K-8 school. The
Librarian/Media
Specialist will be expected to build a safe and engaging library community
and to scaffold and differentiate lessons and experiences for students as
needed, creating a program that meets the needs of a wide variety of
learners. Given that PHS utilizes aspects of Responsive Classroom and
Developmental
Designs in order to support positive student behavior, candidates with
experience in these areas are preferred.
This position includes leading weekly library and media classes for grades
TK through 6, with the possible addition of 7th and 8th grade classes and
continued partnership with 7th and 8th grade colleagues on program
development for our oldest students. Ideal candidates should possess a love
of working with children of all ages, an MLIS degree, and ample successful
experience in modern school librarianship, including teaching students and
guiding learners with all relevant aspects of technology and media.
The PHS librarian also serves as a middle school advisor for a small group
of students and this includes meeting daily each morning, providing oneself
as a student advocate, communicating with colleagues and parents, and other
related student support. Our current librarian also spearheads our annual
yearbook project, and interest in maintaining that tradition would be
desirable. Part-time support for the librarian is provided to assist with
tasks such as checking in and shelving books.
In addition to creating and maintaining a vibrant library, providing
excellent instruction and inspiration, and maintaining effective
communication with colleagues, parents, and students, the librarian/media
specialist is expected to contribute to the greater PHS community through
work on various committees and school events. PHS teachers and all faculty
work closely with each other and collaborate and engage in a positive
manner; excellent interpersonal skills are a necessity.
Primary Responsibilities:
-
Establish a safe and inclusive library environment where students feel
comfortable taking risks through self-discovery, collaboration, and
community engagement
-
Demonstrate a commitment to diversity and equity
-
Design and deliver curriculum and instruction in literary appreciation
and research and presentation skills as appropriate to each grade level.
-
Collaborate with teachers to design integrated curriculum with service
and cultural competency at the center
-
Help to provide support, resources, training, and information to
teachers so the curriculum is enhanced by the professional knowledge and
skills of a librarian/media specialist
-
Manage, maintain, and develop the library in both the physical space and
materials and the digital world, such as the school website and online
resources such as information databases. Note: Our library is no longer
organized around a Dewey Decimal system and instead we use Genre/Subject
classification.
-
Collaborate with the Director of Technology, administration, and faculty
in determining and guiding appropriate technology use and providing
information community-wide on best practices with media and technology.
-
Supervise recess and lunch duties
-
Provide student support as a middle school advisor, including daily
morning meetings, parent/guardian conferences, communication with middle
school colleagues, and overnight field trips.
Skills, Qualifications, and Experiences
-
Experience working in a multicultural environment
-
Knowledge of Progressive Education
-
Demonstrated commitment to the mission and core values of Presidio Hill
School
-
3-5 years experience in a school library program
-
Strong knowledge, experience, and enthusiasm in working with all forms
of media and technology and instructing students and teachers on best
practices with technology-based tools for learning, collaboration,
communication, research, and presentation.
-
Specific experience using technology to support teaching and learning
including Google docs and Google calendar, iPads and iOS.
-
Instructional experience with varied pedagogical approaches
-
Good humor, energy, a passion for teaching, and a love of learning
-
Experience and/or interest in supervising students on short overnight
trips
-
Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
-
A Bachelor’s degree
-
A graduate degree (MLIS Preferred) or degree-in-progress related to
education and/or library/information science is preferred
Interested candidates should send a cover letter, résumé, contact
information for two to three references, and/or letters of reference via
email (with Librarian in the subject line) to Lisa Jeli (Middle School
Director & Assistant Head of School): lisa@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<michelle@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To learn more about PHS, please visit our website
<https://www.presidiohill.org/>
--
*Elizabeth Goode*Librarian
Presidio Hill School <http://www.presidiohill.org>
415-751-9318 ext #107 (pause press 1 afterwards)
