The Role:

The Westwood Public Schools seeks a full time Library Media Specialist to oversee libraries and library programming at Thurston Middle School.  Our ideal candidate will be committed to keeping student inquiry at the center of instruction and to positioning the libraries to support students in their exploration of universes real and imagined.  

The library media specialist will join a dynamic team of colleagues in the exciting work of restoring the TMS library, collection, and programming.  In addition, the library media specialist works directly with students in all grades to help build foundational information literacy skills.  Finally, as part of a collaborative and supportive group of LMS’s district-wide, the library media specialist will join in efforts to carry out the vision, mission and curriculum for Westwood’s school libraries.  

Our District:

Westwood is a welcoming suburban community with an exceptional track record of supporting and celebrating its public schools.  As a district, we are committed to creating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, and we understand that a diverse team allows us to serve our community better. We welcome and encourage individuals of every race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status to seek opportunities within our school district.

You will join the strong professional learning community of the Westwood Public Schools. In our mission to prepare students for college, career, and civic life, we work collaboratively to provide rich and rigorous curriculum, high-quality instruction, trusting relationships, and authentic educational experiences.  We hold true to our core district values of academic excellence and a commitment to improvement; curiosity and tenacity; and respectful relationships in a caring, collaborative community. 

Our School:

Thurston Middle School serves grades 6-8 using an interdisciplinary teaming model to foster students’ academic success and exploratory interests.  Educators at our school model and encourage a deep investment in learning.  WPS is a proud METCO district in grades K - 12, with outstanding program leadership and an unwavering commitment to supporting the values of the nation's oldest and most successful public school racial integration program.  

Required Qualifications

• Current Massachusetts DESE license, or eligibility to become licensed, as a Librarian (all grades). 
• Has, or is in process of earning, a Master’s degree in library and information studies. 

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ensure that students and staff are effective users of ideas and information
• Empower students to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, ethical users of information
• Instill a love of learning in all students and ensure equitable access to information
• Collaborate with classroom teachers to design and implement units of instruction, assess student learning
• Align the School Library Program (SLP) with the mission, goals, and objectives of the school / school district
• Contribute to the work of the district library team
• Curate an up-to-date print and online collection that supports the curriculum and the instructional goals of the district
• Evaluate, use and promote existing and emerging instructional technologies
• Maintain library website and use social media strategically to engage community members
• Ensure that the library adapts and evolves as needed in order to remain a vital part of the school and a welcoming place for all community members
• Partner with town librarians in supporting student access to public library resources
• Demonstrate caring and concern for all students by establishing a culture of high expectations for learning and behavior
• Implement a variety of instructional strategies and learning materials based on students’ diverse needs, and integrate technology to increase learning
• Assess student understanding of learning objectives with student self-assessments, frequent formative measures, and periodic summative measures
• Integrate social emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching into the classroom and foster a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning community
• Partner with families to support students' academic, social, and behavioral progress
• Make positive contributions to the larger school community
• Implement Individual Education Programs and 504 Accommodation Plans, participate in team meetings, and collaborate with special education and support staff members
• Fulfill professional responsibilities by communicating effectively, using good judgment, meeting deadlines, engaging in professional development, reflecting on performance and making positive changes to improve student learning, being receptive to feedback, and completing assigned duties 
• Assume other responsibilities assigned by the building principal in accordance with collective bargaining provisions

Job Environment:

Work takes place in libraries, classrooms and other areas, including offices, auditoriums, gyms, lunchrooms, hallways, outdoor classrooms and playgrounds.  Job takes place in a high-performing school district with high expectations.

Physical Requirements:

• Requires sufficient vision to read printed documents and to view detail on a computer screen for extended periods.
• Requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, and reaching, as well as carrying and occasionally lifting up to 30 lbs.
• Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation, on the telephone, and in the classroom.
• Ability to hear sounds clearly up to twenty feet.
• Travel among buildings may be required.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Westwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.