Elementary School Librarian / Library Media Specialist

Elementary School Librarian / Library Media Specialist Starting Date: Aug 1, 2026 Job Description The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is a nationally recognized urban school district serving approximately 22,000 students. 60+ different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. KCKPS is home to Sumner Academy, the #6 highest rated high school in the nation and #1 in Kansas according to US News rankings. With Head Start/preschools, 28 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 college and career academies/high schools, we are the fifth largest district in Kansas and our student population is approximately 56% Hispanic, 24% African American, 9% White, and 6% Asian. To serve our students, the district employs approximately 4,000 employees including more than 1,800 teachers. Essential Functions Information Specialist: The school librarian ensures equitable access and responsible use of information by: in accordance with district policy, developing and maintaining a collection of resources appropriate to the curriculum, the learners, and the teaching styles and instructional strategies used within the school community; cooperating and networking with other libraries, librarians, and agencies to provide access to resources outside the school; evaluating, promoting, and using existing and emerging technologies to support teaching and learning, supplement school resources, connect the school with the global learning community, communicate with students and teachers, and provide 24/7 access to library services; understanding copyright, fair use, and licensing of intellectual property, and assisting users with their understanding and observance of the same; and organizing, maintaining, and updating the collection for maximum and effective use. Program Administrator: The school librarian maximizes the efficiency and effectiveness of the school library program by: using strategic planning for the continuous improvement of the program ensuring that school library program goals and objectives are aligned with school and district long‑range strategic plans using effective management principles, including the supervision of personnel, resources, and facilities; developing and implementing program goals and objectives using evidence of practice; generating evidence in practice that demonstrates efficacy and relevance of the information literacy skills curriculum and use of all library resources; efficiently maintaining and submitting required records and reports to support library usage; supervising and evaluating support staff, which may include educational assistants, computer education assistants, volunteers, and student assistants; creating and maintaining in the school library a teaching and learning environment that is inviting, safe, flexible, and conducive to student learning; and selecting and using effective technological applications for management purposes. Teacher: As a teacher, the school librarian empowers students to become critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skillful researchers, and ethical users of information. The school librarian supports students’ success by guiding them in reading for understanding, for exposure to diversity of viewpoints and genres, and for pleasure; using information for defined and self‑defined purposes; building on prior knowledge and constructing new knowledge; embracing the world of information and all its formats; working with peers in successful collaboration for learning; and constructively assessing their own learning and the work of their peers. Leader: The school librarian demonstrates his/her role as a visible and active leader within the school community, an advocate for the school library program, and a professional member of the school library community by implementing 21st‑century skills into the curriculum. Creating an environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning, resource‑based instructional practices, and collaboration with teaching staff; encouraging the use of instructional technology to engage students and to improve learning; providing 24/7 access to digital information resources for the entire learning community; remaining current in professional practices and developments, information technologies, and educational research applicable to school library programs; and being skilled and effective in oral and written communication. Using excellent human‑relations skills, being courteous and professional at all times, and maintaining a neat and professional appearance. Instructional Partner: The school librarian demonstrates his or her role as an essential and equal partner in the instructional process by participating in the curriculum development process at both the building and district level to ensure that the curricula include the full range of literacy skills (information, media, visual, digital, and technological literacy) necessary to meet content standards and to develop lifelong learners; collaborating with teachers and students to design and teach engaging inquiry and learning experiences and assessments that incorporate multiple literacies and foster critical thinking and promote a love of reading and lifelong learning. Other duties as assigned. Additional Responsibilities and Skills Communication: Maintains communication with teachers, other school personnel, and parents/guardians to enhance cooperative action which will meet the educational needs of students; compiles data for statistical purposes; maintains confidentiality regarding educational records. Organization: Maintains a daily log of school/staff visits and documentation; maintains the daily environment of the school library, collection, and supplies; utilizes existing technology effectively in the performance of duties. Reasoning Ability: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Language Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations; ability to write reports, general curriculum and learning theories, correspondence, and protocols; ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, staff, parents, students, and the general public. Physical Demands: 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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk, stand and talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. The employee must occasionally push items of 50 pounds such as pushing on a bike or wheelchair, or moving/rearranging furniture. While performing the duties of the job the employee occasionally may visit a child’s home. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth perception. Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud and is an acceptable level for this environment. The employee is directly responsible for students’ safety, work output and well‑being. Other Skills and Abilities: Ability to apply knowledge of current research and theory to instructional program; ability to plan and implement lessons based on division and school objectives and the needs and abilities of students; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, peers, parents, and community; ability to speak clearly and concisely in written or oral communication. Terms of Employment: 186 days Salary: Certified Salary Schedule: FLSA Status: Exempt Position Type: Full‑Time Qualifications Valid Kansas teaching certificate. Valid Kansas Library Media Specialist Certification and/or Master’s Degree in Library Science or Information Science. Experience to be determined by the Director of Libraries. Master’s degree preferred. Citizenship, residency or work visa required. Report To: Director of Libraries and Building Principal Evaluation: Performance will be evaluated in accordance with Board of Education policy. For more information regarding Title IX, please contact: District Compliance Coordinator, 2010 N. 59th Street, Kansas City, KS 66104, View phone number on click.appcast.io, Title View email address on click.appcast.io. Job ID: 5778950 Application Deadline: Jun 12, 2027 11:59 PM (Central Standard Time) Posted: Jun 12, 2026 5:00 AM (UTC) #J-18808-Ljbffr