Library Media Specialist

Position Overview:

Every member of the Team & Family at KIPP KC plays a critical role in ensuring our students are on the path toward college, career, and beyond. Our educators are passionate advocates for our students and families, working tirelessly to connect them with access to opportunity for lives of power and choice. As a Media Specialist, you will deliver exceptional experiences with student growth. You are dedicated to constant learning and proactively provide academic and cultural support to your school and team. You are deeply committed to educational equity, building relationships with students and families so they are safe, seen, heard, and loved.

Key Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with teachers to integrate library resources and literacy skills into classroom instruction, supporting the school's curriculum objectives.
• Select and acquire library materials that align with the curriculum, student interests, and diverse needs of the school community.
• Teach students how to effectively find, evaluate, and use information from various sources, including books, databases, and digital resources, while promoting digital citizenship and copyright awareness.
• Organize and promote reading programs, author visits, book fairs, and other events to encourage a culture of reading and lifelong learning among students.
• Integrate technology tools and digital resources into library services and instruction, assisting students and teachers in utilizing educational software, online databases, and digital storytelling tools.
• Organize and maintain the library's physical and digital collections, including cataloging, shelving, and weeding materials as needed, while managing circulation. This includes check-out, check-in, shelving, shelving reading, inventory, item processing (incoming and outgoing).
• Make purchasing recommendations that support users’ needs and interests and the community’s commitment to represent the student population.
• Collaborate with educators, administrators, and community members to promote literacy initiatives and library programs, staying informed about current trends and best practices in library science.
• Advocate for the role of the library media program in supporting student achievement, literacy development, and lifelong learning, communicating the value of library services to stakeholders.
• Assess the effectiveness of library programs and services through data collection and evaluation methods, using feedback to inform resource allocation and program improvement.
• Create a welcoming and inclusive library environment that celebrates diversity and fosters a sense of belonging for all students, offering programming and resources that reflect the cultural backgrounds and interests of the school community.
• Create and maintain displays, thematic promotions, bulletin boards, and library signage; maintain free library and donation of withdrawn books
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School or Division Head, such as carpool, study hall, lunch, etc.

Instruction

•  Provide group instruction and individual guidance to students in K - 8th grade to help them locate reading books and engage with books appropriately, develop an affinity for reading, hone literacy skills for reading and analysis.
• Meet with teachers to co-plan literacy lessons for Library time; co-teach library lessons alongside grade-level teacher.
• Consult with teachers about literacy best practices; share knowledge of literacy best practices at professional development.

Library Programs

• Serve as information resource for library services and other whole-school literacy initiatives (i.e. book fairs, national literacy observance days, etc.)
• Effectively plan school library programs to meet identified needs
• Assist in preparation and implementation of Scholastic Book Fair Management
• Manage acquisitions, processing, organizing, distribution, maintenance, and inventory of resources
• Use appropriate and effective techniques to encourage community and parent involvement

Student Management

• Carry out discipline in accordance with KIPP Kansas City student code of conduct and policies
• Interact with students to promote positive attitudes toward school library

Communication

• Maintain a positive and effective relationship with team members, teachers, supervisors, students and families
• Communicate with stakeholders in accordance with KIPP Kansas City Public Schools policies

Real World Learning and Grant Management

• Design and operationalize a system-wide Real-World Learning continuum that includes career awareness, exploration, preparation, and training aligned to Missouri workforce priorities.
• Partner with staff and partners ensure all students access meaningful RWL experiences such as:
  • Internships and apprenticeships
  • Client-connected and project-based learning experiences
  • Entrepreneurial and innovation-based experiences
  • Industry site visits and job shadowing
• Establish and enforce quality assurance processes to ensure all RWL experiences are standards-aligned, student-centered, and outcome-driven.
• Oversee systems for student placement, experience approval, documentation, and evaluation across schools.
• Lead cross-functional coordination of logistics, including scheduling, transportation, risk management, and partner communication.
• Monitor participation and outcomes to ensure equitable access across student groups and campuses.
• Develop tools, frameworks, and training resources to support consistent, high-quality implementation.
• Manage student experience and event via grants