Library Media Specialist, Boston Arts Academy, Boston, MA
Posted April 14, 2017
This innovative school features a college preparatory curriculum supporting integrated and interdisciplinary teaching and learning among arts and academic disciplines. Students explore the arts in both traditional and new media forms. The Academy’s program is enriched by the involvement of the six members of the Professional Arts Consortium. Both the program and the student body at the Academy reflect the culture, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Boston.
The Academy is home to an innovative STEAM (Science Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) lab space and a joint Science and Math department STEAM team that explores curriculum that merges these disciplines and types of thinking in order to be successful in the 21st century creative economy.
The Academy is a Pilot School and a member of the Boston Pilot Schools Network, a group of Boston Public Schools that, by union contract, have been granted increased autonomy and flexibility to be laboratories of educational innovation. This includes the right to extend the school day and year for both faculty and students.
Teachers at the Academy undertake a number of special responsibilities. The Academy offers academic classes as well as classes in the visual and performing arts. Often classes integrate artistic and academic subjects. Faculty members work together to develop curriculum in all areas. The regular work schedule is approximately 35 hours per week with an additional 145 hours per year required for duties noted below. All academic classes begin at 8:00am.
The school year for students will be similar to the Boston Public Schools, but the actual school calendar may differ in terms of professional days for teachers and other aspects. All students will be members of an Advisory Group and all full-time teachers will serve as Advisors. (Advisory is a small group of students who come together periodically to provide academic, social and emotional support to all students.) All full-time teaching staff also teach or co-teach a grade-level reading writing course to students.
Students are assessed through a variety of measures: Traditional tests, performances, exhibitions, and portfolios. More comprehensive material about the approach to teaching and learning is available upon request, as well as on the website, and in the handbook found on the website.
Responsibilities:
- Assist the Principal/Headmaster in building and maintaining an updated school library collection that meets the goals of the school program.
- Assist the Principal/Headmaster in involving key staff i.e. teachers, department heads, specialists and/or others where appropriate in decisions related to library services.
- Utilize school system and community resources in improving the quality and scope of library service.
- Evaluate and maintain a comprehensive, challenging, and multicultural library/media collection.
- Evaluate, select, and order, on an ongoing basis, all library/media materials to coordinate with school and system-wide goals.
- Select materials which reflect the ethnic and cultural diversity of Boston students.
- Provide conditions that foster appreciation and respect for books and other resources in the library.
- Make the library/media center accessible to all students and faculty of the school.
- Establish and maintain an appropriate shelf list (inventory), card catalog, and other appropriate records
- Provide the proper processing, care and maintenance of the collection both print and non-print
- Maintain records of library use, including daily circulation records.
- Employs library procedures that contribute to an effective learning environment.
- Schedule class, teacher, and student use of the library media center
- Plan and implement programs and activities to support instructional goals and encourage full use of library media materials
- Provide all students individual and group instruction in the effective use of library media resources
- Provide students and teachers with materials and resources to meet individual and curricular needs
- Supervise, train, and make effective use of paraprofessionals and volunteers working in the library
- Communicate technical issues to appropriate vendors and OIIT when necessary
- Troubleshoot hardware and software conflicts and document resolutions after communicating with affected staff or students
- Administer Google Apps users and groups, monitor usage, and keep updated on new features, service issues, and security best practices
- Update web hosting configuration as necessary (DNS, MX, FTP, .htaccess), implement any needed web tools or platforms, and train staff in updating and building out BAA’s web presence
- Assist teachers and students in using video and audio devices including recording, downloading, converting, and exporting.
- Provide technical support to select departments in the choice, set-up, and maintenance of databases essential to their work
- Assist the Learning Center in the set-up, and maintenance of assistive technology utilized in the education of special needs students
- Possess the ability to implement new technologies
- Responsible for the ordering, acquisition, inventorying, and disposition of hardware and software
- Support student learning and enrichment of technology related knowledge and skills
- Other duties as assigned
Additional BAA responsibilities
- Coordinate our Summer Reading (Literature Circles) Initiative: identify and support student leaders, lead the process of choosing books, order and distribute books, assist administration in organizing literature circles.
- Coordinate the storage and distribution of all classroom texts: catalog, store, check out to students, check back in from students, keep track of inventory, and manage ordering of replacement texts
- Provide space in the library for students doing independent studies, on-line courses, Open Honors work, and receiving tutoring support
- Coordinate with the Artistic Dean and the Academic Dean the administration and supervision of students doing Independent Studies
- Coordinate with the Academic Dean the administration and supervision of students taking on-line courses
- Coordinate with the Academic Dean, academic teachers, and seminar teachers the development administration and supervision of students doing open honors courses
- Coordinate with the Academic Dean the administration and supervision of students receiving tutoring support.
- Attend BAA staff meetings and team meetings, where appropriate
- Experience teaching high school Librarian
- Experience in media/technology teaching and management
- Commitment to the arts as an important element in a complete education.
- Commitment to cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity
- Ability to take on responsibilities and prioritize quickly.
- Flexible working hours.
- Bachelor´s Degree (copy of transcript required).
- Ability to work within a complex work place.
- Excellent communication skills.
Preferred:
- Three years librarian experience, preferably in an urban high school setting.
- Master´s Degree or equivalent thereof.
- Fluency in languages in addition to English.
- Experience as an artist.
- Interest or experience in more than one discipline.
- Experience working with local cultural institutions.
- Experience working in a heterogeneous classroom.
- Experience with portfolio assessment.
- Advanced knowledge of Windows and Macintosh operating systems;
- Strong knowledge of networking and data management;
- Demonstrated skills in data collection, analysis, and reporting;
Headmaster: Anne Clark
Boston Arts Academy
174 Ipswich St
Boston, MA 02215
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
May 5