The posting
Job Description
ABOUT OUR DISTRICT:
The Syracuse City School District is undergoing a new phase of innovation and transformation with the goal of ensuring that all students graduate high school with the skills needed to be ready for college and career. For Syracuse, all means all - including students who fall behind or have been considered "hard to serve" for a host of reasons. The School Board and Syracuse community have charged the Superintendent with improving student achievement, and he is seeking a dedicated and diverse team of school leaders and teachers to partner with him in moving the district toward its goals. The Syracuse City School District represents 34 schools and 4 alternative education programs, serving 19,000+ students Pre-K-12 of whom 77% qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, 18% are served by the Office of Special Education and 78% are students of color.
WHO WE WANT:
Successful SCSD educators are passionately committed to urban education and all in for Syracuse students. They:
- Believe strongly that all students can learn at high levels;
- Demonstrate commitment to serving urban students, schools or communities, and to closing the achievement gap;
- Demonstrate willingness to put the interests of students above all others;
- Actively contribute to a culture of high expectations in their school and district;
- Adapt seamlessly to the complexities of the urban school environment; and
- Follow current trends in education policy and research, including Common Core standards, comprehensive assessment systems and data-driven instruction.
JOB DESCRIPTION:
The Syracuse City School District (SCSD) is setting a higher bar for students and staff alike, and doing more than ever to help them reach it. We serve a richly diverse student body - our students speak over 70 languages, and 4 in 5 are low-income - and we believe every single student deserves a vibrant education. That's why we're going all in to make Syracuse the most-improved urban district in America. It won't be easy, but it's exciting. If you're energized by our ambitious goals, and by the challenge of charting a new future for Syracuse, join us. Learn more at www.joinsyracusecityschools.com.
PURPOSE:
The Library Media Specialist (LMS) ensures students and staff are effective users of ideas and information. The LMS empowers students to be critical thinkers, skillful researchers and ethical users of information through collaboration with teachers to design and implement instruction and assess learning.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Teaching & Learning
- Use the Empire State Information Fluency Continuum as the basis for planning and integrate it across the curriculum.
- Develop a thorough knowledge of subject area and grade level curricula, and promote competency in information literacy across the curriculum.
- Design and teach information fluency lessons independently and collaboratively
- Collaborate with teachers and staff to integrate information literacy competencies throughout the teaching and learning process.
- Model, encourage and instruct students and teachers to effectively integrate technology and use technology to creatively express knowledge.
- Work collaboratively and individually to design, develop, and implement programs that encourage reading for enjoyment and for information.
- Provide professional development in available information resources and technology integration
- Build and maintain a diverse collection that supports the curriculum and the interests of the school community.
- Recommend, create, implement, and evaluate resources and activities in various formats to meet students' learning needs.
- Instruct and advise students and staff in the legal and ethical use of information.
Information Access and Delivery:
- Provides equitable access to resources in a variety of formats
- Select the most advanced resources and equipment, both traditional and digital that is appropriate for accessing and producing information related to students' learning needs.
- Coordinate the acquisition and circulation of library materials.
- Organize all library resources for effective and efficient use.
- Encourage flexible access to the programs and services of the library media program.
- Creates a technology and information rich space conducive to learning.
- Organize materials, resources, equipment, and space to support learning.
- Provide reference services to school community
- Program Administration.
- Ensure that the library media program is understood as essential to the school's instructional program.
- Serve on school committees
- Communicate regularly with the principal and other appropriate administrators about program plans, activities, and accomplishments.
- Work regularly with teachers, students, administrators, and other members of the learning community to develop and implement long-term, strategic plans that align the library media pro- gram with the school's goals, priorities, and national curriculum standards
- Remain current on all issues, methods and tools for assessing library media programs.
- Collaborate with staff to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for identifying the needs of the students.
- Work with staff and administration to determine students information and learning needs.
- Maintain and communicate current knowledge and research findings related to the impact of school library media programs on student learning.
- Maintain expertise in strategies and techniques of supervision, scheduling, and all the areas of management responsibility.
- Administer the program budget and oversee acquisition and use of space, furnishings, equipment, and resources.
- Oversee all aspects of the daily operation of the library media program.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Proven experience accelerating measurable student learning in urban schools (preferred)
- Training and or experience with Culturally Relevant Education (preferred)
- Minimum of two years' successful classroom teaching experience (preferred)
- Prior demonstration of exemplary attendance is expected of any candidate for hire.
- All candidates must possess New York State teacher certification in their subject area, or qualify to obtain it by the first date of employment. This requires at least a Bachelor's degree. Licensed teachers from other states may qualify for reciprocity.
- Please note that New York State requires a minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.5 for certification, and one hired, this proof will be kept on file in the Office of Human Resources.
- Once offered, you will be required to declare that all previous obligations with an employing school district have been met and you are not seeking this position with the intent of resigning from a previous commitment in which you have not served.
- The successful candidate will be required to pass a fingerprint-based background check, at the cost of $107.50 to the candidate.
- City Residents are encouraged to apply!
SALARY/SALARY RANGE:
- Compensation is based on qualifications and experience in accordance with the Unit 1 contractual agreement and ranges from $59,499-$102,037 for the 2026-2027 school year. *Any non-certified long-term substitute will be paid $53,000.
- Teachers of color or those with experience and a deep background in Urban Education may qualify for the District's Urban Fellowship Program.
