Middle School Librarian, Yearbook Coordinator, 6th Grade Advisor

Prospect Sierra is an independent, coed TK–8 school located on two campuses in El Cerrito, California, serving 465 students. Prospect Sierra gives students the tools to build a better world by integrating rigorous academics with a deep understanding of human emotions. Every day our exceptional teachers connect students’ academic experiences to ethics, empathy, and social and emotional intelligence. The result is deeper intellectual engagement, greater self-knowledge, and compassionate relationships. Prospect Sierra students develop the courage to become more than great students, but great people. 

Overview of Position

The successful candidate will report to the Middle School Division Head as Middle School Librarian, 6th Grade Advisor, and Yearbook Coordinator. This person will collaborate closely with the 6th grade team and the library department. This is a full-time position that will require teaching and working with kids in person. 

Responsibilities of the Library Job

• Help manage the day-to-day operations of the library, including circulation, overdue notices, and lost book reimbursement requests, collection development, cataloging, readers’ advisory, research assistance, online services, supporting students in reading resources, and student tech support.
• Teach 6th grade library skills class which includes:
  • Information literacy in coordination with humanities, science, and Spanish research projects. Skills include online catalog searches, database usage, online search strategies, resource evaluation, and MLA citation format
  • Media literacy
  • Digital citizenship
  • Literature appreciation
• Coordinate and provide ongoing readers’ advisory for 6th grade Reading Buddy program.
• Assist in resource gathering and teach periodic 7th and 8th grade research skills classes in conjunction with research projects throughout the year; assist in book talks launching independent reading projects for 7th and 8th grade humanities classes.
• Collaborate with Head Librarian to create year-round library programming, including all-school reading challenges, interactive displays, author visits, Screenfree Week activities, Edible Books festival, and summer reading. 
• Provide library supervision as needed and when available in support of the Head Librarian (could be recess, lunch, and after school)/

Responsibilities of Advisor Job 

• Lead a 6th grade advisory – oversee the overall well-being of approximately 12 students, lead daily morning meetings, communicate with families, and partner with a learning specialist and other teachers to support each advisee in their overall success at school. 
• Lead parent/caregiver-teacher conferences. 
• Support the 6th grade team with grade-wide special events, field trips, projects, and initiatives.
• Conduct study hall for your advisees. 
• Co-chaperone an overnight student field trip to a working biodynamic farm.

Responsibilities for Yearbook Coordinator Job 

• Create a yearbook for TK-8th grades. 
• Lead yearbook committee/elective of middle school students who help gather information/pictures to put the yearbook together.
• Partner with a yearbook publishing company throughout the school year. 
• Collaborate with families, teachers, staff, and admin to gather photos and information needed to complete the yearbook. 

 Required Qualifications

• Appreciation and desire to work with middle school students
• Knowledge of early adolescents and their social-emotional development 
• Knowledge of and passion for educational best practices in Library and Information Science, including: 
  • Broad knowledge of and passion for children’s and young adult literature
  • Fluency in using and teaching information literacy skills, media literacy, and digital citizenship 
  • Collection development or materials management
• Ability to create an inclusive classroom environment for diverse perspectives that recognizes that identity and emotions matter 
• A nuanced understanding of DEI/social justice knowledge from a personal or programmatic perspective
• Ability to effectively communicate both in writing and verbally with a diverse constituency of caregivers, students, and colleagues.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to multitask
• Takes initiative and leadership roles with a team approach that includes the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse constituencies.
• Flexibility

In addition to the required qualifications, desirable additional skills include:

• Familiarity with Learning Ally and Overdrive 
• Knowledge of educational technology to support teaching and learning

School-wide Duties

• Participation on committees as needed and appropriate
• Ancillary duties include responsibilities that are part of middle school life, e.g., team and staff meetings, attendance at school functions, chaperoning school trips, committee work, recess duties, etc. 

Salary

The salary is competitive. Benefits included. Our 2023-24 salary schedule can be found here.

How to Apply

Email a resume, a one-page cover letter, and a list of three references with contact information to: 

Nathan Tanaka, Middle School Division Head
Email: avisjobs@prospectsierra.org (include “Librarian, Yearbook Coordinator, 6th Grade Advisor” in the subject line)

Prospect Sierra School is an equal-opportunity employer. Our community is diverse in many ways, inclusive of race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender spectrum, age, ability, and more. We welcome and value the same in our faculty and staff.