This job was posted by https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov : For more information, please see: https://illinoisjoblink.illinois.gov/jobs/11883819 Department

Lab School Early Childhood

About the Department

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools provides one of the world\'s most outstanding

pre-collegiate educational experiences. Because Lab is part of the University of Chicago, the

importance of intellectual life-of thought and exploration-infuses all aspects of our curriculum

and students in every grade benefit from outstanding UChicago academics and access to

unmatched resources. John Dewey-one of the great minds in education-established the

Schools in 1896 as a place to explore and implement his theories on childhood education.

Today\'s students still benefit from his vision, and today\'s Lab faculty are recognized as

experienced leaders in their field.

Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity. Approximately 60

percent of Lab families are affiliated with the University, half live in Hyde Park, and the rest

come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northern Indiana. Lab\'s student body reflects the

diversity that is deeply valued by the Schools and its community; approximately half of our 2,000

students are people of color and families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their

homes.

The Laboratory Schools seek the finest employees-people who wish to inspire a love of

learning in our students and join a vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide

range of skills and training, in many different disciplines. At Lab, we value learning experientially,

exhibiting kindness, and honoring diversity. We seek employees who share a similar

commitment to these values. Lab people are engaged and excited by our mission of igniting and

nurturing an enduring spirit of scholarship, curiosity, creativity, and confidence in the youngest

members of the University of Chicago\'s academic community.

The Laboratory Schools is a great place to work and our connection to the University provides

our faculty and staff with opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other

environment.

Job Information

Job Summary:

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools library program is designed to nurture children\'s love of literature and their enthusiasm for learning. The Early Childhood Librarian reports to the Early Childhood Principal and has day-to-day responsibilities for the operation of the Lim Family Early Childhood Library. The librarian guides students in grades nursery 3 through 2 as they become skilled and effective library users, developing lifelong habits of reading, inquiry, curiosity, and creativity. Students also develop an appreciation for literature, learn to identify genres and develop an understanding of their own reading preferences in library classes. Additionally, the librarian takes a leadership role in the school by sharing their expertise with colleagues. The librarian helps assist adults in the Early Childhood community with professional development research and takes a lead in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the School by opening minds through access to information and advocacy for intellectual freedom. The librarian will interact daily with students, parents, other faculty members, Extended Day staff, and other librarians within our schools.

This position is a One-Year Only position.

Responsibilities:

• Maintains a student-centered, welcoming, and vibrant library environment that is conducive to active and participatory learning.
• Provides one-on-one reference and readers\' advisory services throughout the day on a flexibly scheduled basis.
• Teaches weekly scheduled library classes.
• Conducts weekly oral storytelling sessions.
• Promotes a culture f reading in the Early Childhood division through book-talks, annotated reading lists, displays, author visits, and reading promotion programs.
• Envisions and manages library programs.
• Develops and maintains a deep and diverse library collection to support classroom curricula and children\'s pleasure reading.
• Catalogs new materials.
• Keeps current with trends in technology and their application in a school library setting.
• Collaborates with teachers to prepare integrated lesson plans and schedule space.
• Promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the school.
• Attends school, department, grade level, and other committee meetings as required.
• Participates in the life of the Early Childhood division by engaging in activities such as chaperoning field trips and attending assemblies.

Competencies:

Ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and be flexible in work with students.

Ability to interact with a diverse group of faculty, staff, students, and parents required.

Knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion issues, and dynamics in the classroom and in developing healthy, supportive relationships with all students.\<