The Natick Public Schools Seek a

Paraprofessional, Library Media, High School

Start date: 08/26/2024

We invite you to explore a career with Natick Public Schools.

The Natick Public Schools educate approximately 5,300 students from Pre-K through age 22. We are an innovative, supportive, and high-performing district whose outstanding staff provides high quality services for our diverse students and their families from Natick and Boston. Natick Public Schools is a community dedicated to all students achieving high standards in a safe, trusting, respectful environment where learning is exciting, dynamic, and engaging, and where connectedness and belonging are valued and actively cultivated. We are home to families that speak almost 60 different languages and our student population is approximately 29% Students of Color and 71% White students. With a graduation rate of 97% and 90% of our students attending post-secondary schools, we are proud of our commitment to excellence in educating students to be informed and successful citizens of a global world. 

We enthusiastically welcome educators to our district who seek and thrive in a diverse environment that focuses on the whole child in a strengths-based approach. Please partner with us in our mission to support the diversity of our school community, promote and deliver equitable practices for all of our staff, students, and families, and create meaningful connections that enable everyone to feel included and thrive.

Education: High School Diploma or GED equivalent

Specialized Knowledge Preferred: 

• Literature for adolescents
• Adolescent development
• Understanding of and commitment to the principles and practices of diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice as they relate to student and staff engagement

Preferred Experience:

• Experience working in a library with online library catalog/database preferred. 
• Familiarity with books, media, and computers.
• Work or volunteer experience with adolescents

Skills:

• Demonstrated aptitude for work to be performed
• Bilingual skills, especially in Spanish and Portuguese, are highly desirable
• Candidates should have a passion for working with students, families, and colleagues
• Candidates must be flexible and collaborative
• Candidates must be able to multitask in a fast-paced, supportive environment that nurtures student growth
• Candidates must be organized and able to meet ongoing, time-sensitive deadlines for work production
• Ability to communicate effectively with students, school staff and administration, and parents
• Ability to handle stressful situations. 
• Familiarity with Google Suite, PowerSchool and Destiny preferred; will train the right candidate. 

Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent may find appropriate and in conformity with state certification requirements.

• Phone, intercom, personal computer and software applications as outlined above, scanner, copy machine, calculator, camera, printers and fax machine.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

Support Student Learning

• Promote a love for reading for all students
• Help students find “just right” books, give suggestions, locate books on shelf etc
• Check in and out books for students
• Help with research questions and find books to support research
• Create and deliver lessons
• Create Resource Lists of materials for classes
• Reach out to local authors for visits
• Enter daily statistics such as checkouts, student visits, classes etc

Supervise Students, Build Relationships and Serve as a Positive Role Model

• Interact, monitor, get to know, support, discipline, guide, teach, help
• Build positive relationships with students
• Take attendance in PowerSchool
• Engage in responsible, positive, upbeat behavior that sets a good tone for library 
• Model positive behavior for students

Manage Library Collection

• Shelve books as they are returned, books pulled for classes that need to go back etc.
• Shelf reading/organizing stacks as needed
• Manage and update magazine collection
• Maintain and curate digital databases
• Cover, stamp, display new books as they come in
• Inventory collection 

Manage Library Communication

• Upload daily Hallway slides to Media Master for t.v.s screens
• Upload Library slides to the TV’s in the Library. update them weekly 
• Create new and inviting, engaging displays centered around, reading, research, community, events, etc.
• Maintain a Library blog and webpage
• Collaborate with faculty/staff in school on projects/displays/classes, etc.

Any other relative duties as assigned

This job description is subject to change in a manner consistent with law by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the job satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: 

• move about the classroom, school, school grounds, office, and/or off-site locations. 
• On some occasions, it may be necessary to move quickly across even or uneven surfaces; 
• remain in a stationary position for periods of time; 
• operate a computer and other school/office productivity machinery (i.e., iPad, copy machine, computer printer, assistive technology, etc.); 
• read material from a computer monitor as well as handwritten or printed matter with or without visual aids; 
• position oneself to maintain files and access school/classroom/office materials;
• communicate with others so that information received and given is understood and accurately communicated;
• communicate and collaborate effectively with students, parents, and other staff members in person, via video conference, on the telephone, and/or in writing;
• observe details at close range
• in the school setting, ensure the safety of students;
• multitask and meet multiple demands from several people;
• may need to teach and support students with life skills development such as eating, cleaning, and toileting 
• lifting up to and including 25 lbs
• the noise level in the work environment is moderate to loud.

• Formal application
• Rating of education and experience
• Oral interviews 
• Reference check
• Strong record of work performance in current and previous roles required
• Successful completion of Criminal Records Check (C.O.R.I.), Sexual Offender Record Check (S.O.R.I.), and fingerprints.

The Natick Public Schools do not discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed, color, religion, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other class protected by law.