Library Media Specialist and Support Guide

Headwaters School, a Pre-K through grade 12 independent day school serving over 500 students across its three campuses in Austin, TX, is seeking a full-time Library Media Specialist/Support Guide for the 2026-2027 Academic Year. This position will be 50% Library Media and 50% Support Guide.

At Headwaters, our teachers nurture a school culture that promotes a growth mindset, a collaborative spirit, a joyful environment, and the achievement of high expectations. Our faculty and staff ensure all members of our school community understand their role in advancing issues of belonging and inclusion. Headwaters School supports the professional growth of our school faculty in order to contribute to their feelings of fulfillment, to provide a model of lifelong learning for our students, and to advance the strategic goals of the school.

Our faculty members are responsible for bringing our Purpose statement to life: to cultivate identity formation, foster empathy, and embrace diversity to bring more peace to the world. In addition, they guide our students to live authentically, think expansively, and create bravely. We invite our students, guides, staff, parents, and trustees to be Peacemakers, Advocates, Creators, and Thinkers.

This position reports directly to the Elementary School Director. Our ideal candidate is passionate about delivering dynamic, high-quality lessons rooted in best practices and excellence. They thrive in a collaborative environment and are dedicated to fostering meaningful connections with students and families. Candidates will also be prepared to participate in the life of the school, including, but not limited to supervision of lunch, chaperoning trips, and other duties as assigned by the Elementary School Director. 

Title: Library Media Specialist/Support Guide

 Hours:  8:30-4:30 (with a half hour break)

Library Media Duties Include:

• Assist in the daily preparation and management of library activities and administrative tasks.
• Develop a transdisciplinary K-5 library and media curriculum in collaboration with the grade level teams
• Lesson Planning using a transdisciplinary approach utilizing the lesson planning document provided by the school
• Maintain an ongoing dialogue with colleagues to coordinate curriculum integration and implementation
• Manage library volunteers
• Include research activities into the weekly library lesson when appropriate
• Assist students and staff with library resources including check in/out, shelving, circulation.
• Maintain a clean, tidy, and safe indoor environment for all children
• Maintain communication with parents
• Meet weekly with the specialist team and Assistant Elementary Director
• Organize an annual book fair
• Use Librarika to manage the digital library catalog, adding and removing books as needed
• Manage the library budget
• Order new library books when needed, in collaboration with the faculty and administration
• Organize author visits
• Manage the novel study collection in collaboration with classroom guides
• Perform other duties as assigned

Support Guide Duties Include:

• Support students and colleagues in the after school care program from 3:00-4:30.
• Support the health and safety of each student while providing a fun and relaxed atmosphere 
• Assist Specialist Guides by supporting the teaching and learning, organization and upkeep of supplies, preparing materials before classes, and clean-up after classes

Job Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, preferred
• Experience teaching research and presentation tools
• Passion for working with elementary school-aged children
• Enjoys working outside
• Familiarity or experience within a library environment
• Strong commitment to equity and inclusion practices and curriculum in the classroom
• A commitment to personal and professional development
• Google Suite experience
• Is a creative individual and team player
• Highly collaborative
• Operates with a high level of integrity 
• Strong organizational, communication and interpersonal skills
• Flexible, adaptable, and receptive to feedback
• Ability to follow oral and written directions
• An innovative approach
• Contributes to a positive growth mindset culture among colleagues, students, and parents

 Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift up to fifty (50) pounds.
• Must be able to work outside during all seasons

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position and compensation is competitive for the greater Austin area. The School offers a wide-range of benefits including generous paid time off, 100% paid medical insurance for the employee, 401(k) retirement plan, on-going professional support and continuing education opportunities, and a unique working environment where you are able to share and receive ongoing feedback. This position reports to the Elementary School Director.

Interested applicants should email a resume, cover letter, and educational philosophy statement to Leslie Hirsch, Director of Human Resources at hr@headwaters.org to apply or go to the Headwaters School Employment website, https://www.headwaters.org/page/about/employment.  

Headwaters School welcomes applicants from all backgrounds. As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local anti-discrimination law. The School’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, promotion, training, discipline, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. All Employees are responsible for complying with the School’s equal employment opportunity policy.