School Innovation and Media Specialist (EES)

SCHOOL INNOVATION AND MEDIA SPECIALIST

Ellendale Elementary School 

11 month position

JOB DESCRIPTION:
The School Innovation and Media Specialist provides leadership and instructional support for a school library media and innovation program that is central to a student-centered learning environment. The role supports the integration of STEM, inquiry-based learning, digital literacy, and media services to enhance teaching and learning across the school. Under NCDPI, school library media coordinators are classified as support staff and are evaluated using the School Library Media Coordinator (SLMC) evaluation tool under the general supervision of the school principal.

CERTIFICATION: Master’s degree in Library Science, Instructional Technology, STEM Education, or related field preferred. North Carolina licensure as a K-12 School Library Media Coordinator required or ability to obtain within a designated timeframe.

REPORTS TO: School Principal and Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction

PURPOSE: To lead the design and implementation of an innovative school media center and instruction that supports STEM, inquiry, digital literacy, and media services. This role blends the traditional School Library Media Coordinator position with a focus on innovation and STEM integration, empowering students to think critically, solve problems creatively, and use information and technology responsibly while supporting teachers in implementing innovative instructional practices across the curriculum.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide leadership in implementing STEM learning opportunities and inquiry-based instructional practices across grade levels.
• Design and facilitate hands-on STEM and innovation lessons aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
• Support teachers in integrating design thinking, problem-solving, project-based learning, and inquiry strategies into instruction.
• Develop and manage innovation spaces such as makerspaces, STEM labs, or collaborative learning areas.
• Provide leadership for the school library media program.
• Manage the selection, acquisition, circulation, and organization of print, digital, and technology resources.
• Collaborate with teachers to integrate research, information literacy, and digital citizenship skills.
• Promote reading, literacy, and research through engaging library programming.
• Model effective integration of instructional technology tools and digital resources.
• Support digital learning platforms and emerging technologies used within the school.
• Provide professional development for staff on STEM integration, inquiry strategies, digital literacy, and instructional technology.
• Coordinate programs such as reading initiatives, STEM challenges, innovation clubs, and research projects.
• Participate in professional learning networks at the school, district, state, and national levels.
• Ensure alignment of the media and innovation program with district strategic priorities and NC Digital Learning Standards.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the principal or district administration.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES:

• Must be adaptable for performing under stress and when confronted with emergency situations.
• Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions.
• Knowledge of STEM instructional practices and inquiry-based learning strategies.
• Knowledge of library media services, information literacy, and digital learning standards.
• Knowledge of current educational technology tools and digital learning environments.
• Ability to design engaging learning experiences that promote exploration, creativity, and problem-solving.
• Ability to evaluate and integrate emerging technologies and instructional resources.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with students, staff, parents, and community partners.
• Considerable knowledge of the principles of organization and administration.
• General knowledge of the NC Standards Course of Study and School Board policies, procedures, and standards regarding education.
• Ability to use common audio-visual materials.
• Ability to use common office machines and specific computer-driven work processing, spreadsheet, Webpage construction, research, and file maintenance.
• Ability to effectively express ideas orally and in writing.
• Requires the ability to speak and/or signal people to convey or exchange information. Includes receiving instructions, assignments, or directions from supervisors.
• Require the ability to read and to prepare a variety of correspondence, reports, forms, newsletters, procedures,etc.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.
• Require the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or composite characteristic of data, people, or things.
• Must be able to exert up to 50 points of force occasionally; and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, care, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

The knowledge and abilities described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.