Library Media Specialist

State of Connecticut - DOC York Correctional Institution; Somers (CT); On-site; USD 72,000 - 141,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement plan

Medical benefits

Hybrid retirement plan

Sick leave

5 weeks vacation

Tuition reimbursement

Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Job summary

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC), Unified School District #1 is seeking a Library Media Specialist to support incarcerated learners at Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers, CT.

This 12‑month, 35‑hour position requires active educator endorsement and a Connecticut teaching certificate, with a training requirement for hazardous duty Initial steps and pay scale are provided, and candidates may work across multiple facilities in the state.

Qualifications

• Understanding of different learning styles and ability to teach to various ability levels.
• Ability to work with multiple disciplines throughout the day.
• Knowledge of classroom routines and disciplines.
• Outstanding personal and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to follow the school schedule as provided by administration.

Responsibilities

• Prioritizing safety and security for staff, victims, citizens, and offenders.
• Developing educational plans for individuals and groups.
• Setting short and long term goals and evaluating student progress.
• Participating in planning team meetings and case review conferences to assess student behavior.
• Maintaining student records and writing reports.
• Modeling positive teaching practices.
• Serving as the instructional hub of a school, connecting students and educators to resources, technology, and research skills.
• Assisting in ensuring students develop information literacy and digital citizenship.
• Collaborating with teachers to co-teach lessons on research skills, information literacy, and digital citizenship.
• Overseeing selection, acquisition, cataloging, and circulation of print and digital materials.

Skills

Learning styles

Interpersonal skills

Schedule adherence

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Introduction

Are you an endorsed Library Media Specialist in Connecticut and looking to transform the lives of our incarcerated population? If so, we have the opportunity for you! The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC), Unified School District #1 (USD#1) is seeking enthusiastic Library Media Specialists�(State School Teacher (12 Months) (35 Hour)). We are seeking to fill openings at Osborn Correctional Institution in Somers, CT, but may also use this posting to fill positions at facilities across the state. Please note we do not currently accept DSAP Certifications or any other short or long term permits. All Endorsements must be active Initial, Provisional, or Professional. Confirm you possess the appropriate license and that it is up-to-date. Incumbents in this class must meet the State Board of Education requirements to receive an initial educator certificate for External Diploma Program/Noncredited Mandated Programs (107). Secondary certified candidates will also need to meet the requirements to receive an initial educator certificate for High School Credit Diploma Program (106). Selected candidate will have six (6) months from their hire date to obtain the applicable endorsement.

What we can offer you

• Option to maintain State of Connecticut Teacher Retirement Plan or enroll in the State Employee Retirement System;
• A variety of medical and dental plans;
• Participation in a hybrid retirement plan which provides a retirement benefit, that may include retiree health insurance;
• Sick and personal leave;
• Five (5) weeks of scheduled vacation time;
• Annual $1,000.00 lump sum payment
• Tuition reimbursement; and
• The State of CT is an eligible Public Services Loan Forgiveness employer, meaning you may be eligible to have qualifying student loans forgiven after 10 years of service.

• Providing limitless opportunities;
• Hiring for diversity and fresh perspectives;
• Performing meaningful work and;
• Encouraging a healthy work/life balance!

Position highlights

• SCHEDULE: First-shift, full time (35 hours per week,) Monday through Friday
• ACADEMIC CALENDAR: Unified School District (USD) #1 follows a 12-month school calendar, 222 school days per year.
• TRAINING: Candidates selected for hire, are required to attend a fourteen (14) week training at the CT DOC Training Academy. More details can be found in the 'Selection Plan' of this job bulletin.
• LOCATION: Osborn Correctional Institution

Candidates new to the State of Connecticut will start on ‘Step one’ of the pay plan, in the tier that their highest level of education corresponds to. Starting salary is non-negotiable.

• Step 1 (minimum)
• $72,275
• $75,900
• $81,208
• Step 13-15 (maximum)
• $111,912
• $131,422
• $140,620

Responsibilities

• Prioritizing safety and security as it pertains to staff, victims, citizens, and offenders;
• Developing educational plans for individuals and groups;
• Setting short and long term goals and evaluating student progress;
• Participating in planning team meetings and case review conferences to assess student behavior;
• Relating to professionals in ancillary educational roles;
• Maintaining student records and writing reports;
• Modeling positive teaching practices;
• Serving as the instructional hub of a school, connecting students and educators to resources, technology, and research skills;
• Assisting in ensuring that students develop strong information literacy, digital competency, and a lifelong love of learning;
• Collaborating with teachers to co-teach lessons on research skills, information literacy, and digital citizenship;
• Guiding students in evaluating sources, conducting research, and using library tools effectively, fostering independent learning and critical thinking;
• Overseeing the selection, acquisition, cataloging, and circulation of print and digital materials, including books, databases, and multimedia resources;
• Maintaining a diverse and current collection to support curriculum needs and student interests;
• Assisting the facility population with library needs.

Candidate qualifications

• An understanding of the different types of learning styles of students and being able to teach to their ability levels.
• The ability to work with a variety of different disciplines throughout the day.
• Working knowledge of classroom routines and disciplines.
• Outstanding personal and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to follow the class schedule as provided by the school administration with the understanding that it may change unexpectedly.

About us

The Connecticut Department of Correction is a diverse agency with a wide variety of employees from Correction Officers, to Educators, to Managers and Skilled Professionals. We value differences that make us stronger as a team and support our mission statement.

The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) is the agency responsible for corrections in the U.S. State of Connecticut. The agency operates 13 correctional facilities. It has its headquarters in Wethersfield. The DOC protects public safety by ensuring offenders serve their sentences of imprisonments in facilities that are safe, human, and provide re-entry programming.

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction is a unified system; all sentenced and un-sentenced offenders are supervised by the DOC. The Department also provides supervision for offenders on parole, community release, and other discretionary release programs.

Our School District

USD #1 is dedicated to providing quality educational programs for incarcerated individuals. Students are offered academic knowledge, vocational competencies, and life skills integrated with technology in a positive environment to foster lifelong learning, multicultural awareness, and a successful social transition. USD#1 offers an array of academic programming, including:

• K-12 High School Program
• Adult Basic Education (ABE)
• General Education Development (GED)
• Credit Diploma Program (CDP)
• English Second Language (ESL)/ Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and;
• a wide variety of Career-Technical Education (CTE) programs.

USD#1 Motto

Our USD#1 motto is defined by the Latin phrase on the District's seal. The phrase, 'Non Sum Qualis Eram,' translates into English as 'I am not what I once was.' The hope is that returning citizens will be provided with some of the core tools required to change their path in life through education.

Selection Plan

Selected candidates may be required to present a lesson plan in front of students in one of our Correctional Facilities as part of the interview process.

This is a hazardous duty* position.

Candidates selected for hire will be required to attend a 14-week hazardous duty training at the Maloney Center for Training & Staff Development located in Cheshire, CT. This training consists of both classroom and on the job training (one day of classroom presentation and nine days of “hands-on” physical training.) The Behavior Management Program training will education on the use of physical force as it applies to self‑defense, and the maintenance of order and security within the inmate population. In order to graduate, trainees will be required to pass a written exam, as well as a practical skills test which will be scored.

Purpose of job class (NATURE OF WORK)

In a state institution, facility or region within a state unified school district this class teaches appropriate early intervention, elementary, secondary, special subjects and/or special education curricula to individuals enrolled in departmental education programs.

Examples of duties

• Teaches early intervention, elementary, secondary, special subject and/or special education curricula;
• Develops educational plans for individuals and groups material level to students ability;
• Sets short and long term goals and evaluates progress of students;
• Participates in planning team meetings and case review conferences assessing student behavior;
• Relates to professionals in ancillary educational roles;
• Maintains student records and writes reports;
• May hold conferences with parents or officials concerned with student's performance;
• Performing related work as required.

Knowledge, skill and ability

• Knowledge of the philosophy and methods of education and teaching;
• the principles and practices of education for special needs population;
• student program needs and goal setting;
• Ability to motivate students;
• communicate at the appropriate level;
• establish cooperative relationships with those contacted in work;
• prepare written reports.

Minimum qualifications

Possession of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with teaching a diverse group of people.
• Experience working in a correctional institution setting, detention center, or similarly secured environment.
• Experience teaching groups of people with differing levels of education.
• Experience working in a school library setting.

Special requirements

• Employment in this class is conditional upon possession of a valid Connecticut State Board of Education teaching certificate appropriate to the teaching assignment.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to possess and retain a current Connecticut Motor Vehicle operator's license.

Character requirements

In addition to the checking of references and of facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate may be made prior to appointment.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

Acknowledgement

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.