Digital Literacy Specialist: Computer Science Expertise

Position Information:

1. The Digital Literacy Specialist directly reports to the: 
   1. Learning Design Futurist (Assistant Director of Innovation, Design and Learning)
   2. Director of Information Services
2. Position work distribution is:
   1. 25%     Media Coordination
      • Media Center collection and resource management at designated school sites
      • Media Paraprofessional guidance, support and supervision at designated school sites
      • Serve on BILT at designated school sites
      • Serve on HILT for Hopkins Public Schools  
      • Support Hopkins system and designated school sites’ project plan implementation
   2. 30%     Digital Literacies Classroom Push-In at designated school sites focused on:
      • Computer Science 
      • Computational Thinking
      • Coding
      • AI
      • Cybersecurity
      • Digital Citizenship
      • Media and Digital Literacies
      • Research Skills and Strategies 
   3. 30%     Schoolwide Enrichment (SWE) Classroom 

Push-In and/or Small Group Instruction at designated school sites, to include:

• Collaboration with building principal, SWE specialist, and Principal on Special Assignment to help design and facilitate Tier 2 and 3 Enrichment experiences aligned to the site’s SWE Plan.
• DLS role is a complementary role to that of the SWE specialist; SWE specialist will be lead for all Enrichment programming

4. 15%     E-12+ Computer Science programming development and implementation
   • E-12+ Computer Science scope and sequence informed by the Minnesota Department of Education’s Computer Science State Strategic Plan and Computer Science research 
   • E-12+ Computer Science curriculum writing
   • E-12+ Computer Science change management and programming implementation
   • E-12+ Computer Science materials management 
   • E-12+ Computer Science capacity building and implementation fidelity

* Note: In this position there will be regular direct student contact time using a push-in and/or small group instruction model at designated school sites; however, the Digital Literacy Specialist will not be rostered to specific or flex courses and sessions.  There is an expectation of collaboration amongst the Digital Literacy Specialist team and across other site and district teams.   

3. The Digital Literacy Specialist regularly partners with local leadership initiatives and designated school site(s) leadership teams in service to District strategic plans. 
4. The Digital Literacy Specialist serves as a partner and liaison to the: 
   1. Innovation, Design and Learning Team
   2. Information Services Department
   3. School site(s) leadership teams, including BILT
   4. Technology Integration Specialist Team
   5. Data Scientist and Data Specialist Team
   6. Mentorship and Instructional Coaching Teams
   7. Media Paraprofessional Team

Application Process:
REQUIRED for Candidates: Cover Letter, 3 Letters of Recommendation and Completed Hopkins Application
Candidates should submit a cover letter which clearly indicates:

1. Experiences relevant to this position
2. Expertise in equitable computer science and systemwide curriculum development 
3. Demonstrated examples of media collection management 
4. Demonstrated examples of successful digital literacies learning facilitation with students
5. Minnesota teaching licensure area(s)

 
Essential Functions:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Continued employment is contingent upon all required licenses and certificates being maintained in active status without suspension or revocation.  This class specification lists the major duties and requirements of the job and is not all-inclusive.  Incumbent(s) may be expected to perform job-related duties other than those contained in this document and may be required to have specific job-related knowledge and skills.
Media Coordination:

• Coordinate and Manage Media Center Operations, Programming, and Resources:
  • Ensure the media center space as a whole is inviting and welcoming to all of our learners
  • Develop, implement, and maintain an information media program reflecting district goals and objectives
  • Blend the traditional Library Media Specialist role with digital and computer science expertise to lead education into the future 
  • Oversee day-to-day operations of the media center preserving the essential functions and services such as support reading, media check-out and instilling the love of reading in our students
  • Manage programming initiatives and events
  • Ensure effective utilization of resources
  • Promote reading and digital literacies as foundational skills for knowledge, critical thinking, and global citizenship
  • Advocate for inclusive media use and equitable access for all students
  • Maintain a focus on literacy development and enhance it with opportunities for students to learn a new form of literacy in computer science and coding
  • Ensure our media centers grow into multimedia, multimodal, future-ready learning spaces
• Provide Oversight and Supervision for Media Paraprofessionals:
  • Provide leadership, supervision and support to Media Paraprofessionals in their duties
  • Ensure effective teamwork and communication across sites
  • Ensure adherence to established procedures and standards
  • Successfully manage and support the Media Paraprofessional team with day-to-day operations of the media center across designated sites
• Procure, Vet, and Curate High-Quality, Culturally-Affirming Books and Media:
  • Source and evaluate diverse materials for the media center collection that are engaging, inclusive and representative of the school and global communities
  • Curate a collection that reflects the culture and diverse identities of the school and global communities
  • Provide texts and media where students see themselves, both visually represented as well as language choices.  Ensure texts and media are also inclusive of Hopkins’ immersion programming as well as our new to Hopkins students and even new arrival immigrant families. This involves having appropriately leveled materials as well as different types of subject matter to help foster the love of reading that we want all of our learners to experience.
  • Collaborate Across Stakeholder Groups for Media Collection Management
  • Manage all aspects of the Media Center budgets, including the purchase of books, electronic resources, subscriptions, equipment and supplies
  • Coordinate physical and digital media collection evaluation and management efforts
  • Support Instructional Material Refusal Process per District 270 Policy 606
  • Foster collaboration among stakeholders to enhance collection quality
• Research and Implement Forward-Focused Media and Technology Practices:
  • Research the latest practices and forward focused media and technology information as part of a continuous improvement cycle with colleagues to implement these practices in instructional spaces
  • Stay abreast of emerging trends in media and technology
  • Implement innovative practices to enhance instruction
• Align Digital and Physical Library Media Tools and Practices:
  • Integrate digital tools with traditional library practices
  • Ensure coherence in pedagogical approaches across formats
  • Facilitate the alignment of digital and physical library media tools, materials, pedagogies and practices to reimagined learning models
• Support Classroom Teachers and School Sites in Literacy Efforts:
  • Collaborate with teachers to support love of literacy in their instruction
  • Provide resources and assistance tailored to classroom needs
  • Serve on BILT at designated school sites
  • Serve on HILT for Hopkins Public Schools
• Provide Professional Learning Opportunities for Staff:
  • Conduct training sessions on media and digital literacy
  • Support educators in adapting to evolving roles and technologies
  • Provide professional learning opportunities for Hopkins staff to support educator’s evolving roles

Collaborate with Teachers to Create Engaging Learning Experiences:

• Work directly with new-to-Hopkins staff to emphasize and support a holistic, restorative and personalized approach to education through media and technology practices
• Work closely with teachers to develop curriculum-aligned resources and support implementation of site- and district-based initiatives (e.g. PYP, MYP, Immersion, Project-Based Learning, CTE, etc.)
• Work directly with staff in individual and small-group settings to develop innovative ways to utilize media and technology to provide student-centered, differentiated, personalized instruction for all learners
• Provide support for integrating print and digital materials

Digital Literacies Classroom Push-In:

• Design and Implement Learning Experiences:
  • Develop instructional programs integrating multiple literacies with a district-wide lens as well as a classroom lens. 
  • Design and implement learning experiences that incorporate multiple literacies and foster critical thinking
  • Foster critical thinking skills through engaging activities
• Create E-12+ Opportunities for Computer Science, Coding and AI Experiences:
  • Develop and deliver computer science and AI curriculum informed by the Minnesota Department of Education’s Computer Science State Strategic Plan and Computer Science research 
  • Provide opportunities for hands-on computer science and AI learning and exploration (e.g. robotics, human-computer interaction, computer graphics and visualization, software engineering, 3D modeling and animation, virtual and augmented reality, game development, cybersecurity, AI and machine learning, information systems, accessibility and assistive technologies, human-centered design, and data science) 
  • Ensure students have a more consistent experience with computer science E-12+. 
  • Provide and manage accessible computer science materials for classrooms to do lessons that fit into the overall scope and sequence.
• Model Effective Media and Digital Literacy Practices:
  • Demonstrate best practices in media and digital literacy instruction
  • Collaborate with staff to enhance instructional effectiveness
• Conduct Classroom Push-In Sessions on Digital Literacy Topics:
  • Lead and co-teach sessions on various digital literacy topics including, but not limited to: 
    • digital citizenship
    • ability to access, understand and use information and media resources
    • awareness of social issues and technological risks associated with digital data and information management
    • ethics behind inclusive media use and navigating information overload and/or disinformation
    • research skills and strategies
    • media and digital literacies
    • love of literacy 
    • computational thinking
    • computer science 
    • coding 
    • AI
    • cybersecurity, digital citizenship, and research skills
  • Be available as an additional resource for teachers/staff’s digital literacy lessons to ensure it goes well and has the intended impact.  Serve as a thought-partner to learn through a lesson failure to help improve the lesson for an even wider audience.
  • Guide students in the ethical and effective use of information for curricular and personalized learning
  • Support students and teachers in navigating digital resources
  • Partner with staff in learning spaces to model effective media and digital literacy instructional practices
• Advocate for Inclusive Media Use and Equitable Access:
  • Promote equitable access to resources for all students
  • Advocate for media literacy and responsible digital citizenship
• Spearhead Integration of Media and Technology:
  • Integrate media and technology into instructional strategies
  • Explore innovative ways to leverage technology for learning
  • Research the latest practices and forward-focused media and technology information
  • Work directly with staff in individual and small-group meetings to develop innovative ways to utilize media and technology
• Guide Students and Staff in Ethical Use of Information:
  • Teach students and staff about responsible information consumption and citation
  • Foster ethical behavior in information use
• Promote Reading and Digital Literacies:
  • Encourage reading and digital skill development
  • Highlight the importance of critical thinking and global awareness

Schoolwide Enrichment Classroom Push-In and/or Small Group Instruction:

• Facilitate Schoolwide Enrichment through enrichment experiences:
  • Serve as an integral part of Schoolwide Enrichment planning, facilitation and implementation at our sites within their chosen model(s)
  • Enrichment Experience Characteristics (not an exhaustive list):
    • Focused on student interests
    • May be individual or small group
    • May be extension of learning from SWE classroom
    • May involve student product creation 

E-12+ Computer Science Programming Development and Implementation:

• Develop and Implement E-12+ Computer Science Programming:
  • Design E-12+ opportunities for computer science, coding, and AI experiences
  • Develop E-12+ computer science scope and sequence ensuring alignment with future forward educational standards and best practices
  • Write E-12+ computer science curriculum
  • Manage E-12+ computer science materials
  • Build E-12+ computer science capacity 
  • Ensure computer science programming implementation fidelity

Hopkins Public Schools:

• Commitment to the District mission, which is to ensure high quality, innovative, challenging education where all learners are valued and respected.
• Perform assigned responsibilities in a manner consistent with the District’s established Core Values.
• Advance the District’s mission and values through careful attention to the key issues of learning, environment, and resources.
• Contribute effectively to the accomplishment of system, team and/or project work goals objectives and activities.
• Collaborate with various teams and departments (e.g. Information Services, IDL, TIS, Media Paraprofessionals, HILT, BILT, Content Leads, Restorative Culture Specialists, Counselors/Social Workers, SAT, MTSS, SWE, etc.) in service to system wide strategic projects, workstreams, professional learning and the overall mission of our Hopkins Learning Framework, Student Success Metrics, E-12+ Hopkins System Goals, the Equity Audit findings and our Vision 2031.

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Continued employment is contingent upon all required licenses and certificates being maintained in active status without suspension or revocation.

• Bachelor’s degree in education, or a closely related field
• Required Licensure = K-12 Library Media Specialist
• Preferred Licensure = CTE: Communications Technology Careers (Computer Science Focus)
• Driver’s license – travel required to locations throughout the District 
• Ability to perform work duties in an office and classroom setting 
• Other duties as assigned in service to our Hopkins: 
  • Learning Framework
  • Student Success Metrics
  • E-12+ Hopkins System Goals
  • Equity Audit findings
  • Vision 2031