SJK has an exciting opportunity for a full-time Librarian and Digital Literacy Strategist to join our team!

SJK seeks a highly motivated and committed Librarian and Digital Literacy Strategist to join our Learning Commons team. We are looking for someone passionate about ensuring that inquiry, research, and ethical use of information are not add-ons, but core, coherently taught competencies across the PYP, MYP, and DP.

About St. John’s-Kilmarnock School (SJK)

SJK is the leading co-educational independent school in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. The School, founded in 1972, is located on a beautiful 36-acre natural campus, offering enriched educational programming for day students from JK-Grade 12 and international boarding students from Grades 9-12 through our accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. The School’s co-ed Boarding Residence is located in close proximity to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.

SJK offers a world of learning where we embrace innovation, diversity and internationalism. We have dedicated and inspirational educators, attentive to the needs of individual students and their families. Our expectations are high; students are encouraged to find balance through academics, sports, arts, service and leadership. As the only accredited IB World Continuum School in Southwestern Ontario, our students love learning and graduate as confident, well-rounded individuals, fully prepared for post-secondary education and life beyond. Our graduates take their passions to the world as leaders and global citizens.

As a community, we believe in the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. We strive to be a place where every student, faculty and staff member, parent, and alumnus feels welcome and valued. We achieve this by living our core values and by appreciating that our learning community is enhanced by human differences. We value the unique experiences that each individual brings to our community and the myriad of perspectives that our diversity provides. We also recognize that it is our common humanity that binds us together as a community. We welcome applications from individuals who feel they could contribute positively to our diverse community.

Position Summary:

This role is sector-leading in its intentional integration of Approaches to Learning, academic honesty, and digital and AI literacy into classroom practice, positioning the library as a learning commons and instructional hub rather than a standalone resource. By serving as a teaching and learning strategist, the Librarian helps future-proof teaching and learning and models how IB schools can lead thoughtfully and responsibly in an era of rapid technological change.

Specific Accountabilities:

• Lead the day-to-day operation and strategic development of the library and learning commons as a welcoming hub for reading, research, creation, and collaboration for students JK–12.
• Curate and manage print and digital collections (including databases, ebooks, audiobooks, and media) that support IB programmes, Pathways to Graduation, and diverse student interests and identities.
• Establish library policies, procedures, and routines that promote equitable access, responsible use of resources, and a safe, inclusive environment.
• Co-plan, co-teach, and co-assess learning experiences with classroom teachers that integrate research, critical thinking, and digital literacy skills into units of inquiry and subject courses.
• Support key IB milestones (e.g., PYP Exhibition, MYP Personal Project, DP Extended Essay) with targeted instruction in inquiry, source use, and academic honesty.
• Model student-centred, inquiry-driven pedagogy, including workshop-style lessons, guided research conferences, and small-group instruction.
• Scope and sequence critical thinking and research ATL skills across the IB continuum, ensuring a coherent progression of expectations from Lower to Upper School.
• Develop and refine shared tools (e.g., research process frameworks, graphic organizers, notetaking templates) to support student inquiry and argumentation.
• Work with Directors, IB Coordinators, and Guidance to embed research and critical thinking outcomes into curriculum maps, assessment criteria, and reporting.
• Design and lead a whole-school digital literacy and AI literacy framework that includes technical, critical, ethical, and social dimensions (e.g., how AI works, bias, privacy, academic integrity, creative use).
• Co-create age-appropriate guidelines for the responsible and principled use of AI tools (for students and educators), aligned with IB values and SJK policies on academic honesty and digital citizenship.
• Support teachers in designing learning experiences that use AI as a thinking partner (e.g., brainstorming, feedback, translation, simulation) while also teaching students to critique AI outputs, check sources, and understand limitations.
• Provide workshops and just-in-time coaching for faculty, students, and families on AI, digital tools, information evaluation, and online safety.
• Teach and reinforce information literacy skills, including:
  • Evaluating source quality, bias, and reliability
  • Distinguishing primary and secondary sources
  • Using databases, search strategies, and advanced filters
  • Managing data and evidence effectively
• Develop and maintain school-wide guidelines for citation, referencing, and use of generative AI, and support consistent implementation across subjects.
• Work with IB Coordinators and Directors to ensure academic honesty policies are understood, taught, and applied in classroom practice.
• Promote a rich culture of reading for pleasure and for learning through book talks, displays, reading challenges, author visits, and collaboration with classroom teachers.
• Ensure reading collections and programming reflect diverse voices, perspectives, languages, and identities, aligned with SJK’s commitments to equity and belonging.
• Collaborate with faculty to connect independent reading and choice reading to units of inquiry, CAS/service, and student interests.
• Serve as a member of the Pedagogical Leadership Team, contributing an information literacy, ATL, and digital/AI lens to teaching and learning conversations.
• Partner with Learning Support and Guidance to support students who require targeted help with research, organization, or digital skills, including scaffolds for neurodiverse learners.
• Collaborate with IT/Digital Learning to evaluate and implement digital platforms, databases, and AI tools that support inquiry, creativity, and collaboration.
• Lead or co-lead professional learning for faculty on:
  • Teaching research and critical thinking in the IB context
  • Embedding ATL skills in units and assessments
  • Digital and AI literacy in classroom practice
• Stay current with emerging trends in school libraries, IB pedagogy, AI in education, and digital citizenship, and translate research into practical strategies for SJK.
• Develop annual goals for the library & ATL/AI literacy program aligned with the Teaching and Learning Improvement Plan.
• Track and analyze program data (e.g., circulation, database use, instructional collaborations, student and teacher feedback) to inform continuous improvement.
• Provide input into budget planning for collections, databases, digital tools, and programming; steward resources responsibly.

Teaching Accountability:

• Teaches scheduled library/ATL lessons, seminars, and/or integrated units as determined by the Director, Teaching and Learning and divisional Directors.
• May carry a small subject teaching load (e.g., TOK, Language & Literature, Individuals & Societies, or Design) depending on qualifications and school needs.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor of Education (or equivalent) and membership in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers (or membership with another teaching college, or equivalent).
• Additional qualification in Teacher Librarianship and/or master’s degree in library/information science, Education, Instructional Technology, or a related field (preferred).
• Successful classroom teaching experience, ideally in an IB and/or independent school context.
• Experience as a teacher librarian, information literacy specialist, or similar role that combines teaching and program leadership (preferred).
• Demonstrated experience co-planning and co-teaching inquiry-based units and teaching research/information literacy skills.
• Experience working with digital tools, databases, and learning technologies to support instruction; prior work with AI tools in education is an asset.
• Independent school experience is an asset

Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of IB ATLs, particularly thinking, research, and self-management in digital environments.
• Proficiency with library management systems, research databases, citation tools, and learning management platforms.
• Comfort with generative AI and other emerging tools; ability to evaluate, model, and teach their use critically and ethically.
• Warm, approachable, and student-centred, with a passion for both literacy and innovation.
• Strong collaboration and coaching skills; able to build trust with teachers and influence practice without formal line authority.
• Excellent communication skills (written, visual, and oral), including the ability to explain complex digital/AI concepts in age-appropriate ways.
• Systems thinker who can “connect the dots” across divisions and programs and design coherent progressions of skills over time.
• Deep commitment to equity, inclusion, and belonging in reading, research, and digital/AI literacy.

To Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to forward by email a letter of application and a résumé to https://tealandco.com/careers by March 1st, 2026.

SJK is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including participation in the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan if eligible and opportunities for professional development in a vibrant, collegial work environment. Please be aware that the successful candidate must submit a vulnerable sector check.

SJK is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including participation in the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan if eligible and opportunities for professional development in a vibrant, collegial work environment.

The salary range is based on our current salary grid and ranges from $64,646.00 to $113,130, with placement on the grid determined by qualifications and years of eligible and related experience. These amounts are based on our current year grid, which may increase for the 2026–2027 academic year.

SJK does not utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the screening, assessment, or selection of applicants.