The STEM Coordinator is responsible for developing, coordinating, and teaching the STEM Curiosity Lab afterschool program for 6th-8th grade students at their middle schools. Primary responsibilities include program instruction, curriculum development and revision, and materials management. The STEM Coordinator also collaborates with contract co-instructors, graduate fellows, and other Walking Mountains staff who help teach the program. This position works closely with the Girls in Science and Family Engagement Manager.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Program Coordination:

• Coordinate program logistics at each school while fostering working relationships with school administration, office staff, teachers, and parents.
• Actively market and promote the STEM Curiosity Lab program to enroll diverse groups of students throughout the school year
• Collaborate with the GIS and Family Engagement Manager to help retain and advance 5th grade GIS students into STEM Curiosity Lab.
• Build program awareness through social media, web, and print materials in partnership with Walking Mountains’ marketing staff.
• Recruit, hire, and collaborate with part-time STEM Curiosity Lab co-instructors.
• Assist with mentoring and supervising Foley Graduate Fellows who are also STEM Curiosity Lab co-instructors.
• Assist with mentoring and supervising seasonal winter naturalists who are helping with STEM Curiosity Lab as part of their Community Programs Internship.
• Create, purchase, develop, and maintain detailed inventory and organizational system for all materials, equipment supplies, and lesson plans.

Program Development:

• Maintain and continue to develop a comprehensive curriculum in STEM education for 6th-8th grade students.
• Ensure curriculum content is engaging, student-centered, inquiry-based, scientifically accurate, age-appropriate.
• Create a balance of all categories of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in the curriculum.
• Add opportunities for students to apply STEM topics to environmental stewardship efforts.
• Work with staff at UCAR’s STEM Career Connections program to include program resources into the STEM Curiosity Lab curriculum sequence.
• Collaborate with Girls in Science and Family Engagement Manager to develop a diversity and flow of lessons between elementary and middle school level programs and envision an expansion program opportunity into high school programs.
• Plan and coordinate field trips to meet with adult professional STEM mentors.
• Assist the Girls in Science and Family Engagement Manager in implementing family engagement efforts to actively engage STEM Curiosity Lab families in evening, weekend, and end-of-schoolyear events
• Design weeklong STEM-related summer science camps in collaboration with the Youth Programs Coordinator – Summer Camp.
• Document student attendance, pre- and post- unit assessment and interest surveys, and parent and teacher survey data while maintaining effective systems for tracking and evaluating data. Use data to influence future program decisions.
• Write a detailed and comprehensive annual report of the STEM Curiosity Lab program.

Program Instruction:

• Co-teach weekly STEM Curiosity Lab afterschool programs at three public middle schools.
• Establish a safe, healthy, supportive, and collaborative learning environment for students and co-instructors.
• Collaborate with middle school teachers to align STEM Curiosity Lab curriculum with their classroom instruction.
• Align activities with student interests and allow for flexibility in content week to week.
• Co-teach three summer science camps, focusing on STEM-based camps.
• Maintain a personal knowledge of the evolving field of science and STEM education theory and trends, hands-on and inquiry-based education, and other pertinent educational philosophy and use this to continue to grow and develop the STEM Curiosity Lab program.

Additional Duties and Responsibilities:

• Actively participate in Walking Mountains Science Center staff meetings, committees, and staff retreats
• Attend and assist in Youth Programs seasonal training and professional development
• Assist and/or substitute teach within other Youth Programs, as needed
• Other duties, as assigned

Qualifications
Required:

• CPR/First Aid Certification
• Bachelor’s Degree in Education or STEM-Related Field
• At least one year K-8 formal or informal teaching experience
• Knowledge of inquiry-based learning
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to provide exceptional customer service
• Self-motivated, team oriented, and creative
• Positive, flexible, and friendly
• Ability to effectively work on diverse teams or with a diverse range of people
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
• Current driver’s license and safe driving record for the past 5 years

Preferred:

• Teaching experience in science, math, technology or elementary education or related fields
• Ability to communicate in Spanish
• Curriculum design and development experience

Organizational Overview: Founded in 1998, Walking Mountains Science Center’s mission is to awaken a sense of wonder and inspire environmental stewardship and sustainability through natural science education.  As an employee of our organization, you are a member of an inclusive and dynamic team that values community, professionalism, collaboration, diversity, equity, a positive work environment and a passion for the mission of Walking Mountains and the impact it’s making in the community. For more information, please visit: https://www.walkingmountains.org/join-our-team/why-walking-mountains/

Work Environment:

• 55% desk-based office work, 30% classroom-based program instruction, 15% other (travel, materials procurement, etc.).
• Open office work environment.
• Ability and flexibility to work remotely when not teaching or needing to be on campus (set up through the Flexible Work Arrangement Policy).
• Frequent collaboration with Girls in Science and Family Engagement Manager
• Personal vehicle preferred to travel to/from schools where programs are offered. Organization vehicles are available at times.

Compensation and Benefits:

• $43,000-$45,000 starting annual salary
• Employer-supplemented health, dental, and vision insurance on the first day of the month following 60 days of employment
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• 15 days of PTO (starting), 12 paid holidays, and 12 days sick leave
• Flexible Spending Account and Healthcare Savings Account options
• Life insurance and short-term disability insurance
• Discounted ski pass (Vail and Beaver Creek resorts)
• Professional Development opportunities

Contact: For more information and details on the application and interview process, please contact Lara Carlson, Senior Programs Director, (970) 827-9725x129 or larac@walkingmountains.org