The STEM Coordinator is responsible for developing, coordinating, and teaching STEM afterschool programming for the 6th-8th grade students at their middle schools. Primary responsibilities include program instruction, curriculum development and revision, and materials management. The STEM Coordinator also hires, supervises, and mentors contract instructors who teach the program. This position reports to the Senior Programs Director.

Responsibilities:

Program Coordination

• Maintain and continue to develop comprehensive curriculum in STEM education for 6th-8th grade
• Ensure curriculum content is scientifically accurate and age-appropriate
• Collaborate with Girls in Science Program Coordinator to develop a diversity and flow of lessons between elementary and middle school level programs
• Develop, create, purchase, and maintain program materials
• Design weeklong STEM-related summer science camps
• Plan and implement end of year STEM Fairs for student participants and their families
• Organize optional special events or activities for STEM Curiosity Lab students and their families

Program Management

• Foster working relationships with school administration and teachers
• Coordinate program logistics at each location and collaborate with principals, teachers, and parents
• Proactively recruit students to participate in the program and manage student application process’
• Maintain clear and effective communication with parents, teachers, school administrators, and STEM instructors
• Assess student learning and evaluate the program’s success to monitor program effectiveness
• Document student assessment, attendance, student, parent, and teacher survey data and maintain effective systems for tracking and evaluating data
• Recruit, hire, mentor, and supervise part-time STEM program instructors and high school interns
• Develop ongoing training and professional development opportunities for STEM program instructors and high school interns
• Coordinate program logistics, instructional topics, and required teaching materials with STEM program instructors and high school interns
• Build program awareness through social media, web, and print materials in partnership with Walking Mountains’ marketing staff
• Annually write a detailed and comprehensive annual report of the STEM Curiosity Lab program
• Give presentations highlighting the implementation and impacts of the STEM Curiosity Lab program to audiences including prospective donors or grant providers, school district, or organization’s board of directors
• Actively participate in Walking Mountains Science Center staff meetings, committees, and staff retreats

Program Instruction

• Design and prepare inquiry-based and engaging STEM-related lessons and learning units
• Teach weekly STEM Curiosity Lab afterschool program at 3 public middle schools
• Maintain a safe, healthy, supportive, and collaborative learning environment for students
• Collaborate with middle school teachers to align STEM Curiosity Lab curriculum with their classroom instruction
• Plan, prepare, and teach inquiry based and engaging science lessons and programs
• Align activities with student interests and allow for flexibility in content week to week
• Collect ongoing data so parents/teachers/administrators/WMSC can monitor program effectiveness
• Co-teach summer science camps for part of the summer camp season, focusing on STEM based camps
• Maintain a current 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
• Attend and assist in Youth Programs seasonal training and professional development

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Education, or STEM related field.
• Secondary Teaching License in science, math or technology preferred
• 3-5 years elementary to middle school level teaching experience
• Curriculum development experience
• Knowledge of inquiry-based learning
• Detail-oriented, organized, and able to provide exceptional customer service
• Creative in curriculum design and development
• Positive, flexible, and friendly
• Independently driven team player
• Current driver’s license and safe driving record for the past 5 years
• Wilderness First Responder and CPR certification
• Ability to communicate in Spanish, preferred