KAYSC Instruction Specialist

Science Museum of Minnesota•St. Paul, MN

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Instruction Specialist will develop and lead KAYSC programs, including Vikings Voyage and Design Team Plus Saturday. They will serve as the Behavioral Specialist or Freedom School Assistant Site Coordinator during the Freedom School Summer Program. This role involves developing and delivering STEM Justice lesson plans relevant to the lives and communities of KAYSC youth, facilitating both onsite at the museum and offsite, virtually and in-person. The specialist will engage in continuous professional growth, advise youth and early-career team members, and expand expertise in STEM Justice pedagogy while staying current with informal education trends. They will oversee KAYSC educational programs and modules for adult audiences, including educators and community members, supporting teacher apprentices, offering professional development workshops, and guiding educator resource initiatives. Collaboration on the design and refinement of KAYSC K-8 programs using research-supported best practices is key, as is generating, assessing, and documenting new activities and lesson plans. The role requires establishing and maintaining museum relationships with external stakeholders to enhance the vision, experience design, engagement, inclusion, and accessibility for Lifelong Learning audiences. Developing and refreshing curricula for diverse student populations, managing instructional guides, documentation, and teaching materials are also responsibilities. Ensuring proper care and maintenance of shared educational supplies and equipment is necessary. The specialist will work closely with the Design Team Senior Program Manager and Assistant Manager to design and implement programs, policies, and infrastructure for successful program delivery and learning experience development. Advising on, contributing to, and supporting research and evaluation efforts for data-driven decisions to improve pedagogy at SMM is expected. Facilitating and maintaining a positive internal culture within Lifelong Learning, supporting colleagues, encouraging open dialogue, advocating for program improvement, and assisting with interviewing and onboarding new staff are crucial. Cultivating innovative ideas for participatory STEM Justice experiences and informing project planning related to instructional pedagogy and KAYSC best practices are also part of the role. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Experience in developing and leading educational programs
Experience in STEM Justice pedagogy
Experience in informal education trends
Experience in designing and refining K-8 programs
Experience in curriculum development for diverse student populations
Experience in managing instructional guides, documentation, and teaching materials
Experience in establishing and maintaining external stakeholder relationships
Experience in research and evaluation efforts for data-driven decisions
Experience in facilitating positive internal culture and team support
Experience in interviewing and onboarding new staff

Nice To Haves

Behavioral Specialist experience
Freedom School Assistant Site Coordinator experience
Experience with Vikings Voyage program
Experience with Design Team Plus Saturday program
Experience with virtual and in-person facilitation
Experience with teacher apprenticeships
Experience with professional development workshops for young adults
Experience with digital and physical resource initiatives
Experience with iterative design approaches
Experience with museum relationships
Experience with Lifelong Learning audiences
Experience with shared educational supplies and equipment maintenance
Experience working with Design Team Senior Program Manager and Assistant Manager
Experience with SMM pedagogy improvement
Experience cultivating innovative ideas for participatory STEM Justice experiences
Experience informing project planning related to instructional pedagogy and KAYSC best practices

Responsibilities

Develop and lead KAYSC programs including Vikings Voyage, Design Team Plus Saturday
Serve as the Behavioral Specialist or Freedom School Assistant Site Coordinator during Freedom School Summer Program
Develop and deliver STEM Justice lesson plans that are relevant to the lives and communities in which KAYSC youth live, facilitating onsite at the museum and offsite, virtual and in-person
Engage in continuous professional growth, advise youth and early-career team members, and proactively expand expertise in STEM Justice pedagogy while keeping current with informal education trends
Oversee KAYSC educational programs and modules designed for adult audiences, including educators and community members
Support teacher apprentices, offer professional development workshops for young adults in informal instruction, and guide diverse educator resource initiatives in both digital and physical spaces
Collaborate on the design and refinement of KAYSC K-8 programs, incorporating research-supported best practices
Generate, assess, and document fresh activities and lesson plans using an iterative approach
Establish and maintain essential museum relationships with external stakeholders and partners to enhance the vision, experience design, engagement, inclusion, and accessibility for Lifelong Learning audiences
Develop and refresh curricula for learning opportunities tailored to diverse student populations
Manage instructional guides, documentation, and teaching materials essential for conducting Lifelong Learning programs
Ensure proper care and maintenance of shared educational supplies and equipment
Work closely with the Design Team Senior Program Manager and Assistant Manager to design and implement programs, policies, and infrastructure to assure successful program delivery and learning experience development
Advise on, contribute to, and support research and evaluation efforts to maintain data-driven decisions that will improve pedagogy at SMM
Facilitate and maintain a positive internal culture within Lifelong Learning: support one another, encourage open dialogue, advocate for continued improvement in our programs and structures, and assist with interviewing and onboarding new staff
Cultivate new, unique, and innovative ideas in support of the development, design, or creation of cutting edge participatory STEM Justice experiences
Inform project planning related to instructional pedagogy and KAYSC best practices
Performs other related duties as assigned