KAYSC Instruction Specialist

Science Museum of Minnesota•Saint Paul, MN

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 youth communities, facilitating onsite and offsite programs (virtual and in-person), and engaging in continuous professional growth. The specialist will also oversee educational programs for adult audiences, including educators and community members, support teacher apprentices, and offer professional development workshops. Collaboration on K-8 program design, incorporating research-supported best practices, and generating new activities and lesson plans are key responsibilities. Establishing and maintaining museum relationships with external stakeholders and partners to enhance lifelong learning audiences is crucial. The role includes developing and refreshing curricula, managing instructional guides, and ensuring the care of educational supplies and equipment. Working closely with management to design and implement programs, policies, and infrastructure for successful program delivery and learning experience development is expected. Advising on and supporting research and evaluation efforts for data-driven decisions to improve pedagogy is also part of the role. Facilitating 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 important. Cultivating innovative ideas for cutting-edge participatory STEM Justice experiences and informing project planning related to instructional pedagogy and best practices are also required. Other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

STEM Justice lesson plans development and delivery.
Facilitation of onsite, offsite, virtual, and in-person programs.
Continuous professional growth and advising youth and early-career team members.
Expertise in STEM Justice pedagogy and informal education trends.
Oversight of educational programs for adult audiences (educators, community members).
Support for teacher apprentices and professional development workshops.
Guidance of educator resource initiatives.
Collaboration on K-8 program design and refinement.
Generation, assessment, and documentation of new activities and lesson plans.
Establishment and maintenance of museum relationships with external stakeholders and partners.
Development and refreshing of curricula for diverse student populations.
Management of instructional guides, documentation, and teaching materials.
Ensuring proper care and maintenance of shared educational supplies and equipment.
Collaboration with management on program design and implementation.
Advising on, contributing to, and supporting research and evaluation efforts.
Facilitation of a positive internal culture within Lifelong Learning.
Assistance with interviewing and onboarding new staff.
Cultivation of innovative ideas for STEM Justice experiences.
Informing project planning related to instructional pedagogy and best practices.

Responsibilities

Develop and lead KAYSC programs including Vikings Voyage and 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, supporting teacher apprentices, offering professional development workshops for young adults in informal instruction, and guiding 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, and 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, managing instructional guides, documentation, and teaching materials essential for conducting Lifelong Learning programs, and ensuring 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.
Perform other related duties as assigned.