Education Programs Specialist

Mount Vernon, the former home of George and Martha Washington, is owned and maintained by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the United States. Founded in 1853 by Ann Pamela Cunningham, the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association pioneered the preservation of a historic American site for future generations. Today, the Association works to preserve, restore, and manage the Mount Vernon estate to the highest standards while educating visitors and people around the world about the life and legacies of George Washington.

The Education and Guest Services Division provides meaningful learning opportunities for Mount Vernon’s one million annual onsite visitors and students in classrooms around the country. Through a diverse portfolio of interpretive experiences, engaging programs, and online resources, we expand each le arner’s understand ing of, and appreciation for, George Washington and the revolutionary world in which he li ved.

Within this division, the Education Programs Department centers its work on interpreting the artifacts, biography, and exhibition spaces of George Washington, Mount Vernon, and the 18th century. We create relevant connections between Washington’s example and today’s world through interactive programming, hands-on experiences, and visitor-led inquiry that build lasting connections between visitors and Mount Vernon.

• Make Mount Vernon’s mission accessible to all visitors through engaging resources and programs.
• Lead signature programs from planning through evaluation, including logistics, marketing, training, budgeting, and reporting. In 2027, these include Homeschool Days, Family Days, Youth and Adult Sensory Friendly Days, outreach experiences and specialty programs.
• Support estate wide events and community outreach initiatives that connect youth and families to Mount Vernon. These include Free Day, Halloween, Colonial Days, Mount Vernon for All programs, the Homeschool Educator Advisory Board, and the 250th Anniversary.
• Work with colleagues and outside partners to develop new resources, and advise other departments on intergenerational learning.
• Coordinate interns, volunteers, and staff assigned to signature programs.

• Build and publish the Education Program Associate schedule with the Manager of Education Programs and Operations, and arrange coverage for call-outs and absences.
• Maintain timekeeping records for part-time staff and prepare them for payroll.
• Coordinate onboarding for new Associates: paperwork, orientation, shadowing, materials, and credentials.
• Work with Lead Associates on day-of coverage and training logistics, and support volunteer scheduling with the Volunteer Coordinator.

• Maintain the inventory of activity kits, Discovery Cart materials, reproduction objects, and keep storage spaces organized and stocked.
• Keep the Hands-on History Center and program spaces ready for daily operation.

• Track attendance, registration, and visitation, and prepare monthly and annual reports.
• Collect evaluation data during and after programs.
• Keep program calendars, contact lists, and shared files current.

• Facilitate activities and provide frontline coverage during peak periods and staffing gaps.
• Participate in department meetings, operations meetings, and program debriefs.
• Work within budget and timelines and follow Mount Vernon’s administrative and financial policies.
• Represent Mount Vernon in regional conversations about family and intergenerational learning.
• Stay current on museum education trends and share them with colleagues.
• Duties may be weighted differently based on department needs.
• Other duties as…