Museum Educator

The Museum of the City of New York fosters understanding of the distinctive nature of urban life in the world’s most influential metropolis. It engages visitors by celebrating, documenting, and interpreting the city’s past, present, and future. Founded in 1923, the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) showcases the city’s unique stories and cultural treasures. The country’s first and largest city museum, MCNY presents immersive exhibitions and programs at the intersection of history, popular culture, and art to 200,000 people annually, including 30,000 students and educators, fostering shared identity, civic pride and engagement, and social cohesion for New Yorkers.

MCNY has been recognized as one of the leading museums in New York City by publications such as Condé Nast Traveler and the New York Times, with Time Out New York awarding MCNY “Best Museum” in New York in 2021.

The Museum Educator is an essential member of the Education team that is primarily responsible for leading and facilitating English-language field trips and student experiences at the Museum for K-12 students. Educators follow the learning goals of teaching guides provided by the Assistant Director, Student and Family Learning for this purpose. Museum Educators also facilitate interactive experiences for audiences of all ages during professional learning programs for teachers, family workshops, community events, and social impact programming.

Programming takes place primarily at the Museum, but Museum Educators are also engaged to work at offsite locations around the city, in schools, and online. Additionally, Museum Educators are responsible for preparing materials and supplies for upcoming education programs, conducting direct outreach, and assisting with program development as needed.

Educators fulfill the Museum’s Education and Engagement mission by engaging learners in examining the city’s past so that they may understand the present and envision their role in shaping the city’s future. Educators utilize the Museum of the City of New York’s innovative exhibitions and extensive collections to facilitate experiences focused on four key areas: history, art, culture, and civic engagement.

This is a part-time, regular position that reports directly to the Assistant Director, Student and Family Learning. So as to best be able to lead programs for K-12 audiences, Museum Educators will ideally be available when schools are in session on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30am-1:30pm, and Thursdays from 9:30am-4pm. Museum Educators will also ideally be available to support programs on select Saturdays, Holidays, and evenings.

• Teach high-quality, engaging, and interactive field trips and programs for K-12 audiences in English
• Arrive promptly for all scheduled hours and provide sufficient advance notice regarding necessary absences
• Participate in and contribute to training and discussions around group engagement, which may involve content, pedagogy, and best practices for serving distinct populations
• Incorporate new skills and learning into their teaching and participate in reflective teaching practices
• Ensure programs and content are in alignment with the CRSE framework, ensuring that the Museum provides and supports educators in providing student-centered learning environments that affirm racial, linguistic, and cultural identities; prepare students for rigor and independent learning; develop students  abilities to connect across lines of difference; elevate historically marginalized voices; and empower students as agents of social change
• Create spaces for shared meaning-making, exploration, and the exchange of ideas
• Handle day-of program logistics, including setting up before and cleaning up after group visits and ensuring program participants complete check-in and evaluations
• Prepare materials and supplies for upcoming education programs and assist with maintaining an organized office space
• Support Education colleagues in developing and delivering educational programs and initiatives, including events for teachers, family and community members, teens, youth, and adults and educational media and…