Education Program Coordinator

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants.

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.

For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

POSITION SPECIFICS

Shaver's Creek Environmental Center is a seeking applicants for the position of Education Program Coordinator. This role serves as the year-round assistant director of Shaver's Creek Camp Programs and School Programs. This position carries out preparation and delivery of curriculum for both programs in all seasons. This position also participates in the operation of the Environmental Center, including serving on leadership teams and supporting Center-wide activities.

Supporting School Programs (mid-August to mid-May)

For this portion of the position, the EPC works with the School Programs Director and seasonal environmental educators to develop and teach outdoor science lessons. Shaver's Creek cultivates and maintains intentional partnerships with local school districts to support science curriculum with outdoor experiences. This includes a mix of field trips to Shaver's Creek and lessons in classrooms and outdoors on school grounds.

The scaffolded model of Shaver's Creek's School Programs centers around relationship-based and place-based teaching, and this position has a critical role in building relationships with both students, teachers, and Shaver's Creek's seasonal environmental educators.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Providing instruction independently and in collaboration with the School Programs Director and seasonal environmental educators to K-5 students during programs at schools (in classrooms and outdoors) and at Shaver's Creek (outdoors on trails).

• Teaching in accordance with a philosophy based in inquiry, connection to place, relationship-building, and an asset orientation towards students.

• Leading the development, design and revision of standards- and curriculum-aligned outdoor, environmental science programs.

• Creating, preparing, organizing and maintaining teaching equipment and materials.

• Communicating with teachers, community partners and Shaver's Creek staff to plan and coordinate curriculum and learning experiences.

• Collaborating with, training, and supporting seasonal environmental education staff with care for cultivating positive staff dynamics and a growth mindset.

• Engaging in critical reflection individually and collaboratively with the director and educators to improve program design and teaching practice for equity and effectiveness.

MINIMUM EDUCATION, WORK EXPERIENCE & REQUIRED CERTIFICATIONS

Desired qualifications include:

• Experience teaching, planning and coordinating science programs for elementary-aged students both indoors and outdoors.

• Curiosity, a growth mindset, and a desire to learn in community.

• Passion for engaging and learning with young children, in and about the natural world.

• Professional and proactive communication skills; flexibility and dependability.

• Enjoys working in a team, thinking critically to approach challenges creatively and optimistically, and taking initiative.

Supporting Day Camps (responsibilities year-round)

For the Camp Program, the EPC is part of the leadership team that supports and creates the highest quality experience for everyone y will be…