School Community Coordinator

School Community Coordinator

Department
:
Learning & Engagement

Supervisor
:
Outreach Supervisor

FLSA Status
:
Full Time, Regular, Non-exempt

Application Submission Deadline
: 1/27/2026

Applicants must submit a resume and cover letter.

General Statement:

The School Community Coordinator is an ambassador and educator for the ACNC and the Phoenix Zoo. This position focuses on growing Teacher Workshop/Curriculum in the Classroom programs with an emphasis on reaching out to rural schools, as well as coordinating curriculum and programming for the Zoo School partnership with Phoenix Elementary School District. The School Community Coordinator will enable the Phoenix Zoo to expand its reach to underserved communities and create future generations of environmentally literate conservation advocates.

This position is trained and certified to handle Level II Ambassador Animals. These are animals that are safe and appropriate to bring to a variety of educational programs, and includes non-venomous snakes, lizards, frogs, insects, and small mammals. Animal Handling includes presenting educational and entertaining presentations at Phoenix Zoo outreach programs (both live and virtual) while following all animal handling protocols.

School Community Coordinator must have availability for:

• Typical daytime shifts (8am-4pm, Monday-Friday).
• Some evening and weekend shifts, depending on program bookings.
• Monthly overnight travel.
• All mandatory meetings and trainings.

Provide quality guest service to both internal and external guests by maintaining a WILD (friendly, helpful, positive and professional) working attitude and appearance.

Provide high quality guest experiences to audiences of various ages and sizes in alignment with an established curriculum/schedule.

Independently create and maintain efficient administrative processes including kit inventory, coordinating logistics for teacher workshops (both at the Zoo and in rural locations) and follow-up communication.

Update Curriculum in the Classroom resources based on feedback, including curriculum, worksheets, trainings and videos.

Co-design project-based curriculum alongside Zoo School teachers, ensuring curriculum projects are cross-curricular and aligned to State standards, as well as meeting the Zoo’s mission.

Facilitate a variety of programming for teachers and students both on and off Zoo grounds.

Attend meetings alongside the Outreach Supervisor and Formal Learning & Engagement Manager, to help determine the outcomes and vision for the school programs and this role.

Cultivate strong partnerships with rural schools and district contacts.

Evaluate the programs by regularly following up with teachers who have attended workshops and/or booked the Curriculum programs and embedding evaluation into the Zoo School visits and lessons.

Alongside the Formal Learning & Engagement Manager, assist in marketing programs, including tabling and presenting at teacher conferences.

Maintain knowledge of current education trends and best practices in order to create relevant and impactful programming.

Maintain Ambassador Animal Handling Certification:
Responsible for knowing and abiding by proper handling, transportation, presentation, and interaction protocols for a diverse collection of animals in preparation for and during programs. After completing Animal Handling training, must be able to pass a written and practical test to certify. Must re-certify each year to maintain animal handling certification.

Attend scheduled meetings and training for all department team members to become familiar with experiences, logistics, and responsibilities.

Work collaboratively with other staff members and departments to meet the Learning & Engagement Department’s overall goals and objectives.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, or working conditions associated with the job. Management reserves the right to revise the job or to require that other or different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g. emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments.)

Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in environmental education, education, biology/environmental science, or related field or equivalent experience.

Experience working with children in an educational setting (formal or informal).

Experience as a formal classroom teacher preferred.

Excellent public speaking and presentation skills and the ability to learn, understand, and communicate conservation concepts and messages to audiences of all ages. Can evaluate an audience and tailor programs to provide information and entertainment at an appropriate level.

Existing knowledge about education, ecology, conservation and biology and interest in increasing knowledge in these areas preferred.

Excellent curriculum writing skills. Demonstrated experience adapting curriculum to meet the needs of different groups, including creating appropriate scaffolding and extension lessons.

Experience…