Member Supervisors:
Name Leah Madison
Title STEM Program Lead
Email
Phone
Devin Genovese, AmeriCorps Program Director
Truckee Meadows Parks Foundation
Member Position Summary:
The Desert Research Institute is a world-renowned science center, with an education department that translates faculty research for public engagement. In DRIs Office of Education, the k-12 Energy Smart outreach program is recruiting a STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) Education Outreach Coordinator AmeriCorps Member for our Reno, Nevada campus. This member will expand the reach and access of our non-profit program for rural and Title one schools in Nevada, and pending funding, grow the Family STEM night program. The member will work with a team to develop and implement projects that increase STEM awareness surrounding energy topics within the surrounding community by developing STEM content, expanding communications, and providing virtual or in-classroom support for educators. Frequent travel, community engagement, and virtual teaching for both students and adults will be required for projects including: energy smart education, family STEM nights, workforce education, and educator training. The members creativity and knowledge of STEM topics and renewable energy will be useful to customize curriculum to encompass applied science, 21st century technology, and environmental science into STEM topic areas. A background in education can help the member offer valuable insight, but is not required.
Primary Responsibilities:
Maintain a calendar of outreach activities, including community events, workshops, appearances and other communication opportunities
Coordinate EnergySmart classroom outreach logistics and support
Teach content for Elementary school students
Develop public education and information materials, presentations and displays including contributing to monthly newsletters, graphics, social media outreach and website content.
Expand reach and enrollment in programming
Build and distribute STEM-to-go kits on photonics
Attend and table at community and school events (as is safely allowable with respect to COVID-19)
Act as public speaker at public events (as is safely allowable with respect to COVID-19)
Secondary Responsibilities:
Identify and compile hands-on STEM activities for an informal setting
Grow content for family STEM nights and workforce education
Work with Science Alive Program Lead to maintain and update curriculum offerings
Identify and build relationships within education community
Perform administrative duties, including inventory maintenance and program reporting
Create social media materials such as graphics, templates, or videos
Track and report on metrics
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
A passion for working with children and teaching
Experience or interest in STEM topics
Strong written and oral communication skills
A keen eye for detail
Ability to manage and maintain multiple tasks
Skilled in time management
Motivation, a strong work ethic, and team--oriented
Dedication to seeing tasks to completion, and efficiency in completing tasks
Creativity and a love for learning
A professional attitude
Required Academic and Experience Qualifications:
A degree or equivalent experience in education, communication, marketing or related degree
Experience communicating to a variety of audiences
Experience managing logistics of outreach
Experience in community or curriculum engagement and design
Ability to serve as in-classroom or virtual presenter
Familiarity with Microsoft Office, Google Suite and basic office software
Familiarity with social media platforms
Host Site Agency Mission:
Science Alive serves schools in every county across the state of Nevada by providing teachers with free professional development or access to our STEM curriculum program. Since inception, we have worked with over 500 schools, and 100,000 students. Currently, 75% of the schools we serve are Title One schools, which are schools that receive federal assistance to close the achievement gap between low-income students and other students. Over 50% of the students we reach are on a federal assisted free and reduced lunch program because of their low-income status, and almost 20% are second language English learners.
Program Mission:
Science Alive conducts education and engagement for the Desert Research Institute, a global scientific research and development institute under the Nevada System of Higher Education. The mission of Science Alive is to support PreK-12 educators in science-based, environmental education by providing the tools, resources, and knowledge they need, so all students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to work, live and contribute in our community. Science Alive achieves our mission by providing inquiry-based STEM curriculum through our Green Boxes, STEM kits, in-classroom support, offering Teacher Trainings and Workshops throughout the school year, and through School Support in the form of speakers, field trips, and special opportunities.
Additional Guidelines or Expectations:
AmeriCorps members are required to wear at least one piece of AmeriCorps gear (ie AmeriCorps button), provided by the Parks Foundation, every day during their term of service. AmeriCorps members must participate in a minimum of three National Days of Service during their term of service and may participate in additional service projects.
Member Benefits:
AmeriCorps members receive a living allowance of $8,471 and a $3,172.50 education award upon successful completion of service, healthcare, childcare coverage (for eligible members), and professional development opportunities throughout their term of service. If the member qualifies, they will also receive student loan forbearance and interest payments.
Evaluation and Reporting:
Members will receive a mid-year and end-of-term performance evaluation from their site-supervisor and the AmeriCorps Program Director. Members will submit their biweekly Member Service Logs (timesheets) to their supervisor to be approved. Members are also responsible for reporting performance measures to their site supervisor and AmeriCorps Program Director every month during their term of service.
Employment Type: Full-Time
