MWOBS AmeriCorps School Program Educators

Position: School Programs Educator
Reports to: School Programs Coordinator
Updated: January 2024
Supervises: N/A

The Lakes Region Conservation Corps (LRCC) is an AmeriCorps service program that develops skills and experiences for conservation professionals. LRCC members are the driving force behind many of the conservation efforts of New Hampshire’s Lakes Region. The 2024 program is based out of the Squam Lakes Association with Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) serving as one of the host sites for two half-term members.

MWOBS works to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate by operating a weather station at the summit of the Northeast’s highest peak for the past ninety years. MWOBS seeks two half-term (900 hours) AmeriCorps Members to serve as School Programs Educators starting May 20, 2024.

Our ideal candidate is someone who can clearly articulate how the program is going to help them in their career goals. Individuals who excel in this program display a curiosity and willingness to learn, remain flexible and open to new opportunities, can independently problem solve, are passionate about science education, are hard-workers, and work well both independently and as a team. The LRCC program is a way to gain meaningful experience in the conservation field, so we aren’t necessarily looking for members that come with a wealth of experience.

School Programs Educators will be responsible for supporting the organization’s kindergarten-to-twelfth (K-12) grade school-based efforts, including but not limited to:

• Developing programs for K-12 students and teachers that expand their awareness and understanding of weather, climate, and the mountain environment as well as general introductions to Mount Washington and its weather, geology, ecology, relevant history, and the current activities on the mountain.
• Specifically developing at least one-to-two (1-2) six-week after-school programs and two-to-three (2-3) school-day weather and climate programs.
• Teaching in-person programs for students and teachers during the school year including but not limited to:
       o School-day (goal of 8 per week);
       o After-school (goal of 2 per week); and,
       o Field trip programs (4-6 late spring 2024).
• Presenting outreach programs for learners of all ages at camps, libraries, science centers and other locations during the summer months.
• Offering weather station tours and other outreach and interpretative programming at the Extreme Mount Washington Museum and other spaces on the summit of Mount Washington as needed.

Participating in the White Mountains Connected Learning Ecosystem group, attending and presenting at monthly educator meetings.

• Supporting teacher professional development programming and materials.
• Creation, production, and distribution of ancillary program materials including lesson plans, worksheets, assessments and other classroom materials.
• Responding to general inquiries from the public about MWOBS’ educational programming and scientific activities.
• Submitting daily weather observations for the North Conway Cooperative Weather Station (NCON3).
• Attending required AmeriCorps training and days of service.
• Contributing to general MWOBS educational program marketing and, in particular, marketing for school and adult programs (i.e., newsletters, blogs, social media and Windswept periodical articles and writing).
• Collect and report data including but not limited to record keeping, field data collection and entry, and biweekly timesheets.
• Receive performance evaluations mid-term and end-of-term.

Minimum Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age by May 20, 2024
• Must be covered by health insurance for duration of program
• Able to lift 50 pounds
• Available from May 20, 2024 through October 30, 2024
• Must meet the Corporation for National Community Service’s minimum requirements:
       o Must clear all required National Service Criminal History Checks;
       o Must be a United States citizen, United States national, or legal permanent resident of the United States; and,
       o Must be high school graduates, GED recipients, or must be working toward attaining a high school diploma or GED during their term of service.

Work Environment
This position is primarily based at MWOBS’s administrative offices in North Conway, New Hampshire. The typical forty-hour work week is 9 AM to 5 PM, Monday through Friday. The School Programs Educator responsibilities are accomplished in the office and through the teaching of programs at schools and other locations. Additionally, regular travel and overnight stays are possible at the Mount Washington summit weather station for field trip programs, weather station tours and interpretative programming support. The position does require regular regional travel, and as such candidates must have a valid driver’s license and clean driving history. Opportunities for professional development exist with this position.

Benefits:

• Housing is provided.
• Wilderness First Aid & CPR training and certification.
• Living allowance: $772.17, distributed biweekly (pre-tax).
• AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of $3,447.50 (half-year) received upon successful completion of program (minimum of 900 hours for half-year).
• Student loan forbearance and interest repayment on qualifying loans, as applicable.
• Use of MWOBS vehicles for travel to programs.
• Cooperative Weather Observer training.
• MWOBS clothing and gear, pro-deals access to clothing and gear.

Accountability
The performance of the School Programs Educator will be evaluated in part by:

• Quality of programs provided, as evidenced by participant feedback.
• Number of programs provided.
• Successful development of new programs.

AmeriCorps Service at Will
This position description does not constitute an employment agreement between MWOBS and the AmeriCorps School Program Educator and is subject to change as needs evolve through your work.