National Teacher Engagement Specialist

Overview and Background:

The Education and Guest Services Division provides meaningful learning opportunities for Mount Vernon's one million annual onsite visitors and students in classrooms around the country. Through a diverse portfolio of interpretive experiences, engaging programs, and online resources, we expand each learner's understanding of, and appreciation for, George Washington and the revolutionary world in which he lived.

Position Overview:

The K-12 Education Outreach Specialist is a key member of the K-12 Education team who ensures that Mount Vernon's mission supports learning in K-12 classrooms by providing high-quality, place-based professional development programs for K-12 teachers across the country through the George Washington Teacher Institute (GWTI). The Specialist will design and facilitate one- to multi-day in-person and online programs in partnership with a variety of institutional partners across the country. This work requires coordinating diverse outcomes, logistics, communication, and evaluation efforts across programs. In addition, the Specialist will lead all national outreach initiatives, including exhibiting and presenting at conferences, creating promotional materials, and arranging opportunities to connect with teachers to promote and support the future growth of the GWTI and other K-12 Education programs and resources.

Position-Specific Responsibilities:

• Design and facilitate GWTI teacher professional development programs in different communities across the country, requiring:

• Consistent review of institutional alignment, historical accuracy of program scholarship and education methodologies, and relevance to the needs of each audience

• Strong coordination and organization of short and long-term program planning details, budget, expenses, and all related logistics

• Clear and proactive communication with a variety of stakeholders, including institutional partners, ambassadors, participants, speakers, vendors, volunteers, and others

• Reflection of evaluation data across programs to support understandings and create actionable plans for growth and improvement

• Training and development of a GWTI teacher ambassador cohort and teacher advisory group members to support and/or lead programs, and assist at educational events

• Coordinate and lead GWTI additional outreach initiatives, including, but not limited to:

• Representing Mount Vernon in conversations about K-12 education at a variety of mission-aligned in-person and/or virtual conferences, programs, and educational events at the district, state, and national levels

• Creating and/or reviewing promotional materials, including copy and graphics for e-newsletters, social media posts, digital and print materials, branded items, and more

• Reestablishing a national teacher advisory group to help the department stay up to date on current trends in history, civics, social studies, and other relevant interdisciplinary areas

• Developing a network of stakeholders through research, outreach, and continued communication with GWTI teacher participants, institutional program partners, state departments of education, school districts, community partners, and others who align with and/or would benefit from Mount Vernon's K-12 Education programs or resources

• Serve as a liaison between visiting students, teachers, institutional partners, and stakeholders as part of their on-site experiences at Mount Vernon.

• Contribute to all K-12 education department programs, projects, and resources to determine audience needs

• Support institutional efforts to gain a research-based understanding of teacher and student needs and to ensure alignment with institutional goals.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Master's degree, or equivalent experience in history, museum education, education, curriculum and instruction, and/or communication.

Minimum 2 years of experience working with K-12 students and/or teachers in formal education, public history, museum education, history, and/or related spaces.

Proven knowledge of and interest in George Washington and the American Revolutionary and Founding eras.

Strong understanding and support of current trends and practices in education, education policies, history education, and/or social studies.

Excellent research and analysis skills, including the ability to interpret and make connections between historical sources and their effective uses in K-12 classrooms.

Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills to foster effective collaboration with various stakeholders.

Effective organizational and project management skills, with the ability to track multiple projects simultaneously and prioritize workload.

Strong written communication, including editing, and oral communication skills, demonstrated in an education or training environment.

Skilled in and comfortable developing new proficiencies in using computer programs, cloud-based applications, online visual design platforms, video conferencing, and the ability and self-confidence to troubleshoot technical issues as they arise.

Special Requirements:

The successful candidate will:

• Possess strong public speaking and communication skills to meet programming goals and the varied needs of students across programs.
• Be a motivated self-starter who displays a high level of responsibility, accountability, and initiative.
• Thrive in a collaborative, team-based work environment.
• Have the ability and flexibility to work non-traditional hours, work remotely from various locations, and travel across the U.S. to plan, host, and facilitate programming (approximately 25% travel)