ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION: Founded in 2023, Mass Learning Project works with the 350+ Massachusetts schools implementing Project Lead The Way (PLTW) programs to ensure teachers and school leaders have the support needed to deliver classroom experiences of exceptional quality. Mass Learning Project aspires to make PLTW teachers the best-supported teachers in the state with the hunger and opportunity to continuously improve the learning experiences they offer students. Mass Learning Project offers robust supports, including grant funding in partnership with the One8 Foundation, implementation guidance, professional learning opportunities, and on-the-ground support. Mass Learning Project is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives.
ABOUT THE POSITION: The Educator Community Specialist for Mass Learning Project will be responsible for working directly with schools implementing Project Lead The Way (PLTW) programs to provide the support needed to deliver classroom experiences of exceptional quality. This role will be based in a home office, spending the majority of the week traveling to different MA schools. They will report to the Executive Director of Mass Learning Project.
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- School-based support:
- Managing a caseload of schools to ensure utilization of community supports, including monitoring data, driving participation in community events, and offering individualized professional supports and learning as needed.
- Spending up to 4 days per week in schools throughout the academic year to identify and understand common strengths and challenges experienced by PLTW teachers.
- Onboarding new schools to the MA PLTW Community.
- Building deep relationships with target schools to support program quality and identify and codify best practices to share back with the full community; connecting teachers and school leaders across the network to collaborate and learn from each other.
- Strategically plan and deliver effective in-person and virtual consultative support to administrators and educators, interacting on an ongoing basis to learn their thoughts on areas of greatest potential for augmented teacher support.
- Taking the lead on designing and/or facilitating a community of practice (e.g., teacher PLCs, school participation cohorts).
- Regularly monitoring data to prioritize and plan for proactive outreach to partners not on target for meeting grant objectives.
- Ongoing strategic community support:
- Identifying and disseminating resources and best practices across schools.
- Collaborating with the Mass Learning Project team to identify opportunities to strengthen the ecosystem of teacher supports available for PLTW teachers.
- Playing a key role in the design and execution of new support opportunities.
- Supporting the Mass Learning Project team in planning for and implementing the major Community Professional Learning events.
CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS: The Educator Community Specialist must embody a high standard for excellence, rigor, passion, and commitment, while working alongside teachers to provide the support needed to drive their ongoing success. Qualified candidates will possess:
- A minimum of 5 years of K-12 STEM teaching and/or leadership experience, with a preference for experience teaching PLTW content.
- Proven ability to deliver high-quality professional development and coaching to adults.
- The ability to provide insight and support through classroom observations, identify key themes, and translate findings into specific next steps and opportunities for improvement.
- Strong, creative problem-solving abilities to overcome perceived barriers at both interpersonal and organizational levels.
- Deep experience collaborating across organizational boundaries and with professionals from different backgrounds.
- The self-motivation, curiosity, and creativity needed to work independently and thrive in a start-up organization with an all-hands-on-deck mentality.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and attention to detail.
- Bachelor’s degree (required); Master’s degree preferred.
LOCATION: Massachusetts
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS: Mass Learning Project is a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives and offers a competitive benefits package, along with a commitment to your individual growth and development. Target salary for this position is $90,000 to $110,000, commensurate with experience.
HOW TO APPLY: Please send your resume and a short statement indicating your interest in this position to Christine.Schepeler@masslearning.org.
Equal Employment Opportunity Community Initiatives is an equal opportunity employer and gives consideration for employment to qualified applicants without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, disability or protected veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.
