Position Title: Director, Pre-Service Science Teacher Education (NSF Math and Science Partnership)
Sara Lee Schupf Family Center for Play, Science, and Technology Learning (SciPlay)
Reports to: Director of SciPlay
Job Code: 25-2031
FLSA Status: Exempt (Professional)
Background: The New York Hall of Science, New York City's only hands-on science museum and host to close to a half a million visitors every year, serves the most ethnically diverse population in the country — reflecting the institution’s home borough of Queens and also that of the greater metropolitan area. Built originally for the 1964 World’s Fair, NYSCI continues to capture the spirit of discovery and innovation that was at the heart of this event.
Departmental Role: SciPlay is a new national applied research center on Play, Science, and Technology Learning. SciPlay designs and studies how to use play as a medium for science learning across both informal and formal education settings. SciPlay runs numerous initiatives that utilize the New York Hall of Science (NYSCI) as a laboratory for studying learning.
SciPlay together with partners Hunter College of the City University of New York, New Visions for Public Schools, and the New York City Department of Education is a National Science Foundation-funded Math and Science Partnership for the design and study of a novel alternative training and certification program for high school math and science teachers: the Mathematics and Science Teacher Education Residency (MASTER). The program is extensively clinically based and instruction occurs around cycles of designing, teaching, reflecting, and refining inquiry-based lessons in New Visions classrooms and in NYSCI’s museum setting. An extensive research program to study the impact of MASTER is also a part of the project.
Candidates should have strong content knowledge in one or more disciplines in science or engineering along with expertise in and commitment to science teacher education. Preference will be given to candidates with K-12 teaching experience. Candidates should be prepared to participate actively in working with the team to conceptualize this new teacher preparation program.
Function: The Director, Pre-Service Science Teacher Education position will focus on designing and teaching clinically-based courses to train new secondary science teachers and their mentors. The successful candidate will be well positioned to provide leadership in our reconceptualization of teacher education.
Principal Responsibilities:
1. Develop and lead science teacher instruction and laboratories integrated into repeated cycles of designing, teaching, reflecting, and refining inquiry-based lessons. Provide this instruction at both the NYSCI museum and at Hunter College to residents in the program.
2. Also provide similar instruction to train mentor teachers for the program.
3. Share with New Visions and Hunter College faculty in-field coaching and assessment responsibilities of mentors and residents. Work with the team to set standards, review candidates’ progress, and iteratively adjust the program design.
4. Provide leadership for program design as a whole.
5. Build and sustain relationships with schools and principals who host the program’s candidates and support capacity building in participating schools.
6. Lead the conceptualization and manage the development of video tools to support the clinically-based reflection elements of the program.
7. Complete other tasks as assigned.
Qualifications:
Education: Ed.D. or Ph.D. or masters degree in science education, curriculum and instruction, the learning sciences, or equivalent. Individuals with an advanced degree in a science or engineering discipline, teaching experience, and experience teaching science teachers are also encouraged to apply.
Experience:
· Experience teaching science teaching methods at the university level and/or experience supporting the growth of adult teacher learners through coaching or mentoring and through designing and facilitating professional development
· Experience designing instruction and teaching science in particular in the areas of biology, chemistry, and/or earth science. Experience incorporating the use of technology into such instruction is a plus. Experience teaching science at the middle or high school level, especially in urban districts, is a plus.
· Evidence of capacity to contribute to new program development.
· Experience collaborating on multidisciplinary teams
· Prior involvement in education research projects is a plus.
· Prior experience working with informal science-technology centers is a plus.
· Record of commitment to excellent teaching
· Record of national leadership in science education initiatives a plus.
Knowledge:
· Strong grounding in current ideas about how people learn science and how to teach science accordingly.
· Strong science disciplinary content knowledge, in particular in the areas of biology, chemistry, and/or earth science
· A commitment to improving teaching and learning in under-resourced schools with diverse students
· Passion and knowledge about the use of technologies to develop innovative instruction and support creative, engaged learning.
· Knowledge of inquiry-based instructional approaches.
· Ability to get ideas accepted and to guide a group or individual to accomplish the task.
· Strong communications skills with the ability to express ideas clearly both in written and oral communications.
· Knowledge of science content and process.
· Experience serving diverse audiences.
Compensation: Commensurate with education, skills and experience, including an excellent NYSCI benefits package.
HOW TO APPLY:
Qualified candidates should send resume and cover letter with salary range/requirements. No calls please.
Application Deadline: November 2, 2012
Targeted Start Date: ASAP
email to: jobs@nysci.org
Please include job title in subject line.
