Preschool STEAM Educator & Program Manager

The Preschool STEAM Educator and Program Manager is responsible for the start-up and operation of an exciting Bilingual space designed for Pre-Kindergarten students at the Da Vinci Science Center, the Salvaggio Little Learner’s Lab. The Preschool STEAM Educator Program Manager is responsible for the creation, delivery, and daily operation of the Da Vinci Science Center’s Little Learner’s Lab bilingual programs for PreK students, students who are developmentally at a PreK level, teachers, and families.   The Manager supervises and evaluates program staff, develops and trains staff on program content, maintains the family and teacher resource area, manages supplies, budgets, and program evaluation.  The programming portfolio includes all PreK programming for the Allentown School District STREAM Academy, Reserved Programs, Public Programs, and Drop-In programs in the Salvaggio Little Learner’s Lab. These can include school curriculum planning, summer camps, Family Workshops, Family Science Nights, development of activity stations, and more. Audiences include students in PreK-2nd Grade, students who are developmentally at a PreK level, Families, and Teachers.

Primary responsibilities include 1) Research, create, deliver and evaluate programs on a variety of age-appropriate Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) topics in both English and Spanish. You are one of the primary teachers for the ASD PreK – Grade 2 classes 2) Manage operations of the Salvaggio Little Learner’s Lab including sales, marketing, exhibits, scheduling, budgeting, materials, and safety, ensuring compliance with any safety requirements for the school district 3 ) Lead long term planning and production of relevant educational programming schedule, coordinating with internal teams and external partners and 4) Hire, supervise, train, mentor and evaluate program staff. The successful Manager works with team members across departments and in the community to continuously expand impact and reach.  The flexible schedule includes some evenings, weekends, and holidays.   

What you Bring

You are a leader with specific in-depth knowledge about Early Learning and STEAM programs and enjoy sharing this knowledge with others. You display a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in all aspects of your work and a strongly held belief that all students belong in STEAM. You excel at developing positive relationships with schools and community and bringing cultural relevance into the programs you develop.  You thrive at taking an idea from concept to reality.  You enjoy delivering impactful programs and trying new teaching techniques to benefit students.   You have exemplary presentation and organizational skills that allow you to collaborate effectively and communicate project progress and impact with ease. This includes establishing and maintaining a high-energy, professional, and fun work environment, providing leadership to maintain operational standards to ensure a seamless museum experience, and delivering the Science Center's mission to bring science to life and lives to science.

MAJOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Development and Delivery for Salvaggio Little Learner’s Lab and Allentown School District Partnership   

• Research local and national resources to develop high quality programs for bilingual STEAM and literacy programs.

• Oversee the development, design, production and implementation of new programs.  Define a program schedule that maximizes opportunities to engage repeat visitors and meets or exceeds both budget and impact goals.

• Include internal and external stakeholders, including families and community partners in shaping new program topics and content.  

• Lead program development meetings, moving the creative process forward efficiently and effectively while keeping all partners engaged and included in important decision making. Produce high quality program documentation and training materials.

• Lead the planning for Salvaggio Little Learner’s Lab schedule and programs and Allentown School District Early Learning Programs.

• Serve as member of the teaching team for ASD STREAM Academy responsible for teaching PreK – Gr 2 classes on weekdays (4 hrs/day).  Deepen understanding of kindergarten readiness to inform the development and delivery of preschool programs.

• Serve as lead teacher for STEAM programs for Preschool students and their families, modeling teaching techniques for FT and PT staff.

• Use research and community feedback to increase engagement of all audiences in programming, including those currently not participating in STEAM.

• Expand impact and reach of programs through strong partnerships throughout the region.

• Disseminate programming knowledge and expertise across departments.

• Support the success of other programming initiatives.

Staff Management and Training: 

• Convey vision for Salvaggio Little Learner’s Lab and related programs to staff.  Enable staff to focus on meeting the vision.

• Hire, orient, train, schedule, and sign time sheets for full-time and part time staff. 

• Deliver education programs and professional learning programs as needed.

• Provide daily supervision of staff and volunteers. Lead team meetings and training sessions.

• Prepare staff with content, pedagogy, and effective presentation techniques for what they are teaching. Implement a variety of learning opportunities for staff to improve their performance.

• Ensure staff compliance with safety training and procedures, clearances, policies and standard operating procedures.

• Work with Education department leaders and Human Resource department to establish regular training and learning programs and maintain records of employee training and professional learning.

• Lead the employee review process.

• Provide consistent coaching, co-teaching, and feedback. Implement intervention strategies when needed.

• Build the professional capacity of staff by implementing employee development plans.

• Make diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging a priority in hiring, training, and daily operations.

Salvaggio Little Learner’s Lab Operations

• Oversee purchasing and tracking of materials and maintenance of equipment. Notify appropriate staff when things need to be repaired or replaced.

• Create and enforce policies and procedures that ensure a positive and safe experience for staff and customers.

• Make safety a priority in all program operations.

• Develop budgets for program areas that support revenue and impact goals and track progress.

• Ensure accurate record keeping and make sure all purchases comply with Science Center purchasing policies and budget.

• Collaborate with the Marketing Department to promote Little Learner’s Lab experiences to area preschools and families. Take direct actions and collaborate with teams across the organization to effectively implement the plans.

• Collaborate with philanthropy team to facilitate fundraising proposal development, grants and reporting for Preschool programs.

• Lead evaluation and reporting for preschool programs; oversee data collection

• Collaborate with other team leaders to align programs, initiatives, and resources efficiently.

• Actively participate in selected cross departmental project teams.

• Prepare contracts and agreements with partners.

• Actively drive the mission of the science center by being responsible for nurturing a culture of

belonging, positivity, and professionalism by encouraging problem-solving, preventing disruptive

behaviors and miscommunication.

• Optimize cost-effective solutions for scheduling, staffing, and purchasing, including the use of innovative software, efficient procedures, and logic models to enhance operational efficiency and productivity.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

·        Associate or Bachelor's degree in Education or related field.

·        Three years of classroom experience, early childhood hands-on-science programming preferred, school experience preferred

·        Bilingual in English and Spanish with the ability to read, write, speak, and teach a class fluently.

·        Excellent written and verbal communication skills.