The Education Specialist assists the Exhibits and Education staff in educational programs that fulfill the CVC’s mission. This includes developing new educational programs for the visiting public (adults, families, students, groups and international visitors), teaching or delivering educational programs, assisting with the evaluation of educational programs, identifying necessary supplies, organizing the storage of educational supplies and working with special events staff to arrange spaces for educational activities. Work on weekends, evenings and holidays is required, as needed.
The individual selected for this position will:
Educational Program Development and Work
- Present existing educational programs and develop and facilitate new educational programs that fulfill the mission of the CVC.
- Work with other Education Specialists; Educational Program Manager; Adult, Family, and Youth Program Coordinator; Exhibits and Education Division; Volunteer Coordinator and other Visitor Services staff to implement educational programs and projects in line with AOC policies and CVC procedures and practices.
- Develop and offer formal and informal educational programs and hands-on activities for various audiences; Exhibition Hall and Democracy Lab; and other venues including assisting with volunteer training, creating content for interpretive signs and coordinating materials preparation and classroom, cart or venue set-up. Ensures that programs are compliant with accessibility objectives and follows safe work practices.
- Communicate the significance of Congress to everyday life, the role of citizens in a democratic process, and the evolving understanding of “We the People” to visitors (adults, families, students, groups and international visitors) through programs, carts, presentations, tours, hands-on activities, workshops and family days or events. Develops programs and teach using inquiry-and object-based learning techniques.
- Facilitate discussion with and among visitors in order to engage them with Exhibition Hall and Democracy Lab themes and content through programs and activities.
- Assist with project review and program analysis including assembling documentation such as written materials, digital files, photographs and participant evaluations. Develop content for website, brochures, handouts, activity sheets and curriculum for review by the Exhibits and Education team. Attend meetings and conferences with colleagues and collaborating agencies and organizations.
Educational Program Administration and Collaboration
- Develop goals, objectives and planning for educational programs, as well as hands-on activities for family days, event days and other large programs.
- Ensure that developed programs adhere to the impact statement and interpretation plan for Exhibition Hall and Democracy Lab.
- Recommend edits to policies and procedures related to incumbent’s duties and responsibilities.
- Coordinate set up and take down of educational program exhibits.
- Resolves problems by quickly identifying issues and developing action plans to improve program design and execution.
- Support the work of the EED by acting as backup for delivery of programs organized by others in the division, especially by the other Education Specialists.
Educational Supply Maintenance and Management
- Work with other Education Specialists; Educational Program Manager; Adult, Family, and Youth Program Coordinator and Exhibits and Education Division staff to identify needed educational supplies.
- Organizes CVC educational supplies, storage areas and carts.
- Achieves well-organized storage and cataloging of educational supplies and develops a regular schedule for inventorying supplies.
- Ensures that items are stored safely and securely within appropriate storage areas.
- In collaboration with other EED and Special Events staff, ensures proper set-up and take-down of educational exhibits, as requested, including working with Special Events staff to request proper amount and configuration of tables and chairs, providing needed educational supplies and equipment and setting up appropriate signs alerting people to programs.
- Ensures that education location material setups are compliant with established accessibility and safety practices.
- Actively communicates educational offerings to visitors within the CVC and the AOC, in accordance with policy and procedure.
Publicizes Education Programs
- Assists in communicating educational offerings to external customers.
- Actively communicates educational offerings to visitors within the CVC and the AOC, in accordance with policy and procedure.
- Works with EED, Visitor Services, Marketing and Communications and Restaurants and Special Events staff to enhance public understanding and awareness of the educational activities of the CVC.
Starting at $68,405 Per Year (GS 09)