Early Childhood Museum Educator

Description

The Early Childhood Museum Educator is responsible for designing and delivering hands-on educational experiences that spark curiosity, creativity, and exploration for guests 2-9 years of age. Early childhood programs include, but are not limited to, classes, STEAM camps, educational days, and daily guest interactions such as Storytime Science. This role involves both program development (e.g., curriculum writing) and direct interaction with diverse audiences, engaging our smallest guests in scientific thinking and engineering design processes. Additional responsibilities could include museum events, tinkering initiatives, workshop presentations, educator professional development, and other duties that support Science Museum Oklahoma’s mission in bringing discovery educational experiences to children, families, and educators.

• Design, implement, and facilitate inquiry-based learning activities and workshops that encourage guests to explore concepts in engineering, technology, and science
• Develop curriculum and materials for hands-on programs that align with the museum’s mission and best practices for formal and information education
• Maintain scientific accuracy and educational integrity of all programming information
• Create a safe and engaging environment for experimentation, where guests can explore and learn from trial and error
• Encourage critical thinking by asking open-ended questions and helping visitors reflect on their learning experiences
• Adapt programming to meet the needs of diverse audiences, providing differentiation as needed.
• Manage tools, materials, and safety protocols, ensuring equipment is well maintained and properly used
• Work closely with colleagues, volunteers, and other museum departments to align efforts with broader organizational goals and initiatives
• Assists with training colleagues and volunteers to facilitate science demonstrations and hands-on activities
• Collect feedback from guests and analyze program outcomes to continuously improve the effectiveness of learning experiences
• Stay current with trends in STEM education and makerspace/tinkering programming to incorporate innovative teaching practices
• Support additional museum initiatives as assigned to spark curiosity and promote discovery learning experience
  
  

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in education, museum studies, or a relevant STEM discipline (e.g., science, engineering, technology, math)
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

• One (1) or more years of experience developing early childhood STEM education curricula
• Oklahoma educator certification (traditional or alternative), or an equivalent certification from another state in elementary education
  
  

Availability Requirements

• Ability to work Saturdays, evenings, and holidays, as needed
• Flexibility to travel for outreach efforts across the state, as needed
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Professionally represent Science Museum Oklahoma and its mission
• Ability to foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment where all guests feel welcome to experiment and create.
• Must work well with children and be comfortable engaging audiences in a fun and energetic way, including being silly and animated in front of both kids and adults.
• Strong background in STEM education, particularly hands-on, inquiry-based learning approaches.
• Excellent communication skills, including proficient writing and editing abilities.
• Approachable, kind, and confident demeanor, with a willingness to receive and implement feedback.
• Independent and proactive work ethic, with the ability to identify and complete tasks with minimal direction, while also thriving in a cooperative team environment.
• Practical understanding of safety protocols and best practices for conducting science demonstrations.
  
  

Working Conditions

This position works in an active and busy children’s museum setting.

• Work involves frequent sitting, standing and walking for long periods of time.
• Work involves crawling, climbing and crouching
• Work may include occasional pushing, pulling, lifting, and carrying objects weighing up to 40 pounds.
  
  

This position may require the employee to drive for business purposes in either their own vehicle or a vehicle provided by SMO. Employees that drive for business purposes must be able to pass a Motor Vehicle Records check, and provide proof of insurance and a valid license to drive on an annual basis.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This position has been designated as a safety sensitive position. Safety sensitive positions include job duties that could affect the health and safety of the employee or others.

Working Relationships

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities but may indirectly supervise Program Team Members. This position must maintain positive working relationships with management, employees, applicants, vendors, and the general public.