University-Assisted Community Schools Environmental Education Coordinator, Netter Center for Community Partnerships

Job Description Summary

The UACS Environmental Education Coordinator will work as part of the Netter Center's University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) team to develop and implement academic partnerships connecting elementary and high school students in University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) with Penn and community partners. These partnerships are designed to strengthen teaching and learning (K-16+) through projects that improve the local environment and build climate resilience - both in the schools and in the neighboring West Philadelphia communities in which the schools are located. Some of these partnerships and projects will include work with Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) courses and other forms of community-engaged scholarship, which integrate service with research, teaching, and learning, and bring together academic expertise with community expertise. Through collaborative problem-solving, this work is designed to improve the quality of life and learning in the community and the quality of learning and scholarship in the university. It is also designed to help students become active, creative, contributing citizens of a democratic society.

These partnerships will also involve faculty, staff, alumni, and student volunteers, as well as University work-study students and academic interns working alongside school and community partners. Recent projects have included improving school grounds through the development of shade structures and benches made from local bio-materials, reducing asthma triggers by monitoring and improving indoor air quality, and tracking erosion and water quality in a school's watershed.

This position is contingent upon grant funding.

Job Description

Founded in 1992, the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships is the University's primary vehicle for advancing civic and community engagement at Penn. It brings together the resources and assets of both the University and the wider community to help solve universal problems such as poverty, health inequities, environmental sustainability, and inadequate, unequal education as they are manifested in the University's local geographic area of West Philadelphia and Philadelphia at large. The Netter Center develops and helps implement democratic, mutually transformative, place-based partnerships between Penn and West Philadelphia that advance research, teaching, learning, and service. These partnerships help improve the quality of life on campus and in the community. The Netter Center works with and serves as a model for other higher education institutions across the United States and around the world.

University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) background: A major component of the Netter Center's work is mobilizing the vast resources of the University of Pennsylvania to help traditional public schools become innovative University-Assisted Community Schools (UACS) that educate, engage, empower, and serve public school students, families, and community members. UACS focus on schools as core institutions for community engagement and democratic development, as well as link school day and after school curricula to solve locally identified, real-world, community problems. At the same time, working with community members to create and sustain UACS provides a powerful means for universities to advance teaching, research, learning, and service, as well as the civic development of their students.

Responsibilities:

This position requires the ability to collaborate with school-day teachers, after-school instructors, community partners, and university faculty and students to co-develop educational activities that are mutually beneficial and mutually transformational. Core responsibilities span educational partnership facilitation, curriculum support, direct instruction, and program administration. Academic programming includes working with school-day teachers, after-school staff, and administrators to design and execute real-world, problem-based projects for K-12 students - projects that position young people as agents of change, connect learning to lived experience, and deepen academic understanding.

Specific instructional responsibilities include supporting instruction, preparing educational materials, and bringing partners together to plan, implement and evaluate the work.

Qualifications:

A Bachelor's Degree and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination education and experience is required. Master's in Education, Environmental Science, Public Health, or equivalent degree strongly preferred. A strong candidate will have experience in urban education, supervision, and youth development. Knowledge about Penn and West Philadelphia is a plus. Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects and foster high quality connections is critical. Must be collaborative, flexible, and work productively with diverse groups. Must possess a track record of both self-directed and team-oriented accomplishments and be organized, detail-oriented, dependable, and flexible. This position requires full-time on-campus presence unless otherwise approved. This position requires the ability to climb stairs or ladders. This position also involves frequent walking, including walking for extended periods of time indoors or outdoors.

This position is contingent upon grant funding.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$55,000.00 - $70,000.00 Annual Rate