Program Overview and Job Summary 

KSS hosts a collaborative partnership with the Summit School District and supports the outdoor and experiential education program embedded within the traditional school day at Silverthorne Elementary School. The Outdoor Education Assistant Instructor and After School Lead Instructor position is a full time Keystone Science School position based out of the Silverthorne Elementary School. 

After School and Summer CATCH:

The KSS After School Program is held at the local Summit School District elementary schools.  Each elementary school is assigned a Lead Instructor to lead the program with two Program Instructors. The program focuses on promoting physical activity,  fun games, intentional learning, and a healthy snack to students in grades Kindergarten through 5th grade.  The program is grant-funded through partnerships with community organizations.

The After School Lead Instructor is responsible for facilitating engaging activities with children, completing administrative tasks, and developing and implementing the after school curriculum. Administrative tasks include: prepping and facilitating daily snacks, planning objective focused activities and games, conducting parent and student surveys and assessments, communicating with parents and families, tracking class attendance, and managing all licensing rules and regulations for the site.

The Summer CATCH program is a summer camp program based out of the Silverthorne Elementary school for local Summit School District students. 

Main areas of focus when working the after school programs:

• 70% Program Facilitation
• 15% Curriculum Development
• 15% Administrative Tasks

Silverthorne Elementary Outdoor Education Teaching Assistant:

• Support the planning of Outdoor Education activities throughout the school day;
• Facilitate outdoor education activities throughout the school day;
• Support the management of program logistics.

Main areas of focus when working with the Silverthorne Elementary Outdoor Education Program: 

• 70% Teaching; 
• 15% Lesson planning and curriculum development;
• 10% Field trip coordination;
• 5% KSS & Park County School District debriefs, planning meetings and discussions; 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Emphasis on daily program facilitation of the after school curriculum; 
• Plan and manage daily program curriculum and assigned administrative duties; 
• Work collaboratively and professionally with a varied group of colleagues to supervise a diverse group of up to 30 elementary age participants; 

• Prepare and serve snacks using safe food handling procedures; 
• Interact with program participants and families with a high level of energy and enthusiasm; 
• Communicate clearly and effectively to express concerns and needs to Programs Manager; 
• Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow Risk Management policies in all activities;
• Attend all staff meetings and trainings as assigned;

• Plan, prepare, and teach grade appropriate outdoor and experiential education curricula according to the learning model defined by the Summit School District;
• Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow KSS Risk Management and Summit School District protocols and policies in all activities; 
• Uphold guidance from Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment around COVID-19 standards; 
• Maintain all KSS equipment, including teaching materials, gear, keys, toys, etc.; 
• Attend and be an active participant in Silverthorne Elementary teacher meetings and trainings;
• Other duties as assigned; 

• Ability to work with children in a classroom environment throughout all scheduled school days; 
• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with children and adults; 
• Have an interest in, respect for, and ability to work with people with diverse backgrounds, opinions, beliefs, abilities, and experience; 
• Proven ability to creatively develop science and education curricula and lesson plans; 
• Ability to adapt instruction and lessons to meet a wide variety of learners utilizing different educational philosophies; 
• Ability to be creative, adaptable, and flexible while managing children in a variety of situations; 
• Strong work ethic and will work until the job is complete; 
• Motivation to contribute positively to the KSS at-large community; 
• Interpret a variety of instructions provided in written or verbal form; 
• Multi-task efficiently while managing a high-volume workload in a fast-paced, changing environment; 
• Ability to work in a busy environment with many distractions; 
• Superior customer service skills, with the ability to be creative and think ‘outside the box’; 
• Strong command of communication, writing, and organizational skills; 
• Write reports, correspondence, and lesson plans with attention to detail. 

  Required Education, Experience, and Certifications 

• 4 year college degree with a major in education and/or a related science field;
• Minimum of 6 months of experience teaching students in an outdoor setting;
• Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certifications, from an approved vendor, or the ability to obtain before the first day of employment; 
• Age 21+ with a minimum of 5 years driving experience, excellent driving record, and a valid driver’s license; 
• Must be able to successfully pass a comprehensive background check. 

Preferred Skillsets 

• 2+ years experience teaching students in an outdoor setting; 
• Holds a current teaching license;
• Experience teaching within a classroom environment; 
• Experience with risk management practices in the outdoor and environmental education industry; 
• Desired computer skills include proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, etc.); 
• Ability to communicate verbally and teach in Spanish. 

Travel Expectations 

Limited travel within Summit County.

Physical Demands of this Position 

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. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or hold objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee often stands for up to 8 hours per day, but may be required to stand longer in emergency situations. The employee must be able to lift and carry at least 40 pounds for an extended duration. The employee is frequently required to travel for extended periods over rugged terrain. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. 

Work Environment 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires the employee to work in close contact with their teammates and children. The office space is small and the employee must have the ability to stay focused while others are working in close proximity. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, but varies seasonally due to programs and staffing on campus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee often works outside and drives vehicles in various weather conditions. 

Compensation  

Hourly wage of $19-22/hour, depending on experience, plus a generous benefits package including:

• 75% employer-paid medical and dental premiums for the employee and dependents;
• 100% employer-paid short- and long-term disability, $50,000 life insurance policy with matching AD&D benefit;
• Up to 120 paid PTO hours, 96 paid sick hours, and 80 paid holiday hours, pro-rated based on hours worked;
• 401K retirement savings plan with a 3% employer match contribution;
• Discounts for family members on KSS programs, plus access to outdoor industry pro deals and a discounted ski pass

Application Instructions 

Please submit the Employment Application found at KeystoneScienceSchool.org/Employment. Applications require a cover letter, resume, and 3 references. In your cover letter, please address your philosophy of education, and describe how your previous experiences have prepared you for this position. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. For more information, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. 

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Keystone Science School is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a wide variety of backgrounds. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, religion, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.