Employment Class: Seasonal Full-Time 

Pay Status: Exempt, $38,000-$41,000 annual salary

Expected Hours: Minimum 40 hours/week 

Dates of Employment/Start Date: July 30, 2021 – June 17, 2022

Reports To: Education Program Manager 

Housing Available: No 

At Keystone Science School, we believe that the power of inspiring curiosity and critical thinking, through the lens of science, changes lives and strengthens communities. We create future leaders who can problem solve and work together in an ever-evolving world and workplace environment.  

Located in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, Keystone Science School hosts a variety of partnership with local and regional organizations.  Within all our programs, we combine hands-on science education with outdoor adventure to create engaging experiences for our students. At KSS, we change lives, we bring fun and laughter to everything we do, we care about each other and those we serve, we strive for excellence, we offer competitive compensation and generous benefits, and we are committed to serving students from diverse backgrounds. We’re proud to be Summit County’s #1 Best Non-Profit and #2 Best Place to Work (2019)! Visit KeystoneScienceSchool.org to learn more!   

Program Overview and Job Summary  

KSS hosts a collaborative partnership with the Park County School District and offers an outdoor and experiential education program embedded within the traditional school day at Edith Teter Elementary, South Park Middle School, and South Park High School.  The Outdoor Education Faculty position is a full time Keystone Science School teaching position based out of the Park County School District with the expectation that the position is following the school district schedule in regards to time-off, teacher work days, and COVID classroom/online teaching. 

Throughout the school day there are individual sections of KSS programming which include hands-on science activities, field-based exploration, and adventure programming. Curriculum themes may include but are not limited to: environmental science (aquatic ecology, forest ecology, earth science, snow studies, winter ecology, weather and climate), leadership, social emotional learning, community building, STEM, outdoor skills, and health. The Outdoor Education Faculty will develop and facilitate the curriculum for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. Strong collaboration is encouraged between the KSS faculty member, school administration, and grade level teachers to build a syllabus that is cross-curricular and meets the social and emotional needs of the local Park County students. 

The Outdoor Education Faculty will be asked to coordinate all off-site field trips on a weekly basis, as well as any overnight trips. This includes managing all parent communication and  management of student paperwork in collaboration with the Keystone Science School customer experience team, and general logistics management. 

Main areas of focus:  

• 75% Teaching;  

• 15% Lesson planning and curriculum development; 

• 5% Field trip coordination;

• 5% KSS & Park County School District debriefs, planning meetings and discussions;  

Essential Duties and Responsibilities  

• Plan, prepare, and teach grade appropriate outdoor and experiential education curricula according to the learning model defined by the Park County School District; 

• Supervise and maintain high standards of health and safety, and follow KSS Risk Management and Park School District protocols and policies in all activities;  

• Coordinate all aspects of field trip/overnight trips including paperwork, parent communication, and all logistics; 

• 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 all Park County teacher meetings and trainings; 

• Attend and be an active participant in pre-designated KSS training and professional development;

• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – Minimum Requirements  

• 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;  

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret professional journals and educational methods;  

• 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;  

• Superior customer service skills, with the ability to be creative and think ‘outside the box’;  

• Strong command of communication, writing, and organizational skills;  

• Ability to work in a busy environment with many distractions;  

• 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 Responder (WFR) 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  

• Minimum of 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  

Travel within Park County and Summit County and limited travel throughout the state of Colorado.  

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  

Salary plus a generous benefits package: medical, dental, vision, 11 Paid Time Off/Sick Days, all observed Park County School District teacher days off throughout the year. 

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.