Environmental STEM Specialist Job Description

General Purpose

Sustains the yearly improvement of Shadow Valley Elementary original objective of being an Environmental Science Magnet (as voted on by the community.)  They achieve this primarily by keeping our school aligned with  the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools three pillars which are as follows:

1.    Reduce environmental impact and costs.

2.    Improve the health and wellness of schools, students and staff.

3.    Provide effective environmental and sustainability education.

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/green-ribbon-schools/index.html

Main Job Tasks and Responsibilities:

·         For Pillar I, they work with the principal, the district facilities managers, and other community partners to record environmental impact and costs data and show how our school is minimizing its environmental impact. 

·         For Pillar II, they work with our entire community, our school counsellor, PE specialist, and PTA to increase air quality, time spent outside, water quality, social/emotional learning, anything to increase the health and wellness of our students and staff.  

·         For Pillar III, they work specifically with the teachers co-teaching and other educational community partners to provide environmental and sustainability education.  Part of that collaboration is incorporating STEM and project based learning strategies as well as our new Seed and engineering science standards.  

·         To show accountability to the school, district, state, and the rest of the country. The Environmental STEM specialist is in charge of writing a yearly portfolio that is due mid-year (usually around March but that has fluctuated to some extent). It has two parts - one is a written narrative with candid image artifacts and data used to show what we are doing as a school; and the other is a datasheet where we can show what we have done as a school and district under the three pillars. 

The suggested breakdown of the time spent each week for each responsibility are as follows:

·         50% co-teaching environmental and sustainability education to every student (this includes any special groups such as Green Ambassadors) 

·         20% Planning curriculum, Writing and Preparing for the portfolio (gathering data, gathering evidence, taking pictures,) writing any needed grants for supplies, upkeep, and record or environmental STEM library

·         15%  Conducting PD and/or meeting with teachers to support the Co-teaching model

·         15% Maintaining Community partners, and staying on top of current environmental science practices by going to conferences conducting research etc…

Education and Experience:

·  Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited institution

·  Meet professional teacher education requirements of school, district, state

·  Single subject teaching credential or certification if teaching a specialized subject

·  State certification

·  Relevant teaching experience

·  Knowledge of relevant technology