Education Manager of Pedagogy and Professional Development

The Will Smith Zoo School is an early childhood education program associated with the San Antonio Zoo. The school offers a unique learning environment where preschool-aged children can engage with nature and wildlife as part of their daily curriculum. The program focuses on experiential learning, incorporating the zoo's resources to foster a love for animals and the environment while meeting early childhood education standards. The school aims to provide a comprehensive educational experience that combines traditional academic subjects with hands-on interaction with animals and nature in a preschool setting.

• As an Education Manager - Pedagogy and Professional Development is responsible for developing and supporting the implementation of nature-based pedagogy in collaboration with the Director of Will Smith Zoo School.
• This position will serve as the primary professional development and curriculum support of Will Smith Zoo School and will work in partnership with the director.
• The Education Manager - Pedagogy and Professional Development embodies the mission, vision, and values of San Antonio Zoo and Will Smith Zoo School at all times when interacting with educators, families, children, and the community. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Pedagogical Responsibilities:

• Develop and support the implementation of nature-based pedagogy in collaboration with the Director.
• Provide coaching and pedagogical support for all teachers.
• Support the school learning environments by expanding, deepening, elevating, and documenting the ideas and theories of young children through materials, learning projects, and studio spaces.
• Support teaching staff in developing meaningful experiences with natural materials and fostering children’s connection with the natural world.
• Consult and collaborate with teachers on design of indoor and outdoor learning environments.
• Facilitate and share maintenance responsibility with teachers in the materials room and professional research library.
• Provide teaching support in the classrooms when classroom teachers are unavailable.
• Promote and modeling best practices in the classroom.
• Document and evaluate the program with photographs, reflection forms, and narrative anecdotes.
• Assure that each classroom operates within the guidelines and standards of all licensing and accrediting governing bodies.

Professional Development:

• Design and develop professional development opportunities for staff including training, collaborative meetings, and ongoing education related to individual teachers and program-wide professional development plans that reflects the mission of San Antonio Zoo’s mission and Will Smith Zoo School’s pedological model, both to build our unique culture and philosophy and to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
• Facilitate trainings with outside providers.
• Coordinate conference attendance and presentations
• Instruct/facilitate trainings for all staff based on emergent needs and teachers’ long-term goals.
• Develop systems for post professional development follow-up with administration, staff, and resource professionals.
• Maintain professional competencies by attending conferences, NEST Meetings, related meetings and management/education development opportunities.
• The long-term goal of the Education Manager – Pedagogy and Professional Development position is to coordinate systems to market, schedule, register, and conduct professional development for educators throughout Texas and across the nation.

Managerial Responsibilities: 

• Regularly assess staff performance and the department’s progress in meeting short-term and long-range objectives.
• Develop and maintain a workplace culture that embodies the mission, vision, and values of Will Smith Zoo School and San Antonio Zoo through policies, systems, training, and culture-building activities in collaboration with the Director.
• Collaborates with director on teacher recruitment, staff scheduling, teaching observations, quarterly reviews, and teacher support activities.
• Support Director with school tours and enrollment guidance for interested families and ongoing communication with enrolled families including conferences and family engagement.
• Work with colleges and universities interested in providing field experience of student teacher through WSZS.
• Engage with the Director in bi- monthly meetings and communications related to Pedagogy including professional development, learning environments, materials, family engagement, & community involvement.
• Collaborate with Director on the licensing and accreditation standards, reporting, and inspection process.
• Collaborate and communicate with Director and on programmatic needs and direction.
• Assist in completing site-based needs assessments.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Education, Science Education, Environmental Education, Natural Resources or related field. Degree must be completed by application date.
• At least three years of relevant experience and background in outdoor school, nature-based education, place or land-based education and/or outdoor/environmental education.
• Must be comfortable working in a preschool setting with age-appropriate students.
• Strong understanding of best practices in emergent curriculum, evaluation, and environmental education and natural resources is required.
• Demonstrated experience with adhering to budget.
• Demonstrated experience in organization, decision-making, problem solving and creating a collaborative environment.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks with rigid deadlines.
• Ability to maintain the strictest confidentiality and professionalism.
• Experience developing, promoting, implementing, and evaluating educational curriculum.
• Excellent time management, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated experience and success working with a variety of diverse populations.
• Strong workshop and professional development facilitation skills.
• Experience managing others.
• Demonstrated commitment and experience promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Ability to maintain the safety of participants, staff, and volunteers before, during, and after program experiences.
• Ability to train, inspire and evaluate staff to engage program participants in fun and effective conservation education activities, presentations, and programs.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and respond effectively under pressure.
• Skilled at managing multiple tasks and communicating well with multiple departments and management.
• Successful candidates must complete a pre-employment National Sex Offender Search, Criminal Background Check, Drug Screen, and TB test.
• We enjoy year-round operation for all staff, must be available day, nights, weekends, holidays, and occasional special after-hour assignments.

Perks

• We offer robust benefits including medical, dental, vision and 403B.
• As well as Zoo memberships and Zoo discounts throughout the park.

Salary

• $50,000 Annual