WITF’s Elementary Education Project Coordinator works alongside the WITF Education Team designing, coordinating, and implementing the Explore in the Classroom program for grades K-5. This requires knowledge of PA’s Core Standards used for instructional design. The Project Coordinator is responsible for establishing and maintaining relationships with school districts, including school principals and classroom teachers, and implementing partnerships between them and WITF Education. To design high-quality standards-aligned instruction, the Project Coordinator will maintain up-to-date knowledge of the PA Core Standards for K-5 and PA English Language Development Standards as well as required practices in the areas of reading support and special education. WITF Education is committed to research-based cutting-edge instructional design and teaching and the Project Coordinator will model these practices to our partner organizations and schools. Professional learning opportunities are available to assist in maintaining current knowledge of these frameworks. As part of a teaching team, the Project Coordinator will work collaboratively to author and co-author lesson plans in addition to implementing lesson plans authored by other team members. The Project Coordinator will work with multiple school districts, within but not limited to the Lancaster, Harrisburg, and York regions. During the school year, most time will be spent inside classrooms delivering instruction and supporting teachers. This is a 12-month position.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Author lesson plans and deliver classroom instruction in WITF’s Explore in the Classroom program (Grades K-5)
- Maintain depth of knowledge of PA Core Standards for all grades K-5 that; design standards-aligned lesson plans that integrate academic disciplines (for example, literacy-based STEM instruction)
- Demonstrate excellence in teaching K-5 students using cutting-edge pedagogies (e.g., project-based learning, inquiry-based instruction, etc.) and research-based teaching practices (e.g., hands-on, realia, modeling, scaffolding, etc.)
- Demonstrate consistently strong classroom management skills to work within various classrooms with diverse students
- Maintain strong and positive relationships and partnerships with various classroom teachers and building principals
- Assist with developing and implementing marketing initiatives to inform teachers, school/program administrators, families, and funders about the Explore in the Classroom program
- Assist with scheduling school visits with school principals and host teachers,
- Assist with determining necessary instructional materials to implement lesson plans; coordinate with supervisor to ensure materials are ordered in a timely manner and adhere to all financial procedures
- Assist with classroom and program preparation (e.g., handling of costume characters, labeling books, printing handouts, etc.)
- Coordinate with teachers on evaluation and assessments of program and impact.
2. Assist with instruction at Kids Night Out, Ready, Set, Explore, and Summer Camps
- Collaborate with the teaching team to prepare for programs (lesson designs, setup, gathering materials, etc.)
- Assist with teaching during programs (leading learning stations, delivering direct instruction, supporting small groups, etc.)
3. Assist with Teacher Professional Learning Workshops
- Collaborate with education team to co-present and/or offer examples for use in teacher professional learning workshops
- Facilitate and moderate professional learning workshops, including at PDE’s annual ELD conference to open Zoom rooms, introduce the speaker, manage technical aspects of the session where applicable, post Act 48 request information, etc.
- Assist in processing Act 48 continuing education credits
4. Assist with WITF’s Central PA Spelling Bee and State Championship Spelling Bee
- Assist with coordinating the Central PA and PA State Spelling Bee championships
- Assist with communication with participating school districts and families
5. Participate in Professional Meetings and Collaborations
- Attend and represent WITF’s education team in various professional meetings and committees.
6. Other Duties as Assigned
- Other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor or designee.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- A bachelor’s degree in Education or related field with PA elementary certification; additional ESL certification preferred; Reading Specialist certification preferred
- A minimum of 1 year full-time experience delivering direct instruction to K-5 students in traditional public, charter, private, or community schools within the United States; experience in grades 3-5 preferred; a year-long student teaching placement meets the experience requirement.
- Extensive experience with designing and delivering academic standards-aligned instruction
- Knowledge of evidence-based programs and best practices to enhance the instructional experiences of students who experience significant and often persistent opportunity gaps (e.g., students experiencing poverty, homelessness, foster care, transiency, or who are English learners)
- Excellent critical and analytical thinking skills
- Experience developing measurable objectives to determine the effectiveness of educational programs
- Experience working successfully with a team
- Proficient computer literacy with experience in Microsoft Office programs, databases, Excel, Outlook, data entry, email, and experience managing file sharing with Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, One Drive, etc.
- Skilled at using virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom and Microsoft Teams
- Excellent writing skills, including experience in writing for web communications and correspondence
- Ability to prioritize and organize multiple activities and effectively coordinate the work of large teams to consistently meet deadlines
- Strong ability to work independently as well as work positively within a larger team, both with internal colleagues and external partners
- Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with colleagues and clients both internal and external to maintain positive and collaborative relationships using tact and diplomacy and to remain calm in unpredictable situations
- Must have the ability to communicate and work effectively with colleagues, co-workers, community agency personnel, and students and families
ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY QUALIFICATIONS:
- Current, approved Act 34 (PA State Police), Act 151 (PA Child Abuse Registry) and Act 114-FBI Fingerprint clearances are required and must be renewed at appropriate, specific intervals pursuant to Act 153 of 2014 (revised Act 15 of 2015).
- Current, approved Act 126 Mandated Reporter Training certificates showing completion of a minimum of three (3) hours training every five (5) years.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Sedentary: Able to sit for extended periods of time, occasional walking, standing (as necessary), and able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds.
- Dexterity: Finger movements (computer keyboard, calculator), eye-hand coordination (office equipment, etc.).
- Audio-Visual Requirements: Within normal range with or without correction.
- Is able to move throughout all buildings, floors, and grounds.
- Worksite Environment: Primarily indoors-office setting with occasional exposure to outdoor elements/climate during the day.
- Mental demands: Steady response to unpredictable situations, ability to remain calm and productive during stressful situations. Demonstrates independent judgment, and discretion and is able to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- Ability to travel to various work site locations and meetings frequently.
TIME AND SITE REQUIREMENTS:
- This is a full-time, exempt position following a 12-month work schedule.
- 70% day travel for school visits, meetings, and conferences
- >10% occasional overnight travel for conferences, meetings, site visits
- This position offers a non-permanent hybrid work schedule dependent upon individual performance and organization demands.
- Attendance at work is a requirement of this position; any and all absences must be approved by the immediate supervisor.
WITF, Inc. PROPERTY AND CONFIDENTIALITY REQUIREMENTS:
- All property, including intellectual property, materials, equipment or actual products and services developed or accrued as part of the job duties and responsibilities listed above, is the property of WITF, Inc. Property may not be used for personal profit or gain and will be relinquished to the WITF upon termination of employment from the WITF, Inc.
- The person employed in this position shall maintain confidentiality with regard to the personal and private information about clients and coworkers, programs and services and any other proprietary information accrued as a result of WITF employment or as required by state or federal laws and regulations.
- The person employed in this position must adhere to all requirements identified in WITF’s code of professionalism.