Program Instructor, Outdoor School, Multnomah Education Service District (Permanent)

Department: Outdoor School

Reports to: Site Supervisor and Program Supervisor

Classification/Range: Classified/ Range 9, plus $50 night overnight stipend per night spent on site

Schedule: 160 days per year, 8 hours per day

Interviews are planned for July 23rd and 24th ongoing if necessary

Hiring timeline:

Deadline for Applications: JULY 5th

Inital Phone/Online Interviews: July 9th and 10th

Candidates who are selected for an initial interview will be contacted by July 8th 2024.

Job location: Locations vary depending on the program. Job sites include the MESD office in Portland, various sites in Multnomah County and one coastal site.

Send questions to: ahussey@mesd.k12.or.us

Session Dates

In-Town Training Week: Sept. 9th, 10th, and 11th

Prep Week:: Sept 16th-27th (Onsite and Portland Office, non work days Sept 12th-15th, 24th, 26th)

Week 1 Sept. 29th-Oct. 4th

Week 2:: Oct. 6th-11th

Week 3:: Oct. 13th-18th

Week 4:: Oct. 20th-25th

Week 5:: Oct. 27th- Nov. 1st

POSITION PURPOSE:

Provides Outdoor School programming support to the department along with assisting the Site Supervisor in the implementation of the Outdoor School Program. Outdoor School staff members will be a part of a collaborative educational team implementing an immersive overnight learning experience to 6th grade students. High school students provide mentorship and community development and are empowered to become teachers themselves, teaching hands-on immersive science in the field. Outdoor School employees will work collaboratively and responsibility within their team and the Outdoor School leadership staff. Staff should be receptive to different outcomes, accept and incorporate feedback and be a positive team player through honest communication, altruism and respectful actions. As an Outdoor School employee you are expected to work the hours assigned, communicate and engage with your supervisor, and uphold the mission and values of the Outdoor School program.

At Outdoor School we believe that every individual is equal, valuable and welcome. We work to acknowledge and celebrate our differences, whatever they may be. Inclusion means everyone and together we will strengthen our skills to work and live with others that are alike and different from ourselves. At Outdoor School we are building a community where everyone is honored for exactly who they are.

We are work to uphold these values by:

• Prioritizing racial equity in all aspects of the program

• Normalizing the use and sharing of pronouns

• Providing relevant and consistent equity trainings

• Commitment to a growth mindset, open to feedback, reflection and active engagement using trauma-informed, culturally responsive student support strategies

Additional Benefits:

• Overnight Stipend

• Employee Assistance Program-free mental health counseling and supports

• Professional development training, professional coaching, and mentoring

NATURE AND SCOPE:

This position is subject to board policies, administrative rules and procedures, department regulations, and applicable state and federal statutes. This position carries no administrative authority or responsibility.

This position is a full-time educator position with MESD Outdoor School.

16 weeks of the year is living on-site programming

16 weeks of the year will off-site a hybrid of mobile and in-office work

Total 160 days/year

ESSENTIAL QUALITIES:

• works well with teams with diverse perspectives, values and identities
• values diversity, equity and inclusion and shares core values of program-Equity, Inclusion, Authentic Outdoor experiences for youth, caregiving, education and teaching and work towards active and constructive change
• is creative, dedicated and responsible
• is dedicated to learning about our curriculum, learning objectives and student outcomes
• works to understand the myriad of relationships youth may have with the outdoors and outdoor program based on class, race and gender
• takes initiative to ask for help, get tasks done, and support students and the program
• understands the value of feedback and possess the ability to accept feedback and integrate it
• is dedicated to communicating in an inclusive and collaborative manner.
• can work independently with minimal supervision in a dynamic outdoor environment
• has experience working with children, high school students and/or adolescents
• has a High School Diploma or General Education Diploma
• is flexible and solution oriented
• can prioritize tasks with competing timelines

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

On site programming -Implements the overnight Outdoor School schedule and program for 16 weeks per year. Lives on site during the Outdoor School program season.(Sun-Fri) Participates fully in all aspects of the Outdoor School on-site program, including meals, meetings and events. Typical days on site are 16 hours in length. At times, staff may be asked to support 6th grade students by sleeping in a cabin. Typical weeks during programming run from Sunday to Friday. Beginning the second week of programming, staff can expect one night off a week, as well as additional scheduled time off during the week. An overnight stipend up to $300 per week is provided.

Off Site- when on-site programming is completed or not running, the schedule will be dependent on school schedules, and employees can expect a Mon-Friday week, working at school sites or at the MESD office (approximately 16 weeks).

16 Weeks/on site Outdoor School Programming Outdoor School staff members will be a part of a collaborative educational team implementing an immersive overnight learning experience to 6th grade students. High school students provide mentorship and community development and are empowered to become teachers themselves, teaching hands-on immersive science in the field. Outdoor School employees will work collaboratively and responsibility within their team and the Outdoor School leadership staff. Staff should be receptive to different outcomes, accept and incorporate feedback and be a positive team player through honest communication, altruism and respectful actions. As an Outdoor School employee you are expected to work the hours assigned, communicate and engage with your supervisor, and uphold the mission and values of the Outdoor School program.

16 weeks/off site

• Engage in creating recruitment and engagement strategies with local high schools

• Create and implement training programs to increase accessibility for high school students and participation

• Work as staff for winter programming that could include evening, overnight work or seminars and workshops for high school students.

• Support and attend class meetings in school, as well as informational family nights

• Work on teams to develop curriculum, outreach to high schools, and provide program support

• Support for high school students on-site and within schools with training and participation

• Attend all required trainings and meetings

• Be able to transport yourself to local high schools and schools

• Fulfills job expectations safely, thoroughly, and in compliance with MESD and program policies and procedures.

• Provides back-up support to other Outdoor School staff as needed.

• Assist in site set-up, weekly cleaning, and closing each session.

• Assist in the inventory, care, and maintenance of program supplies and equipment.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

How you will make an impact:

• You will support and lead teams of students and high school volunteers in activities and science field studies encouraging science inquiry and positive social emotional experiences

• You will serve as a role model, mentor and coach for high school and sixth grade students

• You will work hard, teach, laugh, play, and live on site with 6th graders and a staff of like individuals working toward the same goal and make some amazing memories

• You will be working in a creative and inspiring environment where you will be valued and respected for who you are

• You will support and join the continued work at MESD Outdoor School as an actively Anti-Racist organization.

• You will respond to the needs of students to set them up for success.

• You will work outside every day with students in the beautiful Oregon landscape, engaging with natural phenomena and nature

• You will gain skills in teaching, leadership, and mentoring youth

• You will work collaboratively with students to ensure the emotional and physical safety of all students.

• You will be an employee of a school district that supports students that often don't succeed in traditional classrooms, and also have job opportunities outside of the season.

• You will live and work on site, in an immersive "camp" environment, supporting all aspects of programming and teaching

• You will gain jobs knowledge and social skills like conflict resolution, communication skills and work with people that are different from you

• You will honor and respect the Indigenous traditional lands of Chinook and Kalapuya nations that we are located on.

• You are a positive team player through honest communication, altruism and respectful actions.

Additional Skills that are Valued

• Bilingual- pay differential for full fluency (read, write, translate, communicate for agency as needed) Spanish, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Arabic, Somali, Korean

• Experience in outdoor recreation or working with children/adolescents or experience in a related education/caregiving role.

• Science degree

• Experience with diverse communities

• Experience with students with special needs

• Diverse life experiences and knowledge

• Experience implementing trauma-informed care and/or supporting youth with mental health needs.

• Experience implementing restorative justice models in an educational setting or similar setting working with youth.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to physically perform assigned duties.

• Valid First Aid/CPR* (AED) Card, Bloodborne Pathogens*, Food handler's Card, and MESD Vector

• Training by the first day of employment.

• Ability to secure transportation to and from the Outdoor School site and equip self with appropriate personal gear to stay warm, safe and prepared to work in the Outdoor School environment. Raincoats and some gear are available to borrow.

• trainings provided by MESD during training week upon acceptance of position

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Implements the overnight Outdoor School schedule and program. Lives on site during the Outdoor School program season. (Sun-Fri) Participates fully in all dates and facets of the Outdoor School on-site program, including meals, meetings, and events. Typical days are 16 hours in length. Typical weeks run from Sunday to Friday. At times, Senior Staff may be asked to sleep in cabins to support the supervision of 6th-grade students. Staff can expect one night off a week, as well as additional scheduled time off during the week.

• Fulfills job expectations safely, thoroughly, and in compliance with MESD and program policies and procedures.

• Provides back-up support to other Outdoor School staff as needed.

• Assist in site set-up, weekly cleaning, and closing each session.

• Assist in the inventory, care, and maintenance of program supplies and equipment.

• Valid First Aid/CPR* (AED) Card, Bloodborne Pathogens*, Food Handler's Card, and MESD SafeSchools

• Training by the first day of employment.

• Performs other duties as assigned

• Ability to secure transportation to and from the Outdoor School site and equip self with appropriate personal gear to stay warm, safe, and prepared to work in the Outdoor School environment. Raincoats and some gear are available to borrow.

• training provided by MESD during training week upon acceptance of the position

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma. Bachelor's Degree preferred.

• Experience working with children and/or adolescents.

• Experience supervising high school age students.

• Experience in a professional field.

Job location: Locations vary depending on the program. Job sites include the MESD office in Portland, and various outdoor sites in Multnomah County.

Send questions to: ahussey@mesd.k12.or.us

We offer a generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, Rx plan, flex spending accounts, employee assistance program (EAP), paid holidays, basic & voluntary life insurance, STD/LTD & employer paid contribution into PERS (Oregon Public Employees Retirement System). We support our employees' continued education through our Tuition Reimbursement Program.

MESD and Outdoor School are committed to a policy of equality in our employment practices. All employees will be treated fairly at all times and without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship, veteran or marital status, source of income, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or the presence of any sensory, physical, psychological or learning disability, and all other bases prohibited by local, state, or federal law. MESD and Outdoor School welcomes applications from candidates that expand the agency's diversity. If you are unsure of how your experience correlates with our qualifications, please reach out to our HR department as we want to ensure that we are reaching as diverse an applicant pool as possible.

MESD and Outdoor School programs recognize that diverse workplaces offer the richest learning opportunities, the diversity of races, cultures, backgrounds and experiences of the communities we serve must be represented in our leadership in order to welcome and represent all participants. We strongly encourage people of color as well as folks who are LGBTQA+, multilingual, first-generation or from other traditionally marginalized communities to join us in our efforts to reclaim, build connections and create authentic relationships with nature and science