Position Filled: Sustainability Educator

Job Description:

The Sustainability Educator implements Spark-Y's STEM programming through action-oriented systems education. They engage in real-world, hands-on projects with a diverse range of students while cultivating community connections by forming strong positive relationships with project stakeholders, community partners, and school teachers/ administrators. They facilitate dynamic, hands-on activities focused on sustainable systems and entrepreneurship. They lead students by cultivating youth engagement and drive culturally-sustained learning, leadership, and empowerment. They connect state learning standards with robust Curriculum and Training (CAT) support and STEM-based curriculum while also maintaining an authentic and empowering student experience. They promote an environment conducive to creativity, curiosity, youth leadership, and learning. They perform school information reporting as well as Spark-Y impact measurements and systems data tracking. The Sustainability Educator operates as a leader, a trainer, and a knowledgeable resource within Spark-Y, ensuring optimal performance of systems and success of our mission.

Send cover letter and resume to: jobs@spark-y.org by 3/21/2021.

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Essential Job Functions:

Program Delivery & Coordination

• Lead education programs at partner schools.

• Use innovation and coordination skills to facilitate the design and build of sustainable systems (e.g. aquaponics, compost, school gardens) with youth of all ages in a safe and educational environment.

• Build and develop partnerships with stakeholders, community partners, and school administrators and teachers.

• Cultivate meaningful, positive relationships with youth through daily and weekly programming.

• Commitment to culturally responsive teaching practices and continuous learning.

• Expand on and customize Spark-Y curriculum, incorporating existing sustainable systems within the school and linking hands-on projects to learning targets.

• Implement a syllabus and schedule for each class/ program.

• Supervise interns and volunteers in assisting with delivery of school programming, system upkeep, and system design/ build projects.

Curriculum Development Support

• Perform background research on lesson topics.

• Collaborate with the Curriculum Manager and other members of the Spark-Y CAT team to create new curriculum.

• Write and prepare lesson plans including gathering all the materials necessary for any activity included in the lesson.

• Develop supporting materials for lessons.

• Proofread existing lesson plans and supporting materials.

Records & Reports

• Manage program impact measurements, attendance, pictures, media, and blogs, as well as sustainable systems data tracking, upkeep procedures, and safety standards.

• Provide weekly program updates to leadership and submit recurrent action reports.

• Attend regular meetings with both Spark-Y and partner school, including staff meetings, education meetings, and quarterly review meetings as part of our annual review process.

Essential Experience and Skills:

• Interpersonal skills.

• Verbal and written communication skills. 

• Skilled at teaching science and STEM concepts.

• Comfortable with public speaking and teaching in a classroom setting .

Education: 

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
Existing teaching license (in or out of state) beneficial but not required.

Preferred Skill/Experience:

• Excellent organization and time management skills.

• Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative and act independently in preparing for scheduled teaching assignments.

• Some teaching experience required (prior experience working with Pre-K to 8th grade students preferred).

Salary and Benefits:

$34,000-$37,000 (Commensurate with experience). Organization-wide time off including federal holidays. PTO includes 12 vacation days and 5 personal days. Flexible schedule. Health care stipend available upon one year of employment.

To apply, send a resume, and a cover letter to jobs@spark-y.org with the subject line  “[LAST NAME] - Sustainability Educator Application.” Only applicants that follow these instructions will be considered. All resumes/cover letters sent directly through Indeed and similar sites will not be considered.

Applications due by 5pm 3/21/2021

At Spark-Y we value: being of service, providing solutions, advocating for youth, exemplifying balance, At Spark-Y we value passion, community, balance, integrity and growth. Our leadership and staff build collaborative relationships with our partners and team members to empower ourselves and others. We’re a forward-thinking organization fueled by resourceful innovators that take the initiative to better serve our mission. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply, including women and applicants of color. | EEOC Employer.

Friendship Build with Right Track +

About the Spark-Y Right Track+ Internship: The Right Track+ program is a collaboration between Ramsey County, the City of Saint Paul, local employers, and community organizations including Spark-Y. The goal of this program is to provide job training and professional development to unemployed or underemployed young adults experiencing the negative economic impacts of the pandemic for the purpose of assisting them in entering an in-demand career pathway.

The following post was written by Chue Yang, Right Track+ Intern with Spark-Y.

Friendship Build with Right Track +

Near the end of August, Spark-Y teamed up with some volunteers from Accenture to help build a raised bed and compost bin for Friendship Academy of Arts. I have been an intern with Spark-Y for a couple of months now and each week there were always exciting new projects for the interns to work on. There was the hope that it will not rain, as I helped the Sustainability and Agriculture Director, Caitlin, set up two large white tents for the compost bin and raised garden bed projects. 

The day before, I had to grab a large 50 gallons water barrel from the University of Minnesota which barely fit in my little Prius for the project build. Spark-Y continued to find ways to reuse old and donated materials to create sustainable projects that are closely tied to its mission of empowering youth with hands-on education and sustainability.

As we prepared the materials and started to cut the wood pieces for the two projects, Accenture volunteers and the students at Friendship Academy of Art began to show up. Students take turns drilling holes and screwing the wood pieces together. The Accenture volunteers were great at leading and guiding the students. The structures for holding the compost bin and the raised garden bed started to take their form. The feeling of seeing the two projects coming together brought smiles both to the adults and small students.

Compost Bin Structure & Raised Garden Bed Project Build

It was such as cool experience to see the little shy students, who were a little scared of the loud noise of the saws and drills at first, started to want to take turns cutting and putting the wood pieces together for the compost bin and raised garden bed structure. One student proudly expressed that she “loved drill” as she finished screwing the last few screws for the structures that would hold the compost bin. A little student who was probably still in preschool bravely volunteered to drill some holes into the water barrel that will be used as the compost bin. It brought a smile to my face seeing how much joy the students were having with the project build.

Completing the two projects took less than three hours with the help of the students and volunteers. This experience made me realize how important it is to work together as a team. It showed that more students should have the opportunity to learn about sustainability. They learned not only the importance of creating a compost bin that will turn food waste and old plant materials into compost to grow more food but also got to try something new. I also noticed that not many organizations would have their staff with executive positions working on the ground to help students learn. It just showed how much Spark-Y cared about the learning of youth and creating growth through sustainability.

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Learn more about Friendship Academy Build Day in our previous blog post here.

Position Filled: Sustainability Educator

Job Description:

The Sustainability Educator implements Spark-Y's STEM programming through action-oriented systems education. They engage in real-world, hands-on projects with a diverse range of students while cultivating community connections by forming strong positive relationships with project stakeholders, community partners, and school teachers/ administrators. They facilitate dynamic, hands-on activities focused on sustainable systems and entrepreneurship. They lead students by cultivating youth engagement and drive culturally-sustained learning, leadership, and empowerment. They connect state learning standards with robust Curriculum and Training (CAT) support and STEM-based curriculum while also maintaining an authentic and empowering student experience. They promote an environment conducive to creativity, curiosity, youth leadership, and learning. They perform school information reporting as well as Spark-Y impact measurements and systems data tracking. The Sustainability Educator operates as a leader, a trainer, and a knowledgeable resource within Spark-Y, ensuring optimal performance of systems and success of our mission.

Send cover letter and resume to: jobs@spark-y.org by 12/27/2021.

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Essential Job Functions:

Program Delivery & Coordination - 70%

• Lead education programs at partner schools.

• Use innovation and coordination skills to facilitate the design and build of sustainable systems (e.g. aquaponics, compost, school gardens) with youth of all ages in a safe and educational environment.

• Build and develop partnerships with stakeholders, community partners, and school administrators and teachers.

• Cultivate meaningful, positive relationships with youth through daily and weekly programming.

• Commitment to culturally responsive teaching practices and continuous learning.

• Expand on and customize Spark-Y curriculum, incorporating existing sustainable systems within the school and linking hands-on projects to learning targets.

• Implement a syllabus and schedule for each class/ program.

• Supervise interns and volunteers in assisting with delivery of school programming, system upkeep, and system design/ build projects.

Curriculum Development Support - 20%

• Perform background research on lesson topics.

• Collaborate with the Curriculum Manager and other members of the Spark-Y CAT team to create new curriculum.

• Write and prepare lesson plans including gathering all the materials necessary for any activity included in the lesson.

• Develop supporting materials for lessons.

• Proofread existing lesson plans and supporting materials.

Records & Reports - 10%

• Manage program impact measurements, attendance, pictures, media, and blogs, as well as sustainable systems data tracking, upkeep procedures, and safety standards.

• Provide weekly program updates to leadership and submit recurrent action reports.

• Attend regular meetings with both Spark-Y and partner school, including staff meetings, education meetings, and quarterly review meetings as part of our annual review process.

Essential Experience and Skills:

• Interpersonal skills.

• Verbal and written communication skills. 

• Skilled at teaching science and STEM concepts.

• Comfortable with public speaking and teaching in a classroom setting .

Education: 

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
Existing teaching license (in or out of state) beneficial but not required.

Preferred Skill/Experience:

• Excellent organization and time management skills.

• Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative and act independently in preparing for scheduled teaching assignments.

• Prior experience working with Pre-K to 8th grade students.

Salary and Benefits:

$34,000-$37,000 (Commensurate with experience). Organization-wide time off including federal holidays. PTO includes 12 vacation days and 5 personal days. Flexible schedule. Health care stipend available upon one year of employment.

To apply, send a resume, and a cover letter to jobs@spark-y.org with the subject line  “[LAST NAME] - Sustainability Educator Application.” Only applicants that follow these instructions will be considered. All resumes/cover letters sent directly through Indeed and similar sites will not be considered.

Applications due by 5pm 12/27/2021

At Spark-Y we value: being of service, providing solutions, advocating for youth, exemplifying balance, At Spark-Y we value passion, community, balance, integrity and growth. Our leadership and staff build collaborative relationships with our partners and team members to empower ourselves and others. We’re a forward-thinking organization fueled by resourceful innovators that take the initiative to better serve our mission. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply, including women and applicants of color. | EEOC Employer.

Position Filled: Executive Assistant

Job Description:

Spark-Y is seeking a highly skilled Executive Assistant to support the Executive Director in executing and prioritizing day-to-day work. This role will require professional and timely communication skills as well as a high level of autonomy and initiative to drive results to completion.

The ideal candidate for the Executive Assistant position is someone who understands the importance and impact of an Executive Director’s time when directed properly and how this contributes to the organization’s wellbeing and continued growth. An essential “go to” figure, and often the first and last point of contact each day, this person helps drive organizational efficiency stemming from the Executive Director and out through other staff and project teams.

Send cover letter and resume to: jobs@spark-y.org by 11/29/2021.

Essential Job Functions:

• Managing the Executive Director’s calendar, including making appointments and prioritizing the most sensitive matters

• Act as a key point of contact between the Executive Director and others within or outside the organization

• Attend meetings and take minutes with or for the Executive Director w/ partners, funders etc. 

• Provide administrative assistance, such as writing and editing emails, drafting memos, and preparing communications on the Executive Director’s behalf

• Coordinate travel arrangements

• Take initiative and use creative approaches to complete various tasks or projects in a professional and timely manner

• Prepare reports and / or special projects, which may include data collection, coordination, final copy preparation, distribution, etc.

• Proactively manage and assist the Executive Director in completing daily deliverables / “to do” lists

• Efficiently complete diverse delegated deliverables in a timely manner

• Complete or submit applications, reports, etc.

• Respond to partners and clients within 24 hours of receiving correspondence

• Develop messages and effectively use vehicles to ensure consistent, integrated and comprehensive system of communications

• Other duties as assigned

Desired Attributes and Professional Skills:

• Exceptional organizational skills, with ability to multitask and manage time efficiently

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Diplomatic and tactful

• Ability to use discretion with concerning, confidential or sensitive information

• Self-guided and proactive

• Confident personality and capable of being persistent when necessary

• A positive attitude and willingness to work with all team members

• Effective communication with all levels of internal and external contacts

• Ability to work independently and with others in a fast-paced team environment

• Time management and ability to meet deadlines

• Decisive problem-solver

• Strong interpersonal skills

Education and Experience:

• 6+ years related experience

• Proficiency with Microsoft Suite 

• Proficiency with Google Suite

• CRM experience preferred 

Salary and Benefits:

• $43,500 - $50,000 (Commensurate with experience)

• Organization-wide time off including most federal holidays

• PTO includes 12 vacation days and 5 personal days

• Flexible schedule

• Health care stipend available upon one year of employment

To apply: send a resume and a cover letter to jobs@spark-y.org with the subject line “LAST NAME - Executive Assistant”. Within the cover letter please detail any related experience you may have, and tell us why you’re a good fit for this role. 

Note: This position is eligible for up to 100% remote work, requiring no ties to the Twin Cities Metro Area; we will be accepting applications from all across the country. 

APPLICATIONS DUE BY 5:00pm 11/29/2021

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At Spark-Y we value: being of service, providing solutions, advocating for youth, exemplifying balance, At Spark-Y we value passion, community, balance, integrity and growth. Our leadership and staff build collaborative relationships with our partners and team members to empower ourselves and others. We’re a forward-thinking organization fueled by resourceful innovators that take the initiative to better serve our mission. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply, including women and applicants of color. | EEOC Employer.