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Outdoor School Central Regional Coordinator

Oregon State University
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Closing Date:  4/14/24

https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/151374

 

This Outdoor School Central Regional Coordinator position is within the Division of Extension and Engagement, Extension Service Outdoor School program. This Outdoor School Central Regional Coordinator reports to the Director of Outdoor School and works closely with the Outdoor School team. This person contributes to the Outdoor School program’s mission to guide and support equitable, culturally responsive, and interdisciplinary outdoor school programs for Oregon’s youth.

 

The Outdoor School (ODS) program resides within the OSU Extension Service and advances the Extension Service’s vision, mission, and goals through the statewide engagement of School Districts and Education Service Districts (ESDs) in ODS programs. The ODS program helps Oregon’s youth apply learning; develop leadership, critical thinking, and social skills; and exposes them to the role of scientific inquiry and applied learning. The long-term goal of the ODS program is to integrate placed-based programs into the Oregon school system that build upon youth’s skills in hands-on science and their abilities to be effective stewards and leaders in their communities.

 

Outdoor school is intended for all 5th or 6th graders in the state of Oregon. The ODS program’s Regional Coordinators work with school districts in their regions to maximize participation by providing support in the funding application and reporting process, promoting inclusive community engagement, and working with districts to implement creative, community-specific solutions to outdoor school participation barriers. The Outdoor School program website is: https://outdoorschool.oregonstate.edu/.

The main responsibilities of the ODS Central Regional Coordinator will be:

  • Liaise with local school districts, ESDs, outdoor school providers, and local communities to support inclusive and equitable outdoor school programming.
  • Lead the activities of the Central Region and participate in consistent interaction with the Eastern, Northern, and Southern Regional Coordinators.
  • Collaborate with the ODS Team to develop projects that support outdoor school in the region, e.g., professional development workshops, EDAI (equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion) initiatives, application and reporting process, high school leadership program development, etc.

 

This ODS Central Regional Coordinator supports outdoor school programs in equitably serving diverse populations, including those that have been historically marginalized/excluded from participation in outdoor school. As part of the ODS program’s team, this individual approaches their work through an equity lens and commits to ongoing learning and professional growth in equity, diversity, and inclusion.

40% – Outreach

  • Liaise between local ESDs, districts, schools, service providers, and community partners to support the development, implementation, and improvement of equitable and inclusive outdoor school programs.
  • Meet with and build relationships with district administrators and staff and seek to identify and address barriers to outdoor school participation.
  • Visit with outdoor school providers to learn about their programs, observe trainings, and support their continued efforts towards program improvements.
  • Help coordinate school district outreach through marketing, workshops, and communications with and between schools, stakeholders, providers, parents and families, and researchers.
  • Operate within travel and budgetary parameters set forth by the OES Director of ODS.
  • Travel to meet with district administrators, teachers, and partners in Oregon, and attend team meetings. Travel will include day trips and overnight trips within the identified region and statewide.

30% – Partnerships

  • Build partnerships and provide support to local ESDs, school districts, service providers, community partners, and formal and informal educators associated with ODS. Collaborate with these stakeholders in the development, improvement and understanding of outdoor school to support all students having high-quality, equitable and inclusive outdoor school experiences.
  • Build partnerships with historically marginalized individuals/populations as related to outdoor school to assure the programs are including, if not centering their interests and concerns.
  • Review school districts and ESD grant funding applications and reports annually and build relationships with their outdoor school coordinators to support their continued efforts towards program improvements.
  • Collaborate on projects with the Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Coordinator, Outreach and Inclusion Coordinator, Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator, High School Leader Coordinator, and other Regional Coordinators, under the leadership of the OES Director of Outdoor School.
  • Collaborate with the other Regional Coordinators (Eastern, Northern, Southern) and present activity summaries for the Central Oregon region at statewide coordinator meetings.
  • Support outdoor school providers, school districts and ESDs in adhering to EDAI principles in their outdoor school programming, and promote programs that are inclusive, welcoming, and equitable for all students. This includes providing guidance on resources, professional development, and evaluation.
  • Collaborate with Curriculum and Professional Development Coordinator or other partner outdoor education or national resource education organizations to identify training needs and develop/facilitate professional development trainings/workshops and materials for Central Oregon region stakeholders to support consistency and quality to Oregon’s outdoor school programs.
  • Identify training needs and develop/facilitate professional development trainings/workshops and materials for Central Oregon region stakeholders to support the consistency and quality of Oregon’s outdoor school programs.

20% – Outdoor School Team Special Projects

  • Participate in research and evaluation activities including preparing presentations, collecting and reviewing data, and writing sections of the biennial ODS program report in partnership with the ODS Research, Evaluation and Assessment Coordinator.
  • Present information at various internal extension functions, ODS Program Advisory Committee meetings, and external stakeholder events.
  • Suggest personal, professional, and ODS program improvements at the end of each evaluation year.
  • Coordinate with the ODS program Advisory Committee as deemed necessary by OES Director of ODS and coordinate with applicable resource groups.
  • Assist with overall ODS team vision, annual goals, and professional development activities.
  • Attend regular ODS team meetings virtually and in-person quarterly meetings.

10% – Service and Engagement

  • Contribute to equity, inclusion, and diversity of the ODS program.
  • Serve as an effective team member of the ODS program by practicing and contributing to a safe, welcoming, and respectful workplace environment.
  • Serve on university, state, local, and other committees appropriate to position responsibilities and as time is available and participate in professional organization activities.
  • Stay up to date with EDAI research and approaches, particularly those related to outdoor and environmental education of secondary youth.
  • Maintain professional competencies through membership in professional organizations, by attending and presenting at annual conferences, local or regional meetings, and staff development opportunities. These professional organizations include but are not limited to the National Science Teachers Association, Oregon Science Teachers Association, North American Association for Environmental Education, and Epsilon Sigma Phi (ESP).
  • Follow OSU and division brand guidelines, digital publishing standards and digital contact management data integrity practices for programmatic communications, marketing and engagement.
  • Attend training opportunities to build basic knowledge and consistent skills to use digital communications, marketing and engagement technologies relevant to position duties.
  • Participate in professional development opportunities.
  • Promote Oregon State University as a statewide institution of higher learning.

 

What You Will Need:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Education, Community Engagement, Natural Resources, Science, or related field.
  • At least five years’ experience in educational systems (formal and/or nonformal).
  • Demonstrated experience communicating with multiple stakeholders in a community setting, which includes schools and educational programs.
  • Demonstrated strong verbal and written communication skills.
  • Experience building partnerships with different types of organizations (such as school districts, nonprofits, government, private, etc.)
  • Experience with decision-making, problem-solving and program management.
  • Demonstrated life experience, education, and/or training in promoting and enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion through work with historically marginalized populations.
  • General knowledge and ability to use computers, including proficiency with information technology, professional office software and collaborative work platforms.
  • Ability to learn and adapt to using multiple forms of digital communication systems, including websites, email newsletters, social media, and other tools in a changing technological environment.
  • Ability to include, elevate, and incorporate multiple perspectives when working collaboratively with communities and educators.
  • Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
  • Ability to maintain the strictest confidentiality and professionalism.


Working Conditions / Work Schedule:

  • This position will be located in Central Oregon. The ODS office is located in Ballard Extension Hall on OSU’s campus in Corvallis, Oregon. Since this position will serve the central region of Oregon, the work location will be within the central counties in that region (Lane, Linn, Benton, Marion, Lincoln, and Polk; potentially Deschutes and Jefferson and/or Yamhill).
  • A flexible work arrangement can be established via OSU’s Flexible Work Arrangements Agreement Form (FWAA).
  • Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends.
  • Travel, including overnight, will be required to meet with partners, collect data across ODS programs in Oregon, and attend team meetings. Overnight travel can be expected 3-4 times per year.

 

$65,000 - $70,000 Annually