Sternberg Museum of Natural History Education Director

Position Description: Full time 12-month, nontenure-track educator with
specialization a following field: paleontology, zoology, botany, geology,
ecology, environmental education, informal science education, museum studies
or other related area of expertise.

Responsibilities: This position will require developing, planning, and
coordinating educational programs for diverse audiences, including children,
teachers, community groups, the public, and those with disabilities or
special needs. The education director must be able to work closely and
cooperatively with private and state school systems in scheduling tours and
programs. Programs may include but are not limited to general and
subject-specific museum tours, touch carts, talks, films, come-and-go public
events, classes, field trips, outreach booths, and teacher in-service
training. The educator will apply sound educational theory and conduct
formative evaluation to maximize educational effectiveness of programs. All
school-targeted programs will reinforce Kansas curriculum standards. The
education director will also be responsible for developing supplemental
educational resources (both online podcasting and print) for use by teachers
and/or the general public. The educator will oversee the museum docent
program, including initial and ongoing training in both accurate scientific
content and effective presentation techniques. The education director is
responsible for working closely with the biology, geology, and education
departments in developing and overseeing a museum education intern program.
The education director may also teach one course per year and supervise
interns in informal science education as a part of a proposed museum studies
certificate. The education director works with the exhibits director in
developing tours and educational programs around the exhibits and in
developing new exhibits with built in educational programming. Programs are
expected to be self-sustaining with respect to all non-salary costs for
these programs.
The Discovery Room at the Sternberg Museum is a vital component of its
educational mission.


Qualifications: Qualifications include an earned Master’s degree in
informal science education, and/or a biological or geological discipline
that relates to natural history. Other necessary qualifications include
strong communication skills and the ability to interact with diverse
constituents. Preferred qualifications include a Master of Science degree
and teaching experience in formal and informal settings.

Starting Date: Negotiable
July1, 2010 to September 1, 2010

To Apply: Contact Dr. Reese Barrick, Director, Sternberg Museum of Natural
History, 3000 Sternberg Drive, Hays, KS 67601. Phone: 1-877-332-1165.
E-mail: rebarrick@fhsu.edu



Preference will be given to applications postmarked by June 1, 2011.
Electronic applications are encouraged. Applications must include at minimum:
1. Letter of application
2. Curriculum vita
3. Photocopies of all post-secondary transcripts
4. Statement of professional interests
5. Names, addresses, and telephone numbers of four references
Please do NOT request letters of recommendation.


The Sternberg Museum of Natural History occupies a completely renovated
(completed in 1999), unique building adjacent to Interstate-70 Highway in
Hays, Kansas. Its 101,000 square feet of floor space accommodates both
public areas and collection management space. The collection space houses
extensive research collections representing the disciplines of mammalogy,
ornithology, herpetology, ichthyology, entomology, botany, vertebrate
paleontology, and paleobotany. The total number of specimens in these
collections is in excess of 3 million, and the Museum thus serves as a major
research resource for the academic departments of Biological Sciences and
Geosciences. Public exhibits of the Museum are internationally known and
focus on animals of the Cretaceous time period. These are supplemented with
a program of temporary exhibitions, both leased and prepared in-house,
relating to a broad spectrum of natural history topics. Educational
programming for adults and especially for children is designed to instill a
fascination for plants and animals in their environment.

Notice of Non-discrimination - Fort Hays State University does not
discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, age,
disability, Vietnam era veteran status, or special disabled veteran status
in its programs and activities. The University employs only United States
citizens and aliens who are lawfully authorized to work in the United
States. The director of affirmative action, coordinator of Title IX, Title
VI, Section 504, and ADA regulations, may be contacted at 600 Park Street,
Hays, KS 67601, 785-628-4033. FHSU is committed to the cultural enrichment
of its student body and work force through Affirmative Action and Equal
Education/Employment Opportunity. Finalists will have consented to and
successfully completed a criminal background check. Members of historically
underrepresented social groups in higher education, women, and persons with
disability or veteran status are encouraged to apply.