What are the responsibilities and job description for the Curriculum Specialist - Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute position at Colonial Williamsburg Foundation?
Who We Are
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.
Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.
Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.
About the Position
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Curriculum Specialist to develop and implement engaging, history-focused educational materials. The ideal candidate will have a robust background in both teaching and curriculum writing, with a proven ability to leverage primary sources and museum collections to create impactful learning experiences. This role requires expertise in integrating technology to support and enhance teaching and learning, and an understanding of databases and/or digital asset management systems.
Essential Functions:
- Update and add to BMWTI’s Educator Resource Library, initially concentrating on making the database more accessible, searchable, and user-friendly.
- Design, develop, and refine K-12 curricula that incorporates historical content from Colonial Williamsburg’s extensive collections and primary sources.
- Create interdisciplinary lesson plans, modules, and assessment tools aligning with state and national standards that support the summer Teacher Institute and its participants.
- Collaborate with historians, educators, and museum professionals to ensure the accuracy and relevance of content.
- Coordinate and deliver professional development for teachers as part of the Summer Teacher Institute staff.
- Model effective teaching strategies and provide support to educators to enhance their instructional practices.
- Develop and implement strategies to integrate digital tools and resources into curriculum.
- Utilize educational technology to create interactive and engaging learning materials.
Collections and Primary Source Utilization:
- Incorporate CW’s artifacts, collections, and primary sources into educational resources and lesson plans.
- Develop strategies for using Colonial Williamsburg’s collections to enrich classroom instruction.
Collaboration and Guidance:
- Work on a team of educators, historians, and digital specialists to create multi-platform content, creating specialized teacher and student components.
- Collaborate with the Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships on curriculum for History.org, that will enhance the Teacher Institute’s Educator Resource Library.
Evaluation and Improvement:
- Assess and evaluate the effectiveness of curricula and instructional materials.
- Use feedback and data to make informed updates to & recommendations for curriculum.
Required and Preferred Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in education, History, or a related field
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in classroom teaching, with a demonstrated ability to write, create and implement effective curricula.
Preferred: Master’s degree
Qualifications:
- Proven experience in curriculum writing and development.
- Experience using primary sources and museum collections in educational settings.
- Familiarity with educational technology and its application in teaching and learning.
- Strong understanding of K-12 educational standards and best practices.
- Exceptional writing, communication, and presentation skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams and stakeholders.
- Proficiency in using digital tools and platforms for education.
- Familiarity with searchable database systems.
- Passion for American history and education.
- Innovative thinking with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
