KAYSC Freedom School Servant Leader Intern

The Science Museum of Minnesota (SMM) is a partner with the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools program. The SMM Freedom School program seeks to empower you to change our world through science. Servant Leaders are responsible for the front-line care and nurturing of the children in the program. Using Freedom School curriculum and model, the Servant Leaders serve as facilitators in the classroom and as leaders of parent workshops and community outreach activities. This is a summer only position that works primarily offsite at partner schools, with occasional meetings at the Science Museum of Minnesota.

This is a seasonal summer position.

Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Design and lead STEM/Social Justice service-learning projects that are relevant to the lives and communities in which KAYSC youth are a part of.
• Deliver the Integrated Reading Curriculum to a class of no more than ten students for 6–8 weeks during the summer months, according to the standards developed by the Children's Defense Fund and the local program sponsor.
• Design, set up, maintain and break down classroom space, including securing and organizing the appropriate materials.
• Collaborate with staff to establish and maintain a supportive and structured environment for the children entrusted to their care.
• Serve as a Harambee! Leader each day of program operation, motivate and inspire students
• Serve as a leader of afternoon activities and other special events; chaperone field trips
• Recruit and retain middle school youth for STEM service learning opportunities with a focus on girls, youth of color, and youth from low-income families.
• Develop authentic relationships with both youth and their parent/guardian that include clear and consistent communication regarding both the youth and parent/guardian’s experience and expectations.
• Manage large groups of children and parents at weekly parent empowerment meetings
• Exhibit positive behavior and attitude; model a mature and professional demeanor.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Competencies

1. Communication: Expresses oneself clearly in conversations and interactions with others and ensures that information is shared with others who should be informed.
2. Collaboration: Develops, maintains, and strengthens partnerships with others inside or outside the organization who can provide information, assistance, and support.
3. Customer Service: Demonstrates an understanding of the SMM mission by ensuring that their own interactions with internal and external customers consistently support the mission.
4. Fostering an Inclusive Community: Contributes to a museum environment, and people, that reflect and respond to the diverse needs and cultures of our community (internal and external).
5. Results Orientation: Focuses on providing a best in class visitor experience through work outcomes by meeting personal and organizational work objectives.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent, some college preferred.
• Experience:
  • Working directly with youth from communities underrepresented in STEM
  • Utilizing and teaching STEM content for academic or leisure purposes
  • As a mentor, staff or family member supporting youth with positive self-development
  • Framing science, technology, engineering and math with a social justice lens
• Work Environment: Ability to transport self to offsite locations and the Science Museum of Minnesota.

Starting Compensation: $19-$20 per hour (depending on qualifications)

Schedule: 40 hours/week (full time)

The job duties describe the general nature and level of work assigned to this position and is not an exhaustive list. For some positions, detailed procedures may be outlined in supplemental documents.

We exist to turn on the science and inspire learning, inform policy and improve lives. We envision a world in which all people have the power to use science to make lives better. We value science as an essential literacy and strive for inclusion inside and out so that our museum and our people reflect and respond to the diverse needs and cultures of our community. It is the museum’s policy and practice to hire and promote qualified job seekers from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. 

Salary : $19 - $20