Professional Learning Specialist

Position OverviewThe STE(A)M Professional Learning Specialist supports STE(A)M Trucks educator engagement and professional learning initiatives by partnering with teachers and school leaders to strengthen hands-on, experiential STE(A)M teaching and learning.This part-time role serves as a coach, thought partner, facilitator, and collaborator to educators participating in STE(A)M Truck programming, including the Full STEAM Ahead (FSA) initiative. Coaches work directly with educators through individual coaching, collaborative planning, professional learning, reflection, and implementation support.The ideal candidate is an experienced educator, instructional coach, or professional learning facilitator who understands that effective coaching is not about telling teachers what to do. It is about helping educators identify goals, examine their practice, develop meaningful learning experiences, try new approaches, and reflect on their impact.STE(A)M Trucks educator support is grounded in an Engage. Equip. Empower. model designed to equip educators with the resources, strategies, confidence, and ongoing support necessary to lead impactful STE(A)M learning experiences. Key ResponsibilitiesEducator Coaching & Support 50%Facilitate individual coaching cycles with participating educators.Build trusting, collaborative relationships with educators that encourage reflection, experimentation, and continuous professional growth.Support educators in establishing meaningful instructional goals related to STE(A)M, Maker Education, experiential learning, and learner engagement.Help educators examine current instructional practices, identify opportunities for growth, and develop actionable next steps.Provide feedback, questioning, resources, and instructional support without assuming an evaluative or supervisory role.Support educators as they implement new strategies and reflect on their effectiveness.Help educators establish and monitor individual STE(A)M and Maker Education goals and indicators of progress.Participate in coaching kickoff meetings, calibration sessions, and ongoing STE(A)M Truck coach development.Maintain appropriate confidentiality and professionalism throughout the coaching relationship.The FSA model specifically expects participating educators to engage in coaching and then incorporate STE(A)M and Maker strategies, hands-on learning, and real-world experiences into their teaching.Collaborative Planning & Instructional Design 25%Co-plan with educators to develop intentional, relevant, standards-aligned STE(A)M learning experiences.Help educators connect curriculum and standards to interdisciplinary STEM, project-based, experiential, and Maker Education opportunities.Support educators in identifying meaningful end products, assessments, materials, tools, interdisciplinary connections, and opportunities for learner collaboration.Facilitate collaborative planning conversations using STE(A)M Truck planning tools and protocols.Help educators connect instructional plans to school, department, grade-level, and/or district improvement priorities.Identify additional resources, materials, collaborators, or STE(A)M Truck support needed for successful implementation.STE(A)M Trucks collaborative planning model asks coaches and educators to combine their respective expertise around instructional content, delivery, and assessment. FSA Collaborative Planning Workbook for Stephenson Middle School.pdf The workbook structures that work through a 20-60-20 approach: understanding the educators current state, spending the majority of the session on instructional planning, and concluding by clarifying resources, responsibilities, and next steps.Professional Learning & Facilitation 15%Facilitate or co-facilitate professional learning experiences for educators and school teams.Model effective adult learning and facilitation practices.Support educators in safely and confidently using Maker Cart tools, technologies, materials, and resources.Facilitate opportunities for educators to experience hands-on learning as learners before applying strategies in their own classrooms.Guide educators through reflection, brainstorming, peer feedback, lesson development, and action planning.Create an inclusive learning environment where educators feel comfortable experimenting, asking questions, sharing challenges, and learning from one another.Professional learning within FSA includes educators exploring Maker tools, connecting activities to curriculum standards, brainstorming interdisciplinary applications, receiving peer feedback, and establishing implementation goals. Documentation, Communication & Program Collaboration 10%Maintain accurate records of coaching sessions, collaborative planning meetings, goals, action steps, and educator progress using STE(A)M Truck systems.Communicate scheduling, educator needs, successes, challenges, and relevant program updates with the STE(A)M Truck Programs team.Participate in program meetings, coach calibration, professional development, and collaborative reflection.Help identify trends across coaching relationships that may inform future professional learning or program improvements.Support collection of educator feedback and other program data used to understand program implementation and impact.Collaborate with STE(A)M Truck staff, school leaders, instructional coaches, STEM coordinators, and participating educators.Perform other educator-engagement responsibilities aligned with the goals of STE(A)M Truck programming.The FSA structure intentionally connects educator coaching with collaborative planning, professional learning, school leadership, data analysis, and ongoing program implementation rather than treating coaching as a stand-alone intervention. Pedagogical FoundationsSTE(A)M Educator Coaches should be comfortable learning, applying, and coaching educators around STE(A)M Trucks core pedagogical approaches, including:Maker EducationExperiential LearningUniversal Design for Learning (UDL)Design ThinkingInterdisciplinary STE(A)M learningProject-based learningHands-on and real-world learningThe FSA framework emphasizes learning by making, interdisciplinary learning, reflection, iteration, learner choice, real-world problem solving, creativity, and collaboration. QualificationsBachelors degree in education, curriculum and instruction, instructional design, STE(A)M/STEM education, or a related field preferred.Experience as a classroom educator, instructional coach, curriculum specialist, professional learning facilitator, or comparable educator-facing role.Strong understanding of effective teaching and learning practices.Demonstrated ability to coach, facilitate, or support the professional growth of adult learners.Strong relationship-building and interpersonal skills.Ability to listen deeply, ask purposeful questions, provide constructive feedback, and support educators without approaching coaching as evaluation.Experience designing or facilitating professional learning preferred.Familiarity with project-based learning, experiential learning, Maker Education, design thinking, UDL, or interdisciplinary STE(A)M instruction preferred.Ability to connect instructional strategies to academic standards and existing curriculum.Strong written and verbal communication skills.Strong organization and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple educator relationships and schedules.Comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with a broader program team.Comfortable learning and using new tools, technologies, and Maker Education equipment.Reliable transportation with active personal auto insurance and ability to travel to partner schools throughout Metro Atlanta.Position Details Employment Type: Part-TimeCompensation: $30$45 per hour, commensurate with experienceLocation: Metro Atlanta; school-based programming with some virtual meetings and planningSchedule: Flexible and variable based on educator and school schedules. Regular availability during the school day will be important for this role.Hours may include educator coaching sessions, collaborative planning, professional learning facilitation, preparation, documentation, team meetings, and required training.Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.
recblid p8xyww7x629y9z4o3xv10o667cfpyg