About the Organization

Sankofa Community Development Corporation’s mission is to build healthier communities for generations to come. The Sankofa Youth Wetlands Education Project, located in the vulnerable Lower Ninth Ward community of New Orleans, creates a framework for ecology education, nature-to-classroom connections, and equitable access to nature that will ignite K-8 students’ knowledge of our environmental challenges in Southern Louisiana, and will provide educators with key professional development opportunities.

The Youth Wetlands Education Project will: (1) develop and expand a variety of environmental education field studies aligned with the state content school standards; (2) offer structured experiences that integrate ecology, natural history, health and wellness, art, and local history, giving students not only important time to explore nature, but also to build on key concepts as they advance through grades; (3) host educators and from New Orleans Public Schools with environmental lesson plans and professional development opportunities; and (4) engage ecologists, naturalists, and scientists from Louisiana and around the country who utilize the Wetland Park as space for research and coastal restoration studies.

Position Description

The Program Coordinator will work collaboratively with our community partners, to support the education of K-8 students on environmental principles and concepts through place- and project based learning, while simultaneously supporting coastal resilience initiatives and wildlife habitat restoration. Our approach focuses on the belief that children are active participants in learning, and co-creators of their learning experiences. Place-based education enables teachers to personalize learning by grounding lessons in real-world communities and contexts, and giving students agency in determining what, how, when and where they learn. By tailoring learning to each student’s strengths, needs and interests, instruction can be interdisciplinary, and integrated across fields.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Coordinate interactive outdoor-based learning opportunities to teachers, schools and K-8 youth
• Connect directly to K-8 environmental education and Louisiana Department of Education priorities
• Create equitable, inclusive learning experiences for all children
• Provide a responsive, hands-on learning framework that builds on teachers’ needs and sparks students’ curiosity
• Engage and retain a diverse, highly-effective collaborative of researchers, educators, environmental specialists and community members at the Wetland Park
• Design environmental experiences that align with healthy child development, recognize strategies for diverse learners, and incorporate age-appropriate play;
• Increase institutional knowledge of best practices through industry research and school alliances.

Education, Certifications, and Work Related Experience:

• Experience with youth education
• Understanding of child/adolescent development
• Application of motivational strategies for education

Technical Competencies and Skills:

• Strong work ethic
• Multitasking and time management skills
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate practices in elementary education
• Interpersonal skills

Working Conditions:

• Lift up to 25 lbs.
• Repetitive bending, stretching and stooping.
• Have mobility required to ensure the safety of the children.
• Work outdoors in any variety of weather.
• Have visual and hearing capabilities that allow consistent supervision of children.
• Perform light duty cleaning.

Job Type: Contract

Pay: $20.00 - $22.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Choose your own hours
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• Environmental Education: 2 years (Preferred)

License/Certification:

• Driver's License (Required)

Work Location: In person