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Job Description / Duties

This is a part-time contract position that pays $45/hour plus mileage and materials. WMWA has a $20,000 budget for this program in 2024. Most work occurs August-November and March-May of each year.

The Educator visits elementary schools to teach one-hour long classes within the WMWA area of Hennepin County: Rogers, Dayton, Champlin, Corcoran, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Park, Brooklyn Center, Osseo, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, Plymouth, Medina, Medicine Lake, St. Louis Park, Minnetonka and Minneapolis.

This program was developed to meet elementary science curriculum requirements. The focus of the program is to present water resource-based classes to fifth grade students as they are introduced to the concept of the water cycle. There are three one-hour class modules : Lesson 1, What is a Watershed and Why do We Care?, provides an overview of the watershed concept and is specific to each school's watershed. It also describes pollutant issues and introduces the Adopt-A-Drain program. Lesson 2, The Water Cycle - More than 2-Dimensional!, describes the movement and status of water as it travels through the water cycle and pollution addition and cleansing as water moves through the cycle. Lesson 3, Stormwater Walk, investigates movement of surface water on school grounds, creates a stormwater map of the schoolyard to predict the flow of water and identify pollution sources, and discuss strategies to collect and manage stormwater.

WMWA has been providing this programming to students since 2013 and has had over 22,000 students participate in Lesson 1 since the program’s inception. The Educator is expected to build rapport with schools and communicate to schedule classes during the school year. Most schools schedule visits in October/November and April/May of each year. There is a Video of the Watershed PREP class at http://www.westmetrowateralliance.org/watershed-prep-class.html that was made during COVID for students to follow along with at home.

In addition to the Watershed PREP classes in schools, there are several city events throughout the year that the Educator will attend and table at to engage attendees. The program may expand into other outreach areas as well. The Educator will also attend monthly meetings of the WMWA Committee to provide updates on the program and other outreach opportunities.

Qualifications / Required Skills

The West Metro Water Alliance (WMWA) Watershed Educator should have an education, water sciences or communications background. Licensed teachers are preferred but not required.

Salary: $45/hr - Approx 350-400 hours/year

Contact Information

West Metro Water Alliance
763.553.1144
info@jass.biz

Employer Profile

The West Metro Water Alliance (WMWA) is the education and outreach arm of four local watershed management commissions based in Hennepin County.