Children’s Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF) is seeking a Houston Sustainable Schools Program Director.

Job Description:
F/T salaried exempt position.
The Program Director will assess optimal curriculum and professional development
access points for CELF’s Education for Sustainability (EfS) programs in Houston K12
schools in order to identify pilot schools for Program launch in 2019-2020 school year.
Program Director will assess current Houston school sustainability and environmental
literacy programs vis-à-vis campus, curriculum and community connections in order to
prioritize opportunities for CELF’s Program.

Program Director will work collaboratively with CELF, specifically with the Executive
Director and Director of Education, to become fluent in CELF’s programs and mission.
This will require travel to CELF NY office for training with CELF educator team during
programs scheduled in 1Q and 2Q and during the Annual Summer Institute in July 2019.

Program Director will meet with Executive Director and Houston-based Corporate
Partner to identify opportunities for employee engagement in the Program.
Program Director will focus on delivery of CELF professional development programs for
K-12 schools. These programs will include but are not limited to: onsite planning
meetings with school administrators and teachers; onsite professional development
workshops; and a Houston-based CELF Summer Institute.

Preferred Background and Experience
● 3+ years experience as a secondary classroom teacher or K-12 administrator
● Planning and facilitating professional development for teachers
● Inquiry-based curriculum design and implementation
● Experience in implementing interdisciplinary learning
● Knowledge and application of environmental science ; background in
environmental justice a plus
● Project management experience
● Knowledge of TEKS and ability to integrate them into project-based learning
curriculum design
● Familiarity with STEM Project Based Learning curriculum
● Experience teaching in diverse learning environments
● Knowledge of and experience in applied systems thinking

● Additional plus: second career teacher with corporate background related to
environmental field, i.e., environmental engineering; corporate sustainability

Skills and Abilities
● Analytical: Ability to conduct gap analysis
● Flexibility: Can adapt to necessary changes required during the project
experience
● Communication: Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing
● Collaborative Working Style: Ability to multi-task and work collaboratively with
teams of educators and community partners
● Project Management: Manage multiple deadlines, priorities, budgets, and
professional development coordination.

Job Responsibilities:

1. Coordinate and conduct meetings with Houston K12 school leaders to assess
   opportunities and pitch pilot program.
2. Research existing sustainability and environmental literacy programs in Houston
   K12 schools and identify opportunities for CELF Program. Research will include,
   but is not limited to, topline assessment of:
   CAMPUS
   • A Sustainability Initiative
   • Sustainability Coordinators
   • Sustainable campus features (i.e., renewable energy; zero waste; energy
   efficient design; gardens and composting; water conservation/recycling;
   low/zero-emissions school transportation; etc)
   CURRICULUM
   • Project-Based Learning
   • Interdisciplinary Learning
   • Place-Based Learning
   • STEM/STEAM
   COMMUNITY
   • Relationships with community environmental/outdoor education centers
   • Service Learning Opportunities
   • Student Sustainability Clubs
   • Houston’s major climate and sustainability projects, i.e., C40 City
   Commitments, etc.
3. Train with CELF Education Team to learn CELF’s model of professional
   development and principles and practices of Education for Sustainability.
4. Oversee professional development programs and manage communications
   across multiple schools, staff, and community partners. Conceive, develop and
   implement new programming in conjunction with strategic plans. Coordinate
   with Finance team to ensure budget targets are achieved.
5. Provide leadership for principals, teachers, and other school learning community
   members in executing the vertical and horizontal alignment of Education for
   Sustainability Project Based Learning curriculum through professional learning
   communities
6. Work collaboratively in all aspects of program assessment with independent
   evaluators and applies data analyses strategically in making decisions for
   program improvement.
7. Keep current in Education for Sustainability and standards-based curriculum best
   practices and take proactive steps toward continual program improvement
   Assume leadership role in pursuing new contracts, cultivating partnerships and
   working collaboratively with community partners in program delivery,
   mentoring, and community outreach.
8. Assume leadership role in pursuing new contracts, cultivating partnerships and
   working collaboratively with community partners in program delivery,
   mentoring, and community outreach.
9. Lead CELF’s Houston Sustainable Schools Program. Ensure clear communication of goals and objectives and keep projects on track. Regularly review performance and offer feedback.
10. Liaise with Corporate Partner and School Partners to identify and coordinate
    opportunities for CP employees to engage in school sustainability programs.
    Liaise with Higher Education Partner to establish relationship for Summer
    Institute and other credit-bearing programs.

ABOUT CELF:
CELF’s goal is to create an environmentally literate citizenry through K-12 education.
Objectives and strategies include:
• Increase student interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
using environmental and social justice issues as the context for teaching and
learning.
• Increase environmental stewardship through classroom learning, time spent outdoors in service learning opportunities and experiential programs and hands-
on sustainability projects.

• Prepare students to understand, analyze, and address local and global
sustainability issues by working with K-12 schools to integrate sustainability into
existing curricula.
• Establish a network of practitioners who collaborate and contribute to a growing
body of exemplary instructional approaches and curricula that develop students’
EfS knowledge, skills and values.
• Provide professional development for teachers and school leaders to improve
environmental and sustainability subject matter knowledge and pedagogical
skills in teaching about environmental and sustainability issues, including the use
of interdisciplinary, field-based, and research- based learning, effective
assessment practices, and innovative technology in and outside of the classroom.