Letter to President Obama; December 2 next meeting date; Race to the Top announced; Research Experiences for Teachers; Job Opp
Greetings STEM Ed Coalition members !
There has been a good deal of activity recently, a few things to note:
1. Letter to President Obama from members of the STEM Ed Coalition on National Lab Day and National STEM Week. For your review is the most recent draft of the letter and signatories. We have some time to collect more groups interested in this initiative, so please forward this on to organizations NOT signed for their consideration. The letter will close on Friday, November 20,
2. December meeting: The next STEM Ed Coalition meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2 from 10:30 to noon on CAPITOL HILL in Rayburn 2325. Please make a note of the new meeting room. We have a great deal to discuss including appropriations, ESEA reauthorizaiton, and National Lab Day.
3. Race to the Top: The Department has released the application for Race to the Top, more information can be found at
http://www.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/index.html. We urge you to alert your constitutents.
4.. From the National Science Foundation: Research experiences for science teachers can have a direct impact on the achievement of their students, increasing their performance significantly on state assessments. There are also economic benefits–to the schools and to society at large–in having science teachers take part in research experiences. These are the findings Samuel C. Silverstein of Columbia University and colleagues describe in the Oct. 16 issue of Science magazine. More at http://www.nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115775&WT.mc_id=USNSF_51
5. Job Opportunity from the Afterschool Alliance. See below.
Cheers
James and Jodi
James Brown
Co-Chair, STEM Education Coalition
Manager, Policy and Government Affairs
American Chemical Society
Office of Legislative and Government Affairs
(202) 872-6229 (office)
(202) 872-6206 (fax)
Jodi Peterson
Co-Chair, STEM Education Coalition
Assistant Executive Director, Legislative and Public Affairs
National Science Teachers Association
1840 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201
(703) 312-9214 (office)
(703) 841-0250 (fax)
Position: Director of STEM Policy Director
Position Overview: The Director of STEM Policy will be responsible for creating and advancing federal, state and local opportunities and policies to expand resources and activities that provide students with access to a rich STEM curriculum in their afterschool programs. The Director of STEM Policy will work with senior management to develop policy goals and implement a policy plan that helps to advance afterschool for all. The Director of STEM Policy will build relationships with policy makers and partner organizations to advance public funding of afterschool, and will coordinate policy efforts with state and local afterschool providers and advocates. The Director of STEM Policy will report to the Policy Director.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
Work with senior management and consultants to develop the Afterschool Alliance’s policy positions and plans around promotion of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) education;
Assist in advancing the Afterschool Alliance’s policy priorities at the federal level;
Monitor afterschool-related STEM policy developments at the federal, state, and local levels;
Build and maintain relationships with state and national organizations, especially the Coalition for Science After School, with the goal of promoting STEM education after school;
Communicate changes in federal policy relating to STEM education to afterschool providers, advocates and partner organizations;
Monitor, with the assistance of the Policy Director and the Field Outreach Coordinator, the impact of changes in federal policy on afterschool programs;
Represent the Afterschool Alliance with partner organizations and in public settings, including conferences and briefings specific to promoting STEM;
Provide consultation and technical assistance to advocates and federal, state and local policy makers; and
Update and maintain STEM-related materials on the policy and research sections of the Afterschool Alliance website.
The Director of STEM Policy will not engage in any lobbying activity at the federal or state levels. He or she will educate policy makers and staff on the need for additional support for and commitment to STEM and afterschool, but will not participate in any direct or indirect lobbying.
Qualifications: The Afterschool Alliance offers a well-balanced work environment with a supportive and growing team and opportunities for advancement. The Director of STEM Policy must possess expertise and experience in both the STEM and federal afterschool policy fields. A master’s degree is desired, and public policy experience related to Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, and/or Education or Youth Development is essential. Candidates must also have strong writing, research and analytical skills – including the ability to analyze technical information and data and to convey this information to a variety of audiences, including federal, state and local policy makers, researchers, advocates and the public. The ability to undertake assignments with little supervision, excellent interpersonal skills, proficiency in MS Office Suite, and competence in managing multiple projects under tight deadlines are all essential. Candidates must be detail oriented and work well in a team setting. Salary will be commensurate with experience. Excellent benefits, including health insurance, life and short- and long-term disability insurance, a 403(b) retirement program, flexible spending accounts and generous vacation, sick leave and holiday schedules.
Please send cover letter, resume, writing sample and references to info@afterschoolalliance.org.
The Afterschool Alliance is an equal opportunity employer.
