Teacher in Residence

Full-year professional leave opportunity for a Minneapolis Public Schools teacher at The Bakken Museum.

The Bakken seeks applicants for a leadership development opportunity in elementary science.  The successful candidate will join The Bakken’s education staff as Teacher in Residence for the 2010-2011 school year.

The 2010-2011 Teacher in Residence (TIR) will work in collaboration with Bakken and district staff to help plan, improve and expand The Bakken /MPS School Partnership Program for fourth-grade students as well as the teachers, elementary science specialists and other district staff who support these students.

The Bakken/MPS School Partnership Program consists of classroom residencies and teacher professional development designed to build the Science Assets of fourth grade students.  Science Assets are a set of attitudes, skills and understandings (based on research, standards and experience) that prepare students to be competitive and successful in the 21st-century workforce and informed and interested citizens regarding science-related issues that impact the world in which they live.  These assets include: confidence in one’s ability to do science, ability to apply creative thinking skills in science, knowing people (family, friends, teachers) who value science, and seeing science as relevant personally and to the broader community.  The School Partnership Program uses arts-based instructional strategies to actively engage all students to build these assets.  The program is designed for all students, with a focus on those from groups traditionally underrepresented and underserved in science, such as, students of color, students of poverty and girls.  The program is linked with the teaching of fourth grade magnetism and electricity, but is applicable to the teaching and learning of science more broadly. 

The 2010-2011 TIR will participate in Bakken education programs as well as play a leadership role, in collaboration with Bakken and MPS staff, to support the teaching of and professional development for fourth grade magnetism and electricity curriculum. The TIR will serve as a liaison between MPS and The Bakken, to implement and revise magnetism and electricity curriculum framework while working closely with the Curriculum and Instruction Department as well as with teachers and students throughout the district.

Specific duties of the TIR include working on collaborative teams to: help develop, revise and implement fourth-grade science curriculum; integrate science with other disciplines, especially math and reading; provide teacher professional development; and evaluate program effectiveness.  As a result of this professional leave, the participating teacher will increase their expertise in and knowledge of: science content, best practices and innovative strategies for teaching science, program evaluation, and providing staff development.

The successful applicant for The Bakken’s Teacher in Residence program:

• Is a licensed Minneapolis teacher, meeting any professional leave requirements.
• Has significant experience teaching in grades K-8 or comparable experience.
• Has experience in and enjoys teaching science, especially magnetism and electricity.
• Is interested in:
  • Practicing innovative science teaching in a unique environment,
  • Learning more about the science and history of magnetism and electricity,
  • Impacting science education at the district level,
  • Working in Bakken programs for students and teachers,
  • Serving as a liaison to teachers, schools and the district,
  • Improving their science teaching and learning.

To apply for The Bakken’s Teacher in Residence position for the 2010-2011 school year, applications are being accepted until Friday, February 26th, 2010.  The application should consist of a cover letter and resume that includes the following information:

• Teaching experience including grade and duration at each grade, science teaching, participation in science professional development, and other relevant experience.   
• Any innovative science teaching such as integrating science with reading/writing or mathematics, piloting curricula/programs or assessment strategies, science-related disciplinary literacy, science-based professional learning groups, etc. 
• Leadership experience at the school and district level, including any facilitating of teacher professional development such as peer coaching, modeling, classroom observations, workshop delivery, professional learning communities, etc.
• Experience working with diverse student populations, especially those from groups traditionally underrepresented and/or underserved in science: students of color, students of poverty, and girls. 
• Names and contact information for two professional references. 

Applications will be reviewed and processed as they are received.  Selected candidates will be invited to participate in interviews.

To apply for the Teacher in Residence position at The Bakken, please submit application materials to:

Attention: Steven Walvig, Director of Education
The Bakken Museum
3537 Zenith Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55416-4623

Fax 612-927-7265 or via e-mail using his last name (Walvig) @thebakken.org.

Questions regarding Teacher in Residence position may be directed to any of the following people:

Steven Walvig, Director of Education, The Bakken Museum
612-926-3878 x202 or via e-mail using his last name (Walvig) @thebakken.org

Barb Wasmoen, 2009-10 Teacher in Residence, The Bakken Museum
612-926-3878 x228 or via e-mail using her last name (Wasmoen) @thebakkemn.org

Joe Alfano, MPS Elementary Science Specialist
612-668-5374 or via e-mail at joe.alfano@mpls.k12.mn.us

Minneapolis teachers who have served as The Bakken´s Museum´s Teacher in Residence include:

2009-2010 Barb Wasmoen
2008-2009 Marvin Boucher
2007-2008 Andrea Cortés-Eastlund
2006-2007 Gustavo M. Lanata
2005-2006 Deb Bahl-Moore
2004-2005 David Higley
2003-2004 Jim McComas-Bussa
2002-2003 Beth Ness
2001-2002 Sonja Walker
2000-2001 Marium Toure
1999-2000 Lee Fabel
1998-1999 Kathy Scoggin