The Olana Partnership 

Contracted K-12 Educator  

Department: Education 

Reports to: Education Coordinator & Director of Education and Public Programs  

FLSA Status: Contracted – these positions are not full or part-time employment and are paid a per-program rate.  

About the Position:  

1. The Olana Partnership seeks two contracted K-12 Educators to join the Education Team and provide interactive experiences for K-12 school, youth, and family audiences at Olana State Historic Site.  
2. These positions facilitate specific student, family, and youth programs on a contracted basis. 
3. These positions are not full or part-time employment and are paid a per-program rate.  
4. Olana’s school, youth, and family programs focus on art, environmental science, history, and architecture through place-based learning at Olana, a landmark site of American art.
5. K-12 Educators at Olana lead field trips, weekend family programs, drop-in artmaking programs, and summer youth programs.  
6. All programs incorporate inquiry-based teaching strategies and hands-on activities for all ages.  
7. Trainings are provided in the Spring and Fall, for which Educators are paid.  
8. K-12 Educators work on selected program days, Tuesdays-Saturdays, when available. 

Compensation: Educators are paid $200 per school field trip ($100 for abridged tours). This rate includes prep, research, and clean-up. The training rate is $25 per hour. This contracted role does not provide benefits.  

Position Responsibilities:  

1. Facilitate field trips, school programs, family, and youth programs by engaging students, teachers, and families in inquiry and hands-on activities.  
2. Attend 1-3 trainings led by The Olana Partnership staff throughout the year.  
3. Work within provided program guidelines for each program and design lesson plans that are responsive to grade level, audience, and developmental needs. 
4. Prepare materials, research, and teaching tools for each group’s visit.  
5. Clean up after each program and help the Education Coordinators maintain organization at the Wagon House Education Center. 
6. Work with full-time staff to communicate about specific program needs, concerns, and/or evaluate programs as needed.  

 Qualifications:  

1. Prior K-12 teaching experience is required.  
2. AA, AS, BA, or BS in art, art education, education, history, art history, or museum studies preferred.  
3. Prior experience teaching in a museum or cultural setting is appreciated but not required.   
4. Excellent communication skills and enthusiasm for working with school-aged children are required.  
5. Interest in researching content related to Frederic Church’s Olana to prepare for field trips, and the ability to learn and retain information to support age-appropriate program facilitation, are required.  
6. A reflective approach and ability to think creatively. 
7. Ability to work independently and proactively while being a team player. 
8. An interest in fostering accessible and equitable experiences for school groups in museum and cultural spaces. 
9. Commitment to equity and accessibility within education environments. Documentation of this commitment preferred.   
10. English fluency required; Spanish and/or Bengali language fluency is a plus. 
11. Red Cross First Aid Certification preferred 
12. Must be able to carry chairs and tables (around 30lbs), walk longer distances during outdoor programs, and work outside in all seasons.  
13. Please note that all contracted educators will be required to go through a background check.  

About the Organization: The Olana Partnership (TOP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization whose mission is to preserve and interpret Olana, Frederic Church’s artistic master work comprised of 250 acres of designed landscape; a Persian-inspired house and studio; and a historic farm complex. TOP operates Olana State Historic Site in a cooperative agreement with the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Olana hosts more than 200,000 visitors annually and is a National Historic Landmark. TOP continuously introduces new educational programs that reflect our vision of Olana as a true teaching museum, offering diverse learning experiences, including field trips, summer youth programs, family programs, virtual webinars, workshops, classes, walking tours, performances, and events.  

To apply, please submit a resume, a short cover letter, and a sample lesson plan demonstrating your experience working with youth audiences in an educational capacity to education@olana.org.