Lower School Innovation Lab Coordinator

Westminster Schools of August seeks an inspiring and nurturing PreK-5th grade Innovation Lab Coordinator. The Lower School Innovation Lab incorporates a hands-on approach to learning that unlocks students’ creativity and fosters critical thinking, collaboration, and creative problem solving. Through the Innovation Lab Program, young students gain competency in design thinking and have increased opportunities to hone their fine motor skills and technology aptitude through exposure to engineering, maker skills, robotics, 3D design and much more. The Innovation Lab Program trains students to chase their curiosity as they learn how to become more resourceful, experimental, collaborative and empathetic learners. Skills and competencies become more intricate and sophisticated as the students advance through the program. 

Minimum Skills & Responsibilities:

• Growing, committed Christian who exhibits a positive and uplifting presence to students and colleagues

• Understand and fully support the mission of Westminster schools of Augusta and be committed to manifesting the highest Christian virtue and personal decorum as a Christian role model both in and out of school, and serve as an example to students, parents and fellow employees in judgment, dignity, respect, and Christian living

• Bachelor’s Degree in education or a STEM related field required

• Previous experience leading STEM, Project Based Learning, and/or Design Thinking initiatives required

• Implement and expand an engaging Innovation Lab Curriculum for students in grades PK-5 that includes design thinking, project based learning, engineering,  maker skills, robotics,etc.

• Teach through the Design Thinking / Engineering Design Process 

• Enrich student learning through innovative methods, development of a growth mindset, meaningful collaboration, and creative problem solving across academic areas. 

• Suggest ways to enhance the physical learning environment to promote creative learning and exploration through a Biblical worldview.

• Differentiate instruction for a range of abilities and interest levels to provide a student-centered, hands-on approach to engaged learning

• Take all necessary and reasonable precautions to protect students, equipment, materials, and facilities .

• Research and seek professional development around current best practices in Design Thinking in the classroom.

• Create educational opportunities for students through outreach to community, university, and business resources, including facilitating connections to community guest speakers and local field trips.

• Work with math and science teachers to help address both math and Next Generation Science standards through the Innovation Lab curriculum.

• Work closely with Lower School Director of Curriculum to track standards that are being addressed in the Innovation Lab Curriculum

• Record Innovation Lab curriculum in digital curriculum mapping tool 

• Assess and document the accomplishments of students on a regular basis and provide progress reports on growth as required.

• Demonstrate professional behavior, including discretion, good judgment, integrity and support for coworkers.

• Work collaboratively with the Lower School Principal, Asst. Principal, and Media Specialist to coordinate skills development in the Lower School Innovational Lab.

• Effectively and proactively communicate with parents while displaying a heart of empathy and a spirit of service and support.

• Maintain the Innovation Lab Budget and request the ordering of new supplies and equipment as needed.

• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills

• Demonstrate excellent communication with parents and students

• Demonstrate strong understanding of pedagogy and curriculum implementation 

• Demonstrate strong technology skills including digital planbooks, digital gradebooks, productivity skills, programming basic robots (Example: Ozobots, Dash bots, drones, etc.)

Note:

This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee in this position.