Weeksville Educator

About Weeksville Heritage Center

Weeksville Heritage Center (WHC) is a historic site and cultural center in Central Brooklyn that uses education, arts, and a social justice lens to preserve, document and inspire engagement with the history of Weeksville, one of the largest free Black communities in pre-Civil War America, and the Historic Hunterfly Road Houses. Founded in 1838, Weeksville was the second largest of approximately 100 independent African-American communities established before the Civil War.

When a group of community activists rediscovered three remaining original homes 1968, they purchased, rehabilitated, and restored the Hunterfly Road Houses, re-opening their doors as the Weeksville Heritage Center in 1973. In 2014, WHC opened its new Cultural Arts and Education Center and campus, including a visual arts gallery, performance space, resource center, and administrative offices. WHC is now poised for a bright new era, with the resources and vision in place to fully activate our history and expand our education, preservation, and public programming.

Recently announced as New York City’s newest Cultural Institutions Group (CIG) member, the first since 1998, WHC is one of New York City’s cultural treasures, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the story of the 19th century African-American community of Weeksville, a nationally significant, exceptionally well-documented and rare extant example of an independent African-American community organized by Black entrepreneurs and land investors to promote economic, social, and political rights.

The Opportunity

Weeksville Educators are essential to facilitating our tours and programs. While the primary responsibility of the role is to conduct historic house tours for groups and walk-in visitors, Weeksville Educators help visitors see, connect, and engage with both Weeksville’s historical past and its contemporary importance in new ways. They are trained in student-centered approaches and empower visitors to express themselves and their values, opinions, and thoughts. Weeksville Educators work with Education staff to facilitate school and adult tours. Additionally, they will support Programming staff with public programs and events, reaching a variety of audiences.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Facilitate interactive tours of Hunterfly Road houses for a variety of audiences, including Pre-K-12 and university students, adults, and families, including:
    • teaching using inquiry-based, culturally-responsive approaches
    • adapting teaching to multiple learning styles
    • aligning tours with the museum’s & education best practices
    • helping visitors feel comfortable at the museum
    • following up with tour groups, as needed
  • Lead hands-on workshops
  • Set up and clean up tour and workshop materials
  • Assist with the development of new and current tours, workshops, and other programs
  • Research special exhibitions and the museum’s archives
  • Serve as liaison between visitors and Weeksville, adapting to the needs and interests of each group where possible
  • Assist with outreach efforts to schools and other communities
  • Provide general program and administrative support as needed
  • Attend training sessions on updated and new tour and workshop content to stay updated on information being delivered to the public
  • Collaborate with fellow Weeksville Educators the Facilities team on program logistics
  • Assist the Vice President of Learning and Engagement in facilitating extended school partnerships, teacher professional development, public programs and events, and other community-focused programs.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Qualifications

  • Teaching experience in any setting is required with a preference for those working with a variety of audiences, particularly PreK-12 and a knowledge of arts-integration
  • Bachelor’s degree in museum studies, art, art history, arts administration, history, social sciences, or related fields; Or relevant work experience will be considered
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office & Google Workspace
  • Creative thinker, adaptable, independent, and collaborative
  • Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
  • Willingness to learn and update teaching methods based on best practices and the needs of each group
  • An understanding of museum education theory and best practices as well as a strong knowledge of African-American history are preferred

Schedule

The schedule is flexible and is based on the availability of each Weeksville Educator. Weeksville Educators must work an average of 5 hours per week inclusive of leading tours, team meetings, and trainings. Most programs are in-person at the museum, with some opportunities at in area schools, and virtually. Trainings occur both in-person and virtually. The museum is closed on Sundays & Mondays so the work days will most likely be Tuesday through Saturday.

Compensation

This is a nonexempt hourly position with an hourly pay range of $20 – $23.

How to Apply

Submit a resume and cover letter to: inquiries@weeksvillesociety.org. Please include Weeksville Educator in the subject line and include where you found this job posting in the body of your email. Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted. Thank you for your interest in the position.

Weeksville Heritage Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates for employment are considered without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, physical disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.