Classroom Coordinator

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Research department within the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS).

About the Role:

The incumbent will act as a regional coordinator for the UMLA Project Orchid/Smithsonian Classroom Cultivation program. Coordinating between classrooms, UMLA, and SERC scientists, and other regions of the Classroom Cultivation program.

The incumbent will invite and onboard new teachers, support new and returning teachers, and coordinate communications between teachers, researchers, and program administration.

The incumbent will be able to provide technical assistance to teachers and act as a representative of the University, as well as coordinate with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center partners.

Candidates should be passionate about plant conservation, have some familiarity with the flora of Minnesota and associated ecological systems, excellent speaking and writing skills, an ability to work as part of a small, active team, and a proactive view of their education.

Incumbent must respect and maintain the confidentiality of rare species locations and sensitive data.

Position will involve some travel, including to locations several hours from the metro area. May involve some overnight stays to be able to spend long enough at remote schools to accomplish classroom activities.

Position hours will increase July 1, 2026 to 36 hours a week.

• The standard schedule before July 1st, 2026 will be 20hrs a Week, Monday - Friday, 1pm - 5pm with some flexibility as needed.
• On or after July 1st, 2026 the schedule changes to 36hrs a week, Monday - Friday, 10am - 5pm with some flexibility as needed.

50% Work with teachers, researchers, and administration to coordinate the Classroom Cultivation/Project Orchid curriculum and classroom plant material for the academic year.

• Help onboard and train teachers in laboratory technique and data collection as needed.
• Coordinate materials, supply intake, and distribution to participating classrooms.
• Coordinate and set dates with teachers within the program’s guidelines.
• Occasionally, travel to classrooms to act as an in-person liaison and assist the teachers with program needs, which could include overnight travel within the state of MN.
• Help coordinate communication between researchers and each classroom.
• Help coordinate communication between classrooms/clubs from different schools.
• Be able to relay and demonstrate research techniques and information to program classrooms.
• Advise teachers with needed plant care questions and guide them through troubleshooting.
• Attend program conferences.
• Assist classrooms with data collection and analysis, often remotely.

30% Assist the Classroom Cultivation/Project Orchid administration and research team members.

• Work with Classroom Cultivation/Project Orchid team members and teachers to adapt and expand curriculum material.
• Coordinate with Plant Conservation Program staff to produce education material relevant to regional needs and to produce appropriate classroom plant material.
• Help review and develop data and sample management protocols as needed.
• Coordinate planning with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Classroom Cultivation administration.
• Help propagate and plan material for classrooms, maintaining a strong background in the germination and propagation process to better assist with partner teachers in the program
• Work with the Plant Conservation Program staff to evaluate the program and provide feedback and suggestions.

20% Coordinate program training events for teachers and collaboration events for students throughout the year.

• Plan and attend training and onboarding events with new and returning teachers.
• Facilitate engagements between classrooms and the Plant Conservation Program Staff.
• Communicate with other program participants outside of our region.
• Coordinate and facilitate a symposium between all regional participants upon completion of that current year’s data collection. This could potentially be virtual or in-person, based on teachers'/students' needs and availability.

Required Qualifications:

• Combination of teaching/education experience and lab experience, preferably with orchid…