Associate Director of Education

The Folger Shakespeare Library, located on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, is seeking a collaborative, community-focused, education leader to join its team as Associate Director of Education. This individual, under the supervision of the Director of Education, plays a critical leadership role in strengthening and managing the work of the Education team, which is focused on serving diverse learners and visitors by connecting to teachers, students, parents, and all visitors in meaningful, generative ways.  

Successful candidates will have a master's degree in English or Education, a minimum of five years of middle- or high school teaching experience, and working knowledge of Shakespeare and the Folger method, and/or the principles behind it. Candidates must have demonstrated and deep knowledge of teaching and learning in both school and more informal settings, and with the broader array of learners that the Folger attracts, including families and learners of all ages and stages.  

The Associate Director (AD) will take lead on building relationships with schools and local communities, and collaborate with students, teachers and staff across the Folger to create and manage new and ongoing projects in both formal and informal education settings. The AD is expected to have positive, strong working relationships within the DC area, and to develop those within the department, across the Folger, and in the national Folger teaching community.  

The AD must have the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with a diverse community of participants, visitors, staff, and funders, and is expected to embody the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) values and culture of the Folger Shakespeare Library in their work.  

The standard schedule for this role is Monday-Friday, 8:45am-4:45pm, which is a 35-hour workweek with an hour unpaid lunch daily. This position is currently remote, and will ultimately transition to an onsite role. 

Pandemic response: All staff, contractors, and visitors working or visiting onsite are required to be fully vaccinated with the COVID-19 vaccine and furnish proof of vaccination (unless they have received a medical or religious exemption). Masks are required in all shared and public spaces onsite until further notice. 

Compensation: 

• This is a monthly-paid salary position, with an annual rate of $80,000-$90,000. 
• Total compensation includes an extensive benefits plan, including fully-covered health, dental, and vision insurance, and a generous 403(b) match, outlined at https://www.folger.edu/employee-benefits.  

Duties: 

• Collaborates with existing school and community partners, new partners, and Folger colleagues on the reinvigoration and relaunching of existing programs, and the creation of new mission-focused programming that is accessible and relevant. Creates and maintains standards and evaluation tools to measure success. 
• Serves as the Education team’s curriculum expert. Works collaboratively with school partners (DCPS and Prince George’s County Public Schools) and new partners on curriculum projects with revenue returns.  
• Manages relationships and works with DMV schools, and in particular, DC schools. Works closely with teacher advisory group to understand shifting priorities and needs in DC schools. Brainstorms with group on pilot programs. 
• In collaboration with colleagues across the Folger, our communities, and Folger docents, innovates and scales Folger Education programming and experiences for visitors of all types, with an emphasis on ensuring experience is accessible, welcoming, and engaging for everyone. 
• Serves as a primary program manager and contact for the Folger’s work with and for teachers, including managing relationships, creating content, professional development classes and workshops, and other teacher-focused initiatives. ​
• Serves on working groups focused on pan-institutional projects. Represents both the institution-wide view and departmental priorities in these groups and reports back to department on progress. 
• Performs other duties as agreed upon. 

Supervisory Duties:  

• Will supervise Education staff, to be determined as the department develops. 

Education/Experience: 

• Master’s degree in English or Education is required. 
• Must have a minimum of five years’ experience teaching middle- or high school.
• Working knowledge of the Folger Method, and/or the principles behind it, is required. 
• Working knowledge of Shakespeare is essential.  
• Must have experience working with and engaging families and parents in learning experiences to build community. 

Skills/Knowledge: 

• Must have knowledge of the ELA classroom and what all teachers and students need in order to teach and learn effectively. 
• A deep, demonstrated knowledge of curriculum building is essential. 
• Must have demonstrated knowledge of teaching and learning in informal settings, and with the broader array of learners that the Folger attracts, including families and learners of all ages and stages.  
• Ability to lead projects, and manage personnel, programs, and budgets is required. 
• Must be able to work collaboratively and effectively with a diverse community of participants, visitors, staff, and funders. 
• Excellent communication skills, exemplified in facility in speaking, writing, and use of technology required. 
• Must be able to work in an entrepreneurial team environment, where frequent consultation, flexibility, creativity, and collaboration is required. 

Working Conditions: 

​This job operates in a professional office environment. The employee may be exposed to various components of an office environment such as fluorescent lighting, pollen, dust, recycled air, cooling fans, semi-enclosed areas, central heating, seasonal warmer temperatures, and office noise. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Normal work week is Monday-Friday, 8:45am-4:45pm. Additional evening and weekend hours required for special programs. 
• Some travel is required. 
• Occasionally required to move file boxes or other office items up to 40 pounds.      
• Ability to work at a computer for an extended period of time, with accuracy.      
• Willingness and capacity to work in an office environment at a workstation, and to come and go repeatedly throughout the day as is necessary, to perform various responsibilities.      
• Capacity to communicate, in person using video, phone, or electronic communication methods, which can be understood by others.      
• Ability to plan, direct, advise, and evaluate the work of team members.