The Educator Advisory Board advises and supports the MFA’s School Programs staff in the development and promotion of high-quality programs for school groups and teachers, with the ultimate goal of bolstering the MFA’s engagement with and impact on K–12 education. Collaboration between the Educator Advisory Board and School Programs staff will help ensure that educators and their students can make the best use of the Museum’s resources.
The Board of approximately 25 to 30 members has existed in some form for more than 20 years and continues to evolve. The Board strives to be both inclusive and reflective, representing the wide-ranging diversity of the communities it serves. Members are classroom teachers or administrators, at all grade levels (K–12), a wide variety of subjects, at both public and private/independent schools, and work within Boston, the greater Boston area, and beyond. In recruiting additional members to begin in fall 2018, MFA Educator Advisory Board members and School Programs staff are seeking new voices and fresh perspectives to continue to strengthen the Board.
In order to achieve the goal of advising and supporting the MFA’s School Programs staff in the development and promotion of high-quality programs, the Board’s activities may include:
- Identifying issues of concern to K–12 teachers
- Identifying topics of interest to K–12 teachers for a variety of subject areas (history/social sciences, English language arts, English language learning, visual arts, world languages, mathematics, science, etc.)
- Assisting the Museum in remaining informed and up-to-date about state frameworks, legislation, school and district policies, related to K–12 education.
- Providing feedback on programs in development by School Programs staff, so that they can be as relevant as possible to classroom curriculum.
- Disseminating information about the MFA’s school and teacher programs, both locally and nationally.
- Sharing first-hand experience with Education department staff, Trustee Education Committee members, and MFA Gallery Instructors, as well as at local, regional and national conferences.
Educator Advisory Board members function in an advisory capacity. The Board is not a policy-making body.
Responsibilities
- Educator Advisory Board members are required to participate in an orientation at the beginning of each two-year term. The orientation will familiarize board members with the Museum, its educational philosophy, its policies, and its programs for schools and teachers.
- The entire Educator Advisory Board meets four times during the school year. The meeting schedule is sent in advance to all members as early as possible and it is expected that members will attend. Currently meetings are typically on Wednesdays or Thursdays and run 4 to6 pm, with light refreshments beginning at 3:45 pm. Members who miss more than two meetings a year become inactive.
- Each Board member is asked to actively participate in the MFA’s School Program offerings:
- Attend at least one of the (free) monthly Wednesday evening teacher professional development workshops during the year, to share about the Board’s current work with other teachers and provide feedback to staff; and
- Bring a group of students to the Museum for a school group visit—either Guided Tour or a Self-Guided Visit—or schedule an outreach program in your classroom. The school group fee is waived for one visit to the MFA per year (defined as a Guided Tour or Self-Guided Visit on a single day; What Artist Do programs not included). For EAB Members in Boston public schools (who already can bring students for free visits), the fee is waived for scheduling one outreach program per year (for up to three classrooms on a single day).
The purpose of involvement in these programs is to better understand the successes and challenges related to Museum School Programs, as well as to give visitors, staff, and other volunteers an opportunity to see the Educator Advisory Board active in the Museum.
- You may also be asked to serve on a committee. The committee topics of focus change depending on the needs and priorities of MFA’s Education department. Additional meetings, e-mail meetings and/or correspondence may be involved. It is assumed that a commitment to a particular committee will mean consistent attendance and participation.
Benefits
Educator Advisory Board members are considered MFA volunteers, and receive an MFA badge/ID.
- Volunteers are expected to be active members of the Museum community, and remain familiar with our exhibitions, programs and events.
- Educator Advisory Board members receive all the benefits of other MFA volunteers, including shop, restaurant, and program discounts.
- Parking in the garage or Museum lot for Board meetings and volunteer work is free with your volunteer-stamped parking ticket.
Term Limits
Board members are appointed to a two-year term. Board members may serve two consecutive two-year terms but must reapply after the first term to continue to serve a second term. Members must rotate off the Board after two consecutive two-year terms. Members may reapply for the board after at least a two-year hiatus from serving on the board.
Membership
The Board strives to represent a diverse body of educators, for example, representing a range of K–12 grade levels; a wide range of roles in the school/school system; the widest possible range of subject areas; public and private/independent schools; geographic distribution; stages of their teaching career; racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds; and teaching students with a wide range of backgrounds and abilities.
- Role: classroom teachers, specialists, curriculum directors, and administrators.
- Subject areas: general education, special education, history/social sciences, English language arts, English language learning, visual arts, world languages, mathematics, science, library, etc.
- Schools: public schools, private/independent schools, and alternative schools.
- Geographic location: within Boston, greater Boston area, throughout Massachusetts, and other New England states.
- Stage of career: teachers-in-training, first/second year, mid-career, and veteran educators.
- Personal background: within the body of the board, racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity, and inclusion of individuals with differing abilities.
How to Apply
Applications are now closed for the 2018–2020 term.
Educators who wish to join the Board are required to submit an online application, detailing their teaching experience and outlining their interest in joining the Board. Applications will be reviewed in two waves: the first for applications submitted by June 15, 2018, and the second for applications submitted by August 1, 2018. After each date, selected applicants will be invited to interview with members of the School Programs staff, who will select the members of the Board. Board members will be selected on the following criteria:
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- Ability to work collaboratively
- Familiarity with larger trends in education
- Ability to advocate for the MFA among colleagues
- Creative and flexible thinker
- Sense of humor
- Staff will consider the group as a whole in order to reflect its goal of representing a diverse body of educators
- Note: Past participation in MFA School and Teacher Programs is not a requirement.
Please contact MFA School and Teacher Programs at teacherresources@mfa.org with questions.