Teacher Advisory Council

The Museum's Teacher Advisory Council is a collaborative effort between the Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County and local classroom educators and administrators.

Each Teacher Advisory Council (TAC) cohort works with the School & Teacher Programs division over two years to advise the museums on education initiatives, including evaluating existing assets, identifying potential opportunities, providing feedback to museum staff and stakeholders, and creating and piloting new educational resources with their student, teacher, and school community in mind.

Interested in applying for our next cohort? Applications open on a two-year cycle. Check back on this page for updated information!

APPLICANTS MUST:

• Currently be school staff (classroom teacher, TA, or administrator) at an accredited school in L.A. County
• Commit to two years of participation, estimated at 40 hours total active time (20 hours per year)
• Prioritize IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) initiatives and align practice and purpose with our strategic goal to be a museum “of, for, and with Los Angeles”
• Be interested and excited about collaboration and dialogue with a diverse group of educators
• Be creative, flexible, and reflective

Applicants may teach any grade level or subject area. No prior experience with the Natural History Family of Museums is necessary.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Attend 5 advisory council meetings online or onsite per year (3 hours every other month)
• Contribute an additional 5 hours per year in the form of emails, small group, or 1:1 meetings with museum staff to provide feedback on proposals, brainstorms, learning resources, exhibitions, and programs
• Act as a teacher advisor on at least 1 NHMLAC Educator Workshop
• Participate in at least 1 NHMLAC School & Teacher Program each school year while on the council, which can include bringing your students on a field trip, attending a free professional learning workshop onsite, or participating in one of our virtual teacher trainings online
• Generate one new learning resource to be shared with the broader educator community by the end of cohort tenure
• Advocate for the Natural History Family of Museums by sharing museum offerings and resources with colleagues, administrators, and/or district staff

BENEFITS:

• Provide feedback, be heard, and help shape the development of offerings for all teachers and students
• Network, reflect on best practices, and build connections with a community of diverse practitioners
• Earn a $1,250 stipend per year ($2,500 total; split into payments of $250 dispersed following attendance at each meeting)
• Experience behind-the-scenes tours and dialogue with museum staff in various departments, including Exhibitions, Research & Collections, Education, Programs, Interpretation, and more
• Have access to materials, resources, and support from the museum’s Education Department
• Receive complimentary bus funding sponsored by the museum for one field trip during tenure (up to $700)
• Acknowledgement of participation in the Teacher Advisory Council on the Natural History Museum website

2021-2023 Teacher Advisory Council

2019-2021 Teacher Advisory Council