Outreach and Dissemination Specialist
Monday, September 26, 2011
By: Allison Isaacson

Namaste seeks to find the most efficient and effective way to share its success in, and best practices for, school-based health and wellness programming with others.

Position Purpose: Namaste Charter School seeks to create unique and effective learning structures to share our proven best practices around its successful integration of health and wellness programming within the school environment.

Position Description:
Namaste seeks to find the most efficient and effective way to share its success in, and best practices for, school-based health and wellness programming with others. The Outreach and Dissemination Specialist will coordinate all external communications for the school, with a focus in 2011-12 being the start-up of "Learning the Namaste Way", a grant-funded project to develop a comprehensive strategy for disseminating Namaste's best practices to and with diverse local and national outlets, including media, school leaders and other education and health organizations, and other relevant individuals and groups.

Primary responsibilities include:
o Create a revised communications and dissemination implementation plan, guided by grant outcomes and leveraging Namaste's current communication activities, for "Learning the Namaste Way", including:

o Planning a spring 2012 institute at Namaste for intense immersion in the model and technical support in planning implementation, including significant outreach to schools and districts to secure institute attendees
o Managing Namaste's existing data and create succinct key messages from core outcome data (for example, results of the five-year obesity prevention study, in conjunction with Children's Memorial Hospital)
o Working closely with school leaders and building new strategic alliances to develop Namaste as a nationally recognized "learning laboratory"
o Evaluate Namaste's current collateral material and develop a plan for creating additional print and web materials to enhance our outreach, including
o Updating the current website depository (Namaste Shares!)
o Documenting Namaste's curriculum, tools, and other unique features for wider dissemination
o In conjunction with school leaders, manage internal data collection to aid in public relations and program dissemination
o Provide outreach to and correspondence with media, including print, web-based and television
o Make connections and build partnerships with other key influencers in children's health and wellness at the local, state and national level, including schools, political stakeholders, business and industry leaders, and the larger health and wellness community
o Bring emerging and innovative best practices from other successful initiatives in urban school settings (extending beyond wellness programming)
o Develop a longer-term strategic plan for communications, outreach and sustainable practice-sharing

Key qualifications:
o Alignment with Namaste Charter School's mission and vision
o Track record of outstanding written and oral communication and networking skills, with experiences connecting with multiple audiences
o Expertise in the core competencies of this position, including charter schools, curriculum writing, professional learning for educators, health and wellness issues and social media
o Experience in planning successful events from inception to completion, including attention to detail, a focus on using planning and metrics to drive success and understanding of adult learning
o Collaborative, energetic, solution-orientation and passionate about student success in public schools
o Five to eight years relevant experience

Timeframe: Full Time Position will be extended for a period of up to 3 years including strategy development and plan implementation.
Compensation: Commensurate with experience. The Outreach and Dissemination Specialist reports to the Director of Development.

To apply: Please send a job-specific cover letter, resume, and two writing samples (no more than 5 pages total) in one electronic document to Namaste Charter School's Director of Development at namasteoutreach@gmail.com. Applications will be accepted through 9/30 for a mid-late October start date.