Know a teacher who wants an outstanding professional development opportunity? The park is currently recruiting one teacher from surrounding school districts to spend the summer working at Cane River Creole National Historical Park as a Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (TRT). The selected candidate will learn about the park’s rich cultural resources, help develop the park’s education program, present programs for park visitors, and have the opportunity to share their experiences with their students and fellow teachers when they return to the classroom.

This temporary (230-hour) position is part of a nationwide professional development program to help grow and nurture K-12 educational opportunities within the National Park Service (NPS). The selected teacher will work alongside park staff to evaluate the park’s educational programming and develop new programs, curriculum and teacher resources. Applicants should have experience in program planning and lesson plan development and a passion for placed-based education and national parks. Teachers of all grade levels and subject areas from the park’s surrounding school districts may apply.

The TRT program includes 45 hours of online coursework, discussion, and course readings. Upon completion of the program and course work, the teacher will receive a $3,000 stipend and earn three graduate credit hours through University of Colorado Denver (CUD). The TRT program is provided through a partnership between NPS and CUD. The goal of the program is to train teachers in the resources and themes of the NPS so that they can return to their schools in the fall and incorporate their new skills into their classroom activities.

For more information and for an application, please contact the park’s Chief of Interpretation Barbara Justice at barbara_justice@nps.gov or download the application from the park website at https://www.nps.gov/cari/learn/education/teacher-ranger-teacher.htm.  The application deadline for the TRT program is Thursday, May 25.