Request for Proposals
Professional Learning Consultant: Out of School Time STEM Workshops
ExpandED Schools is a leading after school organization that advances educational equity for students from under-served communities across New York City. Founded in 1998 with a catalytic $125M grant from the Open Society Foundations, ExpandED helped shape the nation’s first city-wide, publicly funded system for after-school programming. Today, through advocacy, research, and program development, ExpandED continues to build the capacity of the NYC afterschool field to address the educational inequities that prevent far too many students from reaching their full potential.
STEM Educators Academy is ExpandED School’s signature afterschool STEM initiative. STEM Educators Academy is taught by collaborative teams of school-day and afterschool educators at middle schools and elementary schools across New York City. Focused on relevant, hands-on, and design-based projects connected to the city’s science standards, the program is designed to nurture youth interest and engagement in STEM while also supporting educator skill development. Educators have access to training, curriculum, coaching, and planning materials from ExpandED Schools and the New York Hall of Science, which they utilize for support in creating interactive and inclusive STEM learning experiences for young people.
Scope of Work
ExpandED Schools is seeking an experienced independent consultant to design and facilitate two in-person professional learning workshops (two hours each) for afterschool informal educators who work with elementary-aged students. These workshops will take place between February and April 2026
The workshops will focus on the following topics:
- Supporting Neurodivergent Learners in the Informal STEM Space
- Understanding neurodiversity in elementary-aged learners
- Practical strategies for inclusive, strengths-based support in out-of-school-time STEM settings
- Adapting facilitation, materials, and environments to support varied learning needs
- Connecting the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method in Elementary OST Settings
- Exploring the alignment between the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method
- Supporting educators in making these connections explicit and developmentally appropriate
- Applying both frameworks within hands-on, inquiry-based STEM activities in informal learning environments
Workshops should be interactive, practice-oriented, and grounded in the realities of afterschool and informal education spaces, along with aligning with ExpandED Schools current professional development portfolio. Workshop materials will be recorded as live virtual content housed on ExpandED’s Teachable platform.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be expected to:
- Collaborate with ExpandED Schools staff to align workshop content with SEA program goals, participant context and current ExpandED Schools professional development focused on neurodivergent youth.
- Design and facilitate two engaging, two-hour in-person professional learning workshops
- Incorporate adult learning principles, interactive activities, and opportunities for reflection.
- Participate in planning check-ins and workshop debriefs with ExpandED Schools staff.
Qualifications
Strong candidates will demonstrate:
- Significant experience designing and facilitating professional learning for educators in informal or out-of-school-time settings (afterschool, museums, libraries, community-based organizations, etc.)
- Deep understanding of neurodiversity and inclusive practices for elementary-aged learners
- Strong content knowledge related to STEM education, including the Engineering Design Process and the Scientific Method
- Commitment to educational equity and inclusive, strengths-based approaches to teaching and learning
- Excellent facilitation, communication, and organizational skills
Other Terms
This position is for an independent contractor and will be paid in monthly installments, for a contract term of $3,000, inclusive of planning and facilitation, representing approximately
25-30 hours.
To Apply
Please submit a cover letter/proposal outlining relevant experience and approach to the workshop topics, resume and one relevant workshop sample to Ashley R. Johnson at [email protected] as soon as possible. Proposals will be considered on a rolling basis through mid-February 2026
