People in the History Field: Education Specialist

What is your name, position, and organization you work for?
My name is Amber Kraft and I am an Education Specialist (Education and Public Programs Producer), National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)

What does your job entail? What do you do on a daily basis?
I develop, plan, implement, and evaluate educational and community outreach programs using archival resources for a wide range of school, youth group, family, adult or other audiences. These programs highlight the variety of materials in the holdings of the National Archives and encourage life-long learning. I create programs that will engage our museum audiences in dynamic, relevant, authentic, age-appropriate education activities, programs and products. To do this I develop supportive and collaborative relationships with the education community, both locally, and nationally. I assist with training and determine appropriate intern and volunteer projects. I serve as a mentor and guide for interns and volunteers to observe in action and learn best practices in museum learning for all audiences as well as guide them through the internship projects.

Sleep Over at the National Archives

Some examples of projects I'm currently working on include a series of hands-on adult workshops: in July, we are doing sundials, in August, escape room through an exhibit space, in September, Constitution materials, and in October WWI knitting brigade. I am also preparing for our October sleepover for 8 - 12 year-olds focusing on Native American records. Some ongoing projects include running our learning lab programs for 2nd grade through high school students, a program in our theater looking at game design in the Constitution, our annual educators open house, Constitution Day, Family Day, activities for NASA's 60th birthday, preparing session presentations at WWII Institute and AASLH [American Association of State and Local History] as well as supervising projects for 13 interns this summer and coordinating about 50 public program volunteers. 

What other responsibilities do you have? Things that happen weekly, monthly, yearly, or specially?
Reporting stats, planning and coordinating meetings, ordering supplies, writing funding proposals, whatever odds and ends need to get done to deliver successful, engaging programs.

Do you think you need a degree to get this job?
A bachelors or masters degree is required for most entry level public history positions in the federal government but what it is in specifically isn't as important. The most important thing is to learn how to learn and never stop doing it or stop pushing yourself to do better and learn more.

How did you get started in this line of work?
My first "real" job when I was in high school was working as a tram hostess at Space Center Houston giving tours of the Johnson Space Center. It was a lot of fun working in the museum. In school I was a political science major and thought I wanted to go into politics. After trying several jobs through my internships I found that I wasn't how I wanted to spend my life. When I was growing up my family went on vacations to National Parks and so I thought I would try that. I got a job as a seasonal interpretive park guide at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia where I got to talk about the creation of our government, give tours of Independence Hall and other duties perfect for a political science major. After one season I was given the job as a permanent and then a year later I got a  temporary promotion to be an education program developer and create the school and educator programs at [Independence National Historical Park] from the ground up.

Examining documents

How did others get their start? Are there other ways in?
There is not one way to get into interpretation, museum education, and public programs. Be flexible, be persistent and if what you are doing isn't working, try a different tactic. Volunteer, get experience, and really wow people with what you can do!

On the nuts and bolts side, look on USAjobs[.gov]. All federal positions are listed there from the National Park Service, to the Smithsonian, to the National Archives and others. Explore the seasonal, term and permanent positions. If you are a student there are also special hiring authorities for you. Have someone already in the federal government take a look at your resume. A federal resume is very different (a lot longer) from a non-federal one. There are also thousands of private, state, or county parks. museums, and cultural sites out there.

How do you get a job in your position? What are the steps?
Be open to opportunities and say yes when you get one. If you don't know how to do something, volunteer and then figure it out. Look around and see how things can be better, then make the changes that are within you sphere of influence and suggestions for those that are outside.

How do you progress in this line of work?
For me personally I feel that it is time to move on when I have a good grasp on the work and am not learning new things or having new experiences regularly. That is when I get on USAJobs and see what other opportunities are out there.

Escape Room program at National Archives

Why do you like this position? What are the benefits? Are these typical?
I feel that the work and mission is important and that I am adding to the betterment of society. It is work that you get to leave a lasting legacy and impression for the people you have in the programs developed, volunteers, interns and staff that you work with, and in the institutions you are in. You may never know the full impact of the work that you do, but the work is important. I like this position because every day is different. I get to work with and meet lots of great people, use my talents and creativity and have fun!

Puppet show at National Archives

Is this a rapidly growing field? Is it possible to predict future needs for workers in this field?
This is a field that is changing. Museums are looking to future trends, technology and visitor expectations. More and more universities are offering museum studies, museum education, public history and other similar graduate programs making a graduate degree a minimum requirement for many entry level positions. Economy, budget and funding issues are challenges and are competing sources for potential visitor's time. Budgets and staffing are in short supply and people are being asked to do more with less or do different with less. These challenges offer opportunities to continuously rethink and evaluate what we are doing, and why we are doing it. It provides necessity to bring in constituents and have them be a part of the conversation of what is important to them and it helps make sure that we do not become stagnant as institutions.

Do you agree with the phrase: "Knowing what I know now, I would do something differently"? What would you do?
As far as the career choices that I have made I don't think that I would do anything differently. I have learned from every job and supervisor that I have had. Sometimes it has been things to do and sometimes it has been things not to do. I try to do my best everyday and if I am always doing my best, I wouldn't want to do anything else.

What would be the best thing you could suggest to someone if they wanted to be an Education Specialist?
It doesn't matter what job or career you do, but make sure that it is something that you truly love. You spend too much of your life at work for it to be anything but a passion.

Is this a position that you would recommend to others as a line or work to get into?
I love the work that I do and highly recommend it to others as long as they are ready to work hard and have fun doing it!

A lot of people are concerned about what the pay would be for their jobs, what kind of answer would you give to answer that question?
Entry level positions in public history in the government and where I started are around a GS-5.  My current education specialist position is a GS [General Service] - 12 on the federal pay scale.

Thank you, Amber Kraft, for spending the time to answer my questions! If you want to learn more about what the National Archives have to offer, a calendar of events can be found at https://www.archives.gov/calendar

New Series! People in the History Field

Ryan at the beginning of his Public History
career as a Park intern at Harpers Ferry NHP

One of the things that happens in a small community like the Public History field is the networking that inevitably results from working in it. Even as a volunteer, the people who are actually working in the places one volunteers at are links in a chain that go in all sorts of directions. Your career (such as it is) will continue to redirect and change. Those other people you formerly worked with will do the same. Sooner or later the people you knew several jobs ago are doing something different, yet are still following their passion. Maybe they went into museums, or into state parks, or private organizations, or non-profits. Sometimes they make up their own thing, or become part of a national or international entity. Throughout my career, I have had the good fortune of amassing several contacts that have changed since I have known them and gone on different paths than I have. Very few people stay on the same stable trajectory, so I have decided that I should reach out to these individuals and ask if they would be willing to share what they have learned and share a bit of what they do to give a 'real world' description of what it takes to be in that position and what to do to prepare for it. It is important to get a

Ryan in current position. Still working at making it permanent,
but making it work for now.

realistic view of what this field looks like because some college or university professors and career advisers make it seems like getting into the Public History world is easy-peasy and in many cases it is not! Also, it is difficult staying in it since much of this work is low-paying and seasonal. This series will be more like a "So you want my job?" interview blog posts talking with other professionals in this larger field of Public History/Interpretation/Education. It is not to dissuade the interested person, but to give a real view of what it is like and what you can reasonably expect. I will post these as time goes on in addition to regular posts here as the interviews are finished and approved by my editorial staff, so stay tuned for some great posts from great individuals that I have had the privilege to know. It is my hope that the interested history student, or person looking to get into this field has the understanding of what their life might look like if they want to come and join us here.