Educational Advisory Committee

Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is committed to working with teachers and community members to assist them in integrating museum experiences into their curriculum as well as continuously improving programming offered at Phipps. The Phipps Education Advisory Committee is a select group of educators and community members who meet regularly during the school year to foster collaboration and learning across schools and museums. The committee is made up of teachers and community members in Pittsburgh, PA, and museum educators. This year's focus project will be to develop and design an educational touring program at Phipps Conservatory that meets the needs of the community members, students and teachers.  

Review the following commitment requirements for the Phipps Education Advisory Committee:

• Attend one in-person meetings at Phipps Conservatory from 5 – 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 8, 2024; Four virtual meetings from 4 – 5 p.m. on Nov. 12, 2024; Dec. 3, 2024; Jan. 7, 2025; and Feb. 4, 2025.


• Review updated lesson plans and program ideas developed by the museum educators.


• Participate in informal discussions and brainstorming sessions to reflect and share best practices in museum education and ways to integrate material into the public/private school curriculum.


• Discuss strategies for aligning the museum’s K–12 school-based educational programs and resources to city, state and national standards in a variety of curricular areas.


• Work as a liaison between museum and schools, promote and increase awareness of educational materials and programs offered through the museum.


• Participate in the Fairchild Challenge (as applicable).

---

Purpose

• Review updated lesson plans and program ideas developed by the museum educators
• Participate in informal discussions and brainstorming sessions to reflect and share best practices in museum education and ways to integrate material into the public/private school curriculum
• Assist in evaluation and feedback for resources and programs produced by Phipps educators
• Discuss strategies for aligning the museum’s K – 12 school-based educational programs and resources to city, state, and national standards in a variety of curricular areas
• Pilot new programs and/or materials and evaluate them
• Work as a liaison between museum and schools, promote and increase awareness of educational materials and programs offered through the museum
• Participate in the Fairchild Challenge (as applicable) and at least one field trip or program a year

---

Contact

Heather Shannon, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
hshannon@phipps.conservatory.org or 412-622-6915, ext. 3223

Photos © Denmarsh Photography, Inc.; Paul g. Wiegman