Our work isn’t childish, just because we work with children.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, underpaid, overworked, or underappreciated in your museum education journey, this is the place for you, my friend.
My name is Rachel and I got my first *paid* museum job in 2007, which was… checks watch…the year The Big Bang Theory premiered. #ouch
If you’re extra curious, my first unpaid museum work started in 2003, but please don’t Google the shows that started that year, because that will make me feel extra old. Please and thank you. (If you’re the type who wants to read my resume, you can check out my LinkedIn profile here.)
Does this feel a little too familiar?
If so, you are in luck, my friend!
Because these days, my focus has shifted… Now I’m dedicating my time to helping YOU save the world, get the recognition you deserve, and reclaim some time, creativity, and emotional energy. (Glitter glue is optional.)
But, if you really want to know what I do, let me ask you a question: Have you ever seen The Lego Movie?
See, when meeting new people, I actually dread the question: “So, what is it that you do?” Maybe you’ve experienced this. The answer, “I’m a museum educator” usually leads to more questions. I mean, I’m great at churning butter, I know how to work a telegraph, and I can envision a fun craft for just about any subject. But that’s not really what I do - those are just program elements. So, what is it that museum educators actually do?
Cue The Lego Movie. This movie came out when my children were toddlers, so we watched it frequently, but if it wasn’t in your Netflix que at the time, let me recap: the hero, a Lego figure named Emmett, discovers that he has the power to save the world, and in a moment of high-stakes excitement, he calls his rag-tag team together. It’s time to make the plan that will save the day, and he yells out, “Somebody get me some markers…and construction paper… and some glitter glue!!!!” And that, I tell people, is what I do: I save the world, with markers, construction paper, and on a good day, glitter glue.
But all they saw was the glitter.
Can I tell you the number of times my co-workers made snide comments about all. the. glitter?
The answer is no, I cannot, because I cannot count that high. Seriously, it drove me nuts, especially because although I do like glitter, I don’t use it all the time, for every program. * insert eyeroll emoji *
But what really drove me nuts was how they missed the fact that real, serious learning was happening. They thought my work was childish, because I work with children. And being underappreciated like that set me on a path to overwork and burnout, as I tried desperately to prove the value of my brand of museum work.
Here at Modern Museum Education, my goal is to help other museum educators - that’s YOU - by:
Sharing some of the best ideas I’ve found over the course of my career
Engaging in conversation about the best practices for our field
Elevating our work by offering specific ways to integrate high-level goals (like leadership and inclusion) into an educator’s regular day in the classroom or children’s gallery
Advocating for the vital importance of museum education in our institutions and communities
More About Rachel’s Experience
Maybe this sounds interesting, but you’re wondering if I’ve got the goods. After all, just because you do a job longer than Leonard and Sheldon lived across the hall from Penny doesn’t mean you’re good at it.
Here’s what one family had to say about their tour* with me: “Our tour guide, Rachel, was exceptionally knowledgeable about the history. She did an incredible job of explaining it to our kids by using examples that they could understand and relate to. The tour experience was extremely educational for all of us and I feel very fortunate for having the opportunity to attend. Thank Rachel for an unforgettable tour!”
*That particular tour program, by the way, won a Tennessee Association of Museums Award of Excellence in 2021.
Education is SERIOUSLY FUN.
Just check out these #actionshots of me at work over the years.
YES, I did dress up like Annie Oakley. YES, I did kiss a frog. YES, I did come to work in 1980s glam. YES, I did fish marbles out of ice water with my toes.
But More Importantly, Education is SERIOUS WORK.
I deeply believe that museum educators are changing the world. Museums are uniquely situated to impact social change, and museum educators work directly with children who visit these world-changing institutions. The future is literally in our hands.
Want to read my hot take on interpreting difficult history for children? Check it out here.
Want to learn about making your programs more accessible for neurodiversity? Find more here.
Want some extra, hands-on help to knock a few of those seriously important projects off your never-ending to-do list? I’m here for you!
Want some support as you advocate for the value of your work, and discover tips to help you reclaim your time, creativity, and emotional energy? Check this out:
