Interview Practice - General Information (1)

What is Discovery Pier's core purpose?

To inspire, educate, advance freshwater science, and connect people to the Great Lakes. The organization emphasizes hands-on experiences, education, partnerships, accessibility, and freshwater careers.

What is Discovery Pier physically?

A community space along West Grand Traverse Bay that provides opportunities for recreation and education and connects people with the Great Lakes through experiences on and off the water.

What are three words that describe Discovery Pier's public-facing approach?

Explore. Learn. Connect. » Explore: recreational and maritime experiences

• Learn: hands-on freshwater education

• Connect: partnerships and access to the Great Lakes

What is the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center?

A collaborative hub bringing together education, research, innovation, industry, and community to protect freshwater and develop solutions, technologies, businesses, and careers.

What is the relationship between Discovery Pier and the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center?

They are closely connected. Discovery Pier is a founding partner of the Center, alongside Northwestern Michigan College. The Center will be directly across from Discovery Pier and will leverage the Pier's dock access and outdoor learning capabilities.

What is the Center's big-picture vision?

To establish Michigan as a leader in the Blue Economy and Northern Michigan as an epicenter for freshwater innovation and BlueTech.

What does "Blue Economy" mean in the context of this organization?

The economic activity surrounding sustainable use, management, protection, and innovation related to freshwater and marine resources. The Center wants to connect technology, research, education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development around those opportunities.

What are the four major functions of the Freshwater Research & Innovation Center?

Education + Research + Innovation + Economic Development

The Center specifically describes itself as bringing these functions together.

Why is the Center particularly powerful for education?

Students can potentially learn alongside researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals and have access to labs, makerspaces, research vessels, Lake Michigan, and real-world freshwater and marine technology applications.

What is the workforce-development connection?

The Center wants to build a strong workforce pipeline through hands-on education, professional certifications, degree programs, and connections to BlueTech careers.

What is Freshwater Futures?

Discovery Pier's planned flagship freshwater education initiative for students in grades 6–12. Its purpose is to inspire students around freshwater science, Great Lakes stewardship, marine technology, and related career pathways while helping strengthen the freshwater workforce.

What is the single biggest responsibility of this position?

Lead the development, launch, implementation, evaluation, and continuous improvement of Freshwater Futures and Discovery Pier's broader educational programming.

Who are the primary students?

Grades 6–12.

What kinds of learning experiences should this person develop?

• Classroom lessons

• Laboratory experiences

• Field investigations

• Career exploration

• Project-based learning

• Hands-on experiences tied to real-world freshwater challenges

What four subject areas should Freshwater Futures connect?

Freshwater science + Great Lakes stewardship + marine technology + career pathways.

What is the importance of NMC's Great Lakes Water Studies Institute?

GLWSI is a foundational partner. The Education Program Manager will collaborate with its faculty to create educational programming, labs, field investigations, and career experiences using the Institute's expertise, resources, and industry connections.

What is "Discovering Careers in Marine Technology"?

An existing program developed with NMC's Great Lakes Water Studies Institute that the Education Program Manager is expected to integrate and expand as a cornerstone of Freshwater Futures.

Who will this person need to build relationships with?

Think SCHOOLS + SCIENCE + INDUSTRY + COMMUNITY.

Specifically:

• 6–12 schools

• Intermediate school districts

• Teachers and administrators

• Colleges and universities

• Researchers

• NMC/GLWSI

• Industry partners

• Environmental organizations

• Community organizations

• Scientists and volunteers

What existing Discovery Pier programs will this person oversee?

All Aboard! and Discover Fishing at the Pier.

What is the bigger opportunity with those existing programs?

Not simply to keep them running, but to identify ways to strengthen them and integrate them into Discovery Pier's broader educational mission and freshwater stewardship goals.

What role does the Education Program Manager play with docents?

Develop educational content and training, provide ongoing professional development, and help ensure docents can effectively interpret exhibits and engage visitors.

How does evaluation fit into the job?

The manager must establish measurable performance indicators, collect and analyze participant/program data, communicate outcomes, demonstrate educational impact, and use results for continuous improvement.

What administrative responsibilities might surprise someone?

This isn't just a teaching/curriculum job. It includes:

• Budgets

• Program records

• Participant data

• Evaluation metrics

• Grant proposals/reporting

• Donor communications

• Funding opportunities

• Supplies/equipment

• Safety protocols