Kim Cobb

The Lovely Bug (Freelance Artist & Education Consultant) | Riverside, CA | March 2020-Present

Owner WEBSITE

• Provide original commissioned art, virtual art classes (group & private), & art instructional videos with art & nature/STEM themes

• Provide education consulting for informal education establishments, create made to order educational supplies (worksheets, camp curriculum, activity/coloring books), & tutoring services (specialty in writing, proofreading, & editing)

• Volunteer in different community projects to elevate quality of life, including murals, city events, & donating time to non-profits

Current & past clients include: city departments, city/county/university museums, Riverside Phil Harmonic, National Parks Service, State Parks Service, national science monitoring projects, discovery centers, & private citizens

 

Parks, Recreation & Community Services | Riverside, CA | September 2017-January 2020

Recreation Services Coordinator (September 2017- September 2019) | Recreation Supervisor (September 2019-January 2020)

• Coordinate all center staff, volunteers, events, budgets, & grants at community & nature centers; oversee the planning, evaluation, & design of educational programming, trainings, & methods of instruction for department with curriculum & art; train staff in interpretation & craft creation; oversee the creation of original educational content for all department camps, & city events to include STEAM

• Organize, schedule, & coordinate all aspects of future Youth Innovation Center to ensure availability to all audiences (including low income & underserved communities) through program creation, contract classes, MOUs, purchases of all supplies & equipment, hiring, securing funds (naming rights, donor tiers, memberships, sponsorships, general misc. donations), & policies

Major artistic achievements: designed & painted a mural for all 4 sides of a 8ft x 20ft shipping container with ‘at risk’ teens, created 10 week STEAM based summer camp program for ages 5-12 participants, worked to bring science & art education to all community centers to ensure equitable access to science learning to all of Riverside 

 

Riverside Metropolitan Museum | Riverside, CA | October 2015-September 2017

Associate Curator of Education (Science)

• Coordinated nature & science-based education programs & events for the museum & nature center (including tours & city-wide events); developed public interest in nature center programs; coordinated staff & volunteers; fulfilled grant requirements

• Forged new partnerships with surrounding institutions; designed museum exhibitions; provided public outreach at City events, schools, & National Parks 

Major achievements: created an anthropology based monthly program (‘Culture Quest’); created three new programs at the Ameal Moore Nature Center for middle school students, adults, & all ages (‘Jr. Scientist Day’, ‘Science Chats’, C.S.I./‘Citizen Science Initiative Days’); wrote & designed content (labels & a children’s activity guide) for the RMM’s last exhibit in partnership with the Riverside Art Museum ‘Uncovering Ancient Mexico: The Mystery of Tlatilco’; member of the original ‘Riverside Insect Fair’ planning & coordination committee in partnership with the University of California Riverside 

 

Riverside Metropolitan Museum | Riverside, CA | May 2014-October 2015 

Lead Education Programs Assistant at the Ameal Moore Nature Center

• Interacted with the public to teach science & nature through free art programs & activities. Created custom Managed the social media for the nature center (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogging, & website) & advertised events (flyer design)

Major achievements: co-creator of original monthly Saturday program ‘Second Saturdays’; on original team for design of all nature center exhibits & wrote all content labels in the building

 

Fontana Unified School District | Fontana, CA | February 2010 - September 2012

Certified Substitute Teacher | Jurupa Hills H.S. Resident Substitute 

• Instructed students individually & in groups using various teaching methods such as lectures, discussions, & demonstrations in all subjects 

• Prepared & implemented remedial programs (in addition to regular materials) for students requiring extra help

Major achievements: raised student achievement rates (example: took a class of 32 with 29 failing students & raised student grades to only 3 failing students over a period of 3 weeks through motivation & creative assignment creation with full support of school administration) using art as a way to engage in core subjects