Part-Time SproutEd Garden Educator - Newburgh

We currently are hiring for part-time garden educator position in Newburgh, NY.

Position Overview

SproutEd Garden Educator

Part-Time 20-24 hrs/wk, Exempt

In-Person Teaching in Newburgh, NY with remote work and weekly in-person office work at the LtL office in Newburgh.

Pay Rate and Benefits: $22/hour, PTO benefits include sick/personal days

This is primarily a teaching position that serves to implement the SproutEd program at two elementary schools in Newburgh as a part of our SproutEd team. The SproutEd program provides garden-based education in elementary schools throughout the Mid-Hudson Valley and is the core LtL program. We build and maintain school gardens that serve as outdoor classrooms. Our garden educators, with support from classroom teachers, teach lessons during the school day throughout the entire school year (indoor in the winter), that educate students in nutrition, cooking, plant science, ecology, and food systems. Our curriculum is experiential and hands-on, offering students a fun, engaging way to apply their academic and social-emotional skills. There is also a substantial amount of garden work required of this position. The ideal candidate has experience with teaching and gardening, or garden education or outdoor education.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Teaching and Lessons
  • Facilitate lessons with kindergarten, first, and second-grade classes using LtL’s established curriculum and teaching methodologies at 2 elementary schools in Newburgh, approximately 5 lessons a week
  • Participate in weekly in-person team meetings
  • Manage schedule of lessons
  • Maintain regular communication with teachers and administrations
  • Adapt lessons, as needed, for specific classes and situations
  • Participate in related trainings, conferences, and professional development
  • Record photos, anecdotes, quotes, and other information and input data
  • Purchase materials for programs as needed, using the LtL PEX card system.
  • Manage education program materials for your lessons
  • Use personal vehicle to transport lesson supplies
• Garden Maintenance
  • Maintain school gardens with guidance and support from LtL Garden Manager. Perform all necessary tasks for growing crops and creating an educational space, including planting (both with and without students), watering, weeding, laying out wood chips for pathways and mulch hay for planting areas, etc.
    • Tasks often include heavy labor, such as shoveling and carting soil and woodchips
  • Use personal vehicle to transport gardening supplies
  • Assist with garden projects at other LtL sites as needed
• School Community Outreach
  • Serve as the SproutEd liaison and representative for your partner schools, developing relationships with students, teachers, administrative staff, maintenance staff, and families
  • Work with volunteers in programming and gardens
  • Attend school community working group meetings to plan school and community events and deepen partnerships
  • Facilitate and participate in monthly Vegetable of the Month on the menu events
• Workplace Culture
  • Participate in regular accountability check-ins, and some organizational events
  • Share your wisdom and collaboratively build workplace culture

Required skills

• Experience with and enthusiasm for leading activities with groups of young children, preferably in a public school setting
• Experience with outdoor education
• Experience with gardening and growing food
• Desire to build skills in gardening and growing food
• Desire to build relationships with students and teachers
• Ability to bring democratic teaching principles into learning spaces
• Ability to work outside in various weather conditions
• Ability to work both independently and alongside classroom teachers
• Ability to work collaboratively with a team and practice open communication
• Commitment to social justice, including food justice and education justice
• Commitment to finding teaching innovations that are equitable and inclusive of students’ needs
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Because we work in public schools, candidates must follow all New York State and district-specific requirements for working in schools, including any vaccine requirements, background checks and finger printing.
• Must be able to lift at least 30 pounds
• Access to a personal vehicle is required for this position. Must be willing to use personal vehicle for transporting education and garden materials. Land to Learn provides a travel stipend.

Preferred skills

• Preference is given to candidates from Newburgh
• Conversational Spanish skills
• Understanding of and passion for food justice and localized food systems
• Experience working or volunteering in the public school system
• Experience in nonprofit work or management is a plus, but not required
• Familiarity with G Suite (Docs/Sheets/etc.)

Additional Perks

• Collaborate with a values-driven team committed to iterative learning, working, and story-telling
• You will have the opportunity to laugh a lot
• Work with diverse community partners who are passionate activators in food sovereignty, environmental justice, and community wellness
• Participate in a team implementing experiential, democratic, and place-based learning that engages young people in math, science, nature and wellness through the action and power of growing their own food
• Enjoy fresh, organic garden produce