Garden School Foundation provides in-depth garden-based education to youth at Title I schools in Los Angeles, strengthening connections between food justice, environmental stewardship, and community health. By using the full transformative potential of school gardens as teaching sites, we nurture a healthy and mindful generation of children who care for their bodies, their communities, and the earth. We are currently hiring a full time Site Lead (Garden Educator) position to implement programming at one or more GSF school sites, location(s) to be determined.
Garden School Foundation Site Lead (Garden Educator) oversees all programming and programmatic staff on site while implementing the Seed to Table (S2T) education program at one of GSF’s school gardens. Duties include: conduct garden-based science and nutritional cooking classes in the garden and in a cooking classroom, following the GSF curriculum; edit GSF curriculum as assigned; cultivate a positive working relationship with your host schools; help train and oversee Site Assistants, California Climate Action Corps Fellows, interns and volunteers; lead weekly Garden Committee and Site Meetings; attend occasional evening and weekend school events, including Community Garden Days; maintain the gardens and classroom areas ensuring they are safe and hygienic; conduct tours of the gardens and host an array of visitors; and assist with off-site events, workshops, and other special tasks as assigned. The Site Lead will work directly with the GSF School Programs Manager, school staff and parent community, and fellow GSF staff and volunteers.
The Site Lead will also help facilitate the Cafeteria to Compost (C2C) Program through coordination with the other site team members. Duties include: participation in maintaining composting systems, filling in for lunchtime collection as needed, attending weekly team meetings, and managing multiple lines of communication.
Site Location: TBD
Compensation: The Site Lead position is a year round hourly position. Pay is $23-25/hr, dependent on experience. Employees get 10 days of accrued Paid Time Off, 12 paid holidays, and time off for the week between Christmas and New Years as well as LAUSD Spring Break. 48 hours of sick time is front loaded upon hiring for your first year and accrued in following years. GSF pays 50% of your Health Insurance Benefits.
To Apply: Please email a copy of your resume, a cover letter addressed to Rachel Black, GSF’s Executive Director, and 3 professional references to [email protected]
Roles and Responsibilities
Core Teaching, September-June
- Plan and implement garden and cooking classes in the garden and in cooking classrooms using our Standards aligned, K-5th Seed to Table curriculum.
- Purchase, prepare, and maintain all teaching and cooking supplies
- Work with school leadership, staff, and classroom teachers to schedule the rotation of classes and GSF lessons with classroom teachers’ instructional priorities whenever possible.
- Host students in their gardens during recess as their teaching schedules allow, and as approved by school leadership.
- Secure GSF’s tasting waivers for all students.
- Send copies (English and Spanish) of every recipe with students at the end of Cooking Class (or via their teacher or class dojo).
- Work with interns and Climate Action Corps Fellows to develop their teaching and gardening skills.
- Work with volunteers on cooking and garden projects.
- Conduct tours of your garden to a diverse array of visitors, as needed.
- Secure the minimum desired return percentage of pre-and post-program student surveys (95%), family surveys ( 30%), and teacher surveys (100%); GSF admin support will be provided where needed).
- Complete all stat collections (teaching, garden maintenance, volunteer, etc.) monthly
- Attend GSF’s Mid-Year Check-In with your school Principal(s) with other key staff.
Cultivate School Relationship
- Organize and lead a minimum of two after school or weekend Community Garden Days at each of your schools. Amount and dates to be determined by GSF School Programs Manager.
- Build a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between GSF and your school(s): - Attend at least 4 PTA or School Support Organizations meetings per year
- Attend (or arrange other GSF staff coverage for) all major school events, such as Back-to-School Night, Open House, Science Fair, Annual Fundraiser, etc. (GSF support will be provided where needed);
- Share and promote GSF’s programs and events within the school community.
Maintenance
- Maintain the gardens; weed, water, mulch, trim, prune, plant, tend and harvest.
- Effectively use your $600/site garden/supply spending and report to School Programs Manager mid-year.
- Maintain the cooking classrooms, ensuring that our facilities are clean, safe, and welcoming.
- Keep all classroom and teaching supplies stocked and accounted for, stored neatly, and in proper working order; alert GSF to any facilities, irrigation, maintenance, or pest issues.
Farmers Markets
- Assist with Food Forward pick-ups, school garden harvests, and hosting school based Markets as assigned.
Cafeteria to Compost
- Supervise the Cafeteria to Compost Team Members (Site Assistants and/or California Climate Action Corps Fellows), meeting weekly to ensure clear work plans, internal and external communication, and site support.
- Assist with Cafeteria to Compost as needed. Typical duties include: help maintain compost piles, teach compost lessons, assist with lunchtime collection as needed, publicize C2C-related events and updates to teachers, students, and school staff, maintain C2C data.
Organizational
- Attend: 1) mandatory quarterly GSF All Staff Garden Maintenance meetings, 2) mandatory monthly Program Staff meetings, 3) mandatory all-staff meetings, and 4) weekly site-specific team meetings; as well as occasional trainings and professional events, as assigned.
- Plan and present at least one, 30-minute Professional Development session for your GE colleagues on a topic of your choice.
- Observe and evaluate your peer Garden Educators at least 1x per school year.
- Have the capacity to use one’s own cell phone and computer equipment.
- Maintain timely and regular phone, text, and email communication with GSF staff and outside colleagues, as needed.
- Help coordinate photo documentation of classes and secure photo permissions.
- Assist with additional fundraising, partner, workshop, and other GSF events, as assigned.
- Liaise with similar or partner organizations and professional groups across our sector, as assigned, and attend relevant meetings, as assigned.
- Have the ability to frequently stoop, bend, reach, stand, squat, kneel, speak and listen and occasionally, lift up to 50 lbs.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $23.00 - $25.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Application Question(s):
- Are you willing to undergo a Live Scan background check, in accordance with local law/regulations?
Work Location: In person
