Garden Educator at CitySprouts

About CitySprouts

The CitySprouts mission is to cultivate wonder for all children with hands-on learning through urban

gardening. Since 2001, CitySprouts has been partnering with public elementary and middle schools in

Boston and Cambridge to open the door to hands-on science education through the schoolyard learning

garden. Our in-school and out-of-school time programs reach thousands of children from preschool

through middle school years to level the learning field for children growing up in economically stressed neighborhoods.

Our model is based on the power of the schoolyard garden to engage children in deep and authentic

science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through the natural world where they live, learn and play. In our 20 elementary school partnerships, we provide twice weekly science education to classrooms from pre-kindergarten (PreK) through 5th grade during in school time, throughout the school year

(Sept-June). Garden educators plan lessons and co-teach with teachers to ensure alignment with district science goals and integration in children’s whole learning experience. In CitySprouts’ out-of-school time program, named the Young Leaders Program, we lead a 5 week summer program for 11-14 year olds (July-August) and weekly after school Youth Leadership Team during the school year. Our summer curriculum focuses on life skills that are relevant and useful to youth such as growing food, while building observation and critical thinking skills that help young people see science in their community and in the natural world. All of CitySprouts’ youth programs are tuition-free.

The Position

The Garden Educator is part of a team of educators responsible for implementing the CitySprouts

program at schools in Boston or Cambridge. Each Garden Educator is assigned to 3-4 schools during the school year, working with teachers and their students twice weekly in the school garden or classroom from September through the school year in June. During the summer, the Garden Educators leads a site in the summer program for middle school-aged youth. CitySprouts is committed to providing on-going professional development and support in the areas of content knowledge, inquiry-based instruction, cultural competency and student/youth- driven learning. The Garden Educator reports to the Director of Programs.

Job Responsibilities

Teach the CitySprouts’ garden-based curriculum in the school-year and summer programs

September - June:

● Provide garden-based science education to 3-4 elementary schools- leading hands-on science

curriculum for students kindergarten- 5th grade and collaborating with teachers to support

science and other subjects in the garden and classroom

● Build relationships with and provide technical support to teachers in developing garden-based

extensions to classroom lessons

●Co-teach with teachers in the garden and classroom

● Maintain the organization’s relationships with school leadership and support staff

July- August:

● Serve as lead educator at one summer program site (15 youth ages 11-14)

● Mentor 1-2 college interns during the summer program, supporting skill-building in youth

development and informal science education

● Maintain schools’ outdoor classroom garden as an educational resource for teachers and the school

community

● With guidance from the Operations Manager, maintain an attractive & functional garden space

with a variety of edible crops, flowers, native species, and specialty plants throughout the growing

season, using sustainable gardening practices

● With support from the Program Director, coordinate use of the schoolyard growing spaces for

teachers, school staff and community partners, ensuring that teachers and community members

have access to school garden supplies & resources;

● Serve as the garden “expert” to the school community

● Lead volunteer groups/community events in the garden (with Operations Manager)

Qualifications

● Experience working with both early learners and middle school youth, preferably in outdoor

education

● Experience in a public school setting as an informal educator and/or as a classroom teacher

● Strong interpersonal skills including excellent listening, public speaking, oral and written

communications skills

● Working knowledge of sustainable gardening practices; experience managing a garden preferred

● Proven capacity to work in a multicultural workforce, including sensitivity and competency in

working with individuals and groups of diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and lifestyle

backgrounds

● Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to and passion for the CitySprouts

mission

● Ability to do physical work outside

● Fluency in Spanish or other language in addition to English strongly preferred

● Reliable access to a car is strongly preferred (mileage reimbursement included)

Compensation

Base annual salary is $40,000 (Benefits include health insurance, Simple IRA plan 3% match & generous paid time off policy)

Please submit a cover letter and resume to the Program Director, Solomon Montagno, at

smontagno@citysprouts.org on or before January 15, 2021. Applications will be considered on a

rolling basis. The position begins on February 1st, 2021.