Common Ground is a center for environmental learning in New Haven, Connecticut. Farm meets forest meets city on Common Ground’s 20 acre campus at the base of West Rock Ridge. The site abuts the 1800 acre West Rock State Park, sharing hiking trails, wildlife, and diverse natural habitats with the surrounding forests. Common Ground’s urban farm produces sustainably grown food for programs and our community and is home to our friendly farm animals. Common Ground’s Charter High School uses the site as an organizing principle of its curriculum which is guided by an ecological framework highlighting the connection and interdependence of all living and non-living things. Each year, more than 10,000 community members participate in festivals, field trips, after-school programs, and other educational opportunities on site. For more information visit www.commongroundct.org.

Job Description

The Schoolyards Program supports the creation and effective use of school gardens, schoolyard habitats, and outdoor classrooms in schools. We provide professional and technical support to help schools realize the full potential of teaching outside in deepening the academic and emotional learning of their students.

Schoolyards Teachers bring Common Ground’s outdoor education work to schools in the New Haven area, during the school day or afterschool. Schoolyards teachers design their own curriculum based on the schoolyard space, the seasons, the needs of the school, and the interests of the children. They provide content based learning about science, nature, and the environment as well as facilitate and create opportunities for adventure based play. Schoolyards classes are conducted almost entirely outdoors in all weather, with indoor spaces used only in severe weather.

This position requires exceptional behavior management skills, excellent judgment, adaptability, and the ability to balance traditional school requirements with outdoor education approaches. This position is ideal for someone with classroom teaching experience who enjoys the outdoors and is looking for a change. It is also perfect for an outdoor educator with experience doing their own lesson planning.

Program information is on our website, and pictures are on Instagram (CommonGroundSchoolyards). Applicants should review available information, as Schoolyards is a unique teaching opportunity that is amazing for the right applicant and is different from many traditional environmental education programs.

Schoolyards Teachers are part of the Environmental Education Team at Common Ground. Schoolyards Teachers work primarily off campus, delivering Schoolyards programming in local schools, but may also be scheduled for on campus work in any of the programs staffed by the Environmental Education team.

Schedule

We are hiring for both full-time and part-time positions, with start dates in March 2024.

School day hours are approximately 8:30 am - 3:30 pm, with additional paid time for planning. Specific days and hours will be negotiated and will be the same each week.

Full-time role may require regular weekend work. Full time roles work year-round, including work in summer camp. Part-time roles may choose to work in camp or to only work during the school year (summer camp work may be part time or seasonal full time).

Position requirements:

• Experience planning and leading activities for groups of children ages 5 – 13 in a professional setting (school, preschool, nature center, etc).

• Demonstrated success in a leadership/head teacher role in both school and outdoor settings.

• Ability and desire to have significant autonomy and independent responsibility for planning lessons, planning and managing the flow of a day, and communicating with partnering schools and teachers. A strong, supportive team of people doing similar work is available for collaboration and ongoing professional development; the day-to-day work at schools is delivered independently, without a co-teacher from Common Ground.
• A passion for Common Ground’s mission and commitment to equity, diversity and environmental sustainability.

• Strong critical thinking and problem solving skills.

• Ability to work independently and be self-directed as well as to compromise, communicate, be flexible, and work closely with a staff team and school teachers and administrators.

• Commitment to working closely with a racially and economically diverse urban school community.

• Strong written and oral communication skills, with both children and adults.

• Comfort with working outdoors in all weather, including rain and snow.

• Commitment to child-centered teaching and behavior management, with the ability and desire to meet the needs of individual children.

Compensation

Part time position: $20 per hour.

Full time position: Salary for this position is on Scale I, which starts at $37,800 (full scale in linked document below). Placement on that salary scale will take prior, relevant work experience in consideration. Full time roles include 25 days of PTO, 13 paid holidays, and eligibility for a benefits package that includes health, life, dental, and more.

Full time and part time positions are represented by our Collective Bargaining Agreement with UAW local 2110.