TITLE: School Garden/STEAM Integration Specialist

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The School Garden/STEAM Integration Specialist will be directly responsible for the integration of the school garden, outdoor education, and integrated learning experiences into the TD3 curriculum, school culture, and overall philosophy of the school day for all students. This position offers critical support to teachers and students to ensure that a school can maximize the educational potential of cross-curricular learning experiences in outdoor and shared learning spaces.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in education, science discipline, math or writing.

1. Master Gardener (MG) preferred or willingness to complete the MG program. Garden/outdoor plant knowledge and experience required. This includes planting, maintenance and harvesting of edible and desert-adapted plants

The items below are listed as optional work experiences that would support knowledge and skills in this role:

1. 2-3 years teaching experience in a school, museum or informal educational environment is preferred. This includes planning lessons and teaching directly with students, ages 4-12
2. 2-3 years experience teaching outdoors is preferred in a school or community setting. Preferred ages 4-12.
3. 2-3 years managerial experience is preferred, including budgeting, volunteer management, program development, professional development training, event management
4. 2-3 years community engagement experience is preferred in building partnerships, resources and aligning programming to support school goals.

• Experience introducing and implementing innovative approaches to learning in a school setting.

• Grant writing experience preferred

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

(Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all duties and responsibilities performed by the incumbents of this class.)

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Model skills that teachers need to feel comfortable using the outdoor and other shared learning spaces to teach cross-curricular lessons/standards with a focus on STEAM integration.
• Mentor, support, and encourage classroom teachers in innovative approaches to facilitating learning in the school garden/ outdoor environment.
• Act as a resource to teacher teams as they plan their own cross-curricular lessons for STEAM integration
• Plan and implement a planting calendar for both the outdoor school garden and classroom hydroponic units in alignment with the seasons and integrated lessons.
• Work in partnership with our PTA Garden Committee to organize and facilitate garden work days and garden maintenance schedule throughout the year. 
• Maintain teaching supplies for outdoor learning spaces; support with setting up/clean up during integration lessons.
• Coordinate quarterly community STEAM/outdoor events in order to bring students, families, teachers and community members together;
• Monitor, record, and report on STEAM integration/ outdoor learning activities 
• Explore external funding sources for outdoor education; i.e. donations, grants and community partnerships.

Desired Skills:

• Ability to develop, interpret and adapt curriculum in multiple subject areas
• Ability to work outside 10 months of the year (July-May)
• Ability to effectively multitask, receive direction, and manage time
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal: in person, over the phone, email, text.
• Strong organizational skills and a natural proclivity for keeping detailed records.
• Ability to work effectively with others in a team-oriented environment.
• Flexible; able to prioritize and manage workload in a fast-paced, ever-evolving work environment

SITE: Rover

GRADE: 70 Exempt

WORK YEAR: 186 Days

REPORTS TO: Principal

EVALUATION: Classified Evaluation

SUPERVISES: N/A