COOL School Garden Specialist - Santa Rosa

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GENERAL INFORMATION: The Expanded Learning Garden Specialist will be employed by the Napa County Office of Education and will report to the Expanded Learning (EXL) Program Manager and Program Coordinator. This position will work in Santa Rosa, in collaboration with the Bellevue Union (Bellevue Elementary, Kawana Springs, Meadow View Elementary, or Taylor Mountain Elementary). Garden specialists will work on multiple elementary school campuses. The EXL Garden Specialist will maintain each school site’s garden, as well as engaging students in garden based lessons and activities during after the school program (COOL School) hours. QUALIFICATIONS: Experience: Previous experience building and managing garden projects is required, along with experience working with youth in school or community-based setting. Experience working with elementary students in a school garden is preferred.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBLITIES: Under the general direction of the Napa County Office of Education Program Manager, the EXL Garden Specialist will be responsible for the following: • Communication: Develop and maintain a high level of communication and positive relationships with the principal, teachers, and after school staff at each of the school sites. • Collaboration: Work with the school day and after school program to find ways to engage all students in garden based learning, activities, lessons, and hands-on garden experience. Share the after school program space for storing supplies and materials. • Garden Maintenance: Ensure each school garden is well maintained, including, but not limited to: weeding, watering, planting and maintaining seed banks. • Garden Based Learning: Plan and implement daily garden and nutrition based lessons with students at each school site, during the after school program hours. • Community Partnerships: Seek to build partnerships with local agencies who are able to support the school gardens via needed supplies, along with opportunities to enhance student garden learning and hands-on experiences. Support community service days aimed at revitalizing gardens as needed.

JOB DUTIES: • Utilize time effectively. If applicable, divide time evenly between the school sites. • Engage in regular meetings with other Garden Specialist, sharing ideas and resources. • Communicate and collaborate with school site staff to ensure a successful garden space for students. • Collaborate with school staff, after school Site Supervisor, and after school staff to provide times for students to engage in garden activities. • Share a passion and enthusiasm for gardens / garden education with both youth and adults on campus. • Purchase garden supplies, as needed and within an annual budget, to enhance the garden program. • Plan, prepare, and implement engaging garden and nutrition-based lessons with students. Research, and possibly purchase, educational materials and curriculum to support this process. • Provide students opportunities to work in the garden regularly. • Be responsible for monitoring student safety during garden activities. • Build community partnerships that will support the successful implementation of the garden program. • If able, facilitate a family based garden event during the school year on each school campus. • Perform other job-related dues as necessary to accomplish goals and objectives of the project as determined by the EXL Program Manager and the School Site Principals. KNOWLEDGE OF: • School environments • Successful gardening requirements • Facilitation of student lessons ABILITY TO: • Work well and collaboratively with a diverse school community • Maintain harmonious working relationships with students, school staff, and after school staff • Be dependable and responsible • Share garden expertise and passion with students • Be a self-starter and be able to work with minimal supervision • Plan, organize, and implement multiple project and tasks • Communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing