Two Season School Garden Coordinators Salem Public Schools Salem MA SY
Job Description: The School Garden Coordinators will support Farm to School Consultants and the SPS farm to school team by ordering supplies and materials for their assigned garden(s) and ensuring gardens are maintained and ready for students and staff to use during school hours and for afterschool and summer programs. Garden Coordinators will be expected to participate in Farm to School meetings. Coordinators will also connect with SPS Science Coaches to ensure that the garden is available for curriculum connections in the Fall. Hours are flexible; some weekend maintenance may be required depending on weather. These positions are open to anyone who meets the qualifications and has a passion for gardening.
Dates: MayJune and SeptemberOctober (official dates are weatherdependent)
Compensation: 1500
Number of Openings: 5
Supervisor: Food & Nutrition Services Program Director / Director of Extended Academics
Designation: Stipend parttime seasonal
Required tasks may include:
- Coordinating with SPS educators/staff to submit orders for garden supplies (seeds soil compost tools etc. as needed
- Coordinating with the Farm to School team / School Administration on what to grow & scheduling of classes to come out to the garden.
- Provide weekly updates about the garden to SPSs farmtoschool team on the schools garden Google Classroom.
- Create a garden schedule so that teachers have a set time to take their students in the garden in the fall.
- Spring priorities:
- Create a presentation on their school garden to share with stakeholders how we are participating in urban agriculture at our schools.
- Possibly present garden plan @ See Me Festival
- Create a weekly garden maintenance plan with the help of Erik from New Entry for JuneAugust.
Opportunities to address priority:
- School Day: STEM Connection: Take a tour with students in the garden
- Out of School Time Programs: Students designing a dream farm connection with what is going to be grown at each school garden schedule a tour their school garden & talk about the plans for their school garden.
- Fall priorities:
- Meet with garden consultants to establish connections to specific grades & units.
- Schedule classes with established garden connections
- Preparing gardens for planting in spring
- Adding soil/compost as needed
- Seeding/reseeding if not done by students/staff
- Weeding/general cleanup
- Watering
- Monitoring plant health identifying and addressing pests and diseases
- Harvesting (when not in use by students)
- Recruiting community volunteers when needed
- Close the gardens for winter
Qualifications:
- Passion for integrating farmtoschool initiatives in public school system
- Able to collaborate with multiple disciplines to create & implement a school garden plan
- Experience and knowledge of vegetable gardening using sustainable practices. Homegardening is an acceptable experience
- Understanding of basic food safety and sanitation practices
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Organizational skills to manage garden operations and volunteer schedules
- Basic computer literacy for record keeping and communication
- Ability to perform physical work outside
Equal Opportunity Employer
Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race color religion national origin pregnancy gender identity sexual orientation marital/civil union status ancestry place of birth age citizenship status veteran status political affiliation genetic information or disability as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.
Required Experience:
IC