Garden Educator

Passionate about experiential education, urban agriculture, and investing in the future of Chicago’s youth? Spend a year doing what you love by applying to become an AmeriCorps Service Member with Gardeneers! 

We are recruiting for Lead or Supporting Garden Educators:

ESSENTIAL DUTIES*

• Attend weekly AmeriCorps Meetings; Attend Weekly Staff Meetings
• Participate in Seasonal Goal Setting, Reviews, and Monthly Check-in’s with the Director of AmeriCorps Program; Submit Timesheets by 9am every Monday + Reflections by the first of each month.
• Working in partnership with Garden Educators prepare for and lead garden programming by creating lesson plans, ensuring all materials and supplies are prepared, and ensuring successful execution of lessons.
• Ensure beauty and productivity of school garden spaces; properly close gardens at the end of season.
• Maintain accurate records on each assigned school including, but not limited to: surveys, school and volunteer contact info, pictures of students and gardens, harvest and program logs.
• Coordinate and carry out school and community events.
• Participate in staff meetings and trainings along with professional development opportunities.
• Build relationships and maintain ongoing communication via email, phone and in-person meetings with teachers, principals, administrators, other school staff, volunteers, community members, and parents.
• Administer Gardeneers’ curriculum; Work with the Director of Curriculum, Director of AmeriCorps Program, and other Garden Educators to implement, develop and evaluate programming.
• Represent Gardeneers through tabling, presentations, and facilitating activities at schools and community events

*Lead educators will have all the responsibilities listed above, with the addition of leading our garden education programs with elementary or high school students (rather than taking a more supporting role). We encourage people with previous teaching experience to apply for the Lead Garden Educator role.