Thomasville Heights Elementary School (THES)

Thomasville Heights Elementary School is a Purpose Built Schools Atlanta elementary school and part of the Atlanta Public Schools’ turnaround strategy. The THES Farm will serve as part of the signature STEAM and Project Based Learning programming. The ideal candidate will have experience managing a production farm and working with children.

Position Summary

During the 2018-19 School Year, Thomasville Heights Elementary School, in partnership with The Paideia School, established a school farm. As THES heads into Year 3, we are looking to hire a full-time farmer to continue the growth of this important farming program. This farmer will support the Thomasville Heights farm team (comprised of a garden-based educator, a cooking and nutrition advocate and farm assistant) to  help integrate the farm into the school’s curriculum and programming while growing and distributing produce so that we can meet our community engagement and food security goals.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage the THES school farm as an outdoor classroom, learning laboratory, and food production space
• Coordinate with the Garden-based educator and the Food and Nutrition Advocate/Chef to provide meaningful, hands-on opportunities for students to engage on the farm
• Create an on-farm composting program that provides opportunities for students and teachers to participate in organics recycling
• Work with various stakeholders to develop and implement crop plans that meet the needs of the school farm stand, food coops, student taste tests, and school curriculum
• Implement procedures to ensure the safe handling of food grown on farm
• Work with the Grassroots Growers Alliance to coordinate crop plans and distribute produce throughout the year using established and emerging community-based distribution channels (e.g., the school farm stand, Urban Recipe food co-ops, sliding-scale CSA and fresh food boxes)
• Seek farm certifications (where appropriate) as educational opportunities for students and the community (e.g., Certified Naturally Grown, Wild Life Habitat, Monarchs across Georgia)
• Collaborate on and support student trips that introduce them to food projects and systems throughout the region
• Supervise high school students working on farm internships and summer apprenticeships
• Support grant applications as necessary to access various funding sources
• Nurture, support and protect our students by creating a safe and engaging space for them to develop academically, socially and emotionally
• Work as a member of the Thomasville Heights Elementary School faculty and staff

Qualifications:

• Passion for sustainable agriculture and the ability to share knowledge and skills with students of different ages, specifically kindergarten through 5th grade
• Three or more years farming experience with intensive, small-scale, organic or certified naturally grown vegetable production, including, preferably, experience with school-based and/or community-based farming
• Experience managing compost systems
• Knowledge of regulations and proper techniques for post-production handling of produce; i.e., GAPS certification
• Experience working with racially and economically diverse populations
• Ability to develop and maintain good relationships with Purpose Built Schools Atlanta staff, THES staff, The Paideia School/Grassroots Growers Alliance, community agencies, parents, and students
• Commitment to the vision, mission and values of Purpose Built Schools Atlanta

Work Environment

• The Farm manager will report to the School Principal, and work under the supervision of The Paideia Urban Agriculture Team from June 1, 2021 to May 28, 2022.
• The farm manager will work in conjunction with the Garden-based educator and the Food and Nutrition Advocate/Chef as part of the Thomasville Heights Elementary Farm Team
• This position is renewable subject to satisfactory performance review and available funding
• Competitive salary plus health and disability insurance