Company description

Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) is building a food-secure future through school-based, youth-led hydroponic farming, providing local, sustainably-grown produce to food desert communities and building health, education, and opportunity equity for all New Yorkers and beyond. TFFJ works within Title I middle and high schools in NYC and beyond, training students to build and manage indoor hydroponic farms, each growing up to 10,000 pounds of fresh produce annually. This fresh produce is served daily in school cafeterias and is distributed biweekly to campus families and through community partners, to local food-insecure residents. Further, students learn/master nutrition/health skills to share with peers/neighbors, empowering them to lead themselves and others toward healthier futures, making fresh healthy food available where it is most lacking, specifically in under-resourced communities of color.

Job description

Organizational Overview 

 

DeWitt Clinton High School, in conjunction with Teens for Food Justice, offers a hydroponic farming experience for students in grades 9-12. These two organizations work together to provide an instructional and experiential learning experience for students through farming lessons and farming activities. 

Teens for Food Justice (TFFJ) is building a food-secure future through school-based, youth-led hydroponic farming, providing local, sustainably-grown produce to food desert communities and building health, education, and opportunity equity for all New Yorkers and beyond. TFFJ works within Title I middle and high schools in NYC and beyond, training students to build and manage indoor hydroponic farms.

Position Overview

Work with us to build an equitable, sustainable, healthy food system throughout New York City through school-based, youth-led hydroponic farming. As a Farmer-Educator, you play a critical role in empowering and educating the next generation to work and advocate for major systems change in bringing healthy, affordable food to their communities. TFFJ Farmer-Educators master the newest hydroponic technologies for growing food sustainably as they train students in these skills. 

This is an NYCDOE staff role that partners with TFFJ to implement and oversee all farm-based programming, including integrated curricular day classes, afterschool programming, farm internships, and food distribution to the campus cafeteria as well as to families and local community-based partners. 

Farm Responsibilities

As the Farmer, you will have a high degree of autonomy but also responsibility and accountability for all aspects of your farm’s operations, which mimic those of a commercial hydroponic grower: 

• Carrying out daily farm tasks, including but not limited to planting, transplanting, and harvesting crops; monitoring, tracking, and reporting all farm production data; cleaning equipment; completing checklists; maintaining close communication with TFFJ’s Farm Operations and Program managers
• Observing and reporting plant health issues (i.e., pests, diseases, and equipment issues)
• Collecting and reporting data in an online farm management dashboard
• Observing and enforcing food and farm safety protocols for all students, staff, and visitors
• Collaborating with the Farm Operations manager to ensure production targets are met and transport of harvested crops from the farm to their final distribution destination is streamlined
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness on the farm and ensuring that the farm is safe, clean, and presentable at all times
• Leading periodic farm tours
• Managing all aspects of food distribution operations including harvesting, packing, and labeling produce, corresponding with customers/recipients (cafeteria manager, community centers), ensuring safe and efficient delivery/hand-off, and recording relevant distribution data on farm management dashboard  
• Managing inventory of farm supplies by regularly assessing stock, requesting supplies as needed on farm management dashboard, receiving supplies from designated receiving areas, and providing proof of receipt on farm management dashboard

Program Responsibilities

As the Educator, you will have the opportunity to build student, school, and community connections to the farm, its work, and its food justice mission and help lay the groundwork for a food-secure future:

• Leading and working with students daily to operate a production-scale hydroponic farm in a public school
• Co-teaching daily STEM classes and weekly afterschool program sessions that utilize the farm and engage students in lessons and activities including (but not limited to) hands-on farm tasks, experiments and research, group discussions, cooking demonstrations, and gallery walks
• Regularly collaborating with lead teachers to review and prepare lesson materials prior to our curricular day and afterschool programming. This includes printing out materials and setting up activities in advance of class meeting times.
• Managing student farm assistant interns in helping with farm operations tasks (e.g., tracking attendance, providing them with farm tasks, tracking hours, and communicating with partner staff)
• Brainstorming ways for students to take ownership of, and connect with, the curricular day and afterschool content presented
• Distributing and collecting class rosters, media consent, and other TFFJ-related permission forms from all classes and students engaged with the farm
• Collecting and reporting data in an online program management system
• Communicating clearly and regularly with the Program team about school-based opportunities and events
• Attending regular meetings (at a cadence based on Farmer-Educator need and availability) with the Program team to discuss curriculum needs and feedback, any program-related issues such as class attendance/scheduling, and supply needs
• Inventorying program supplies and requesting needed items from TFFJ staff 
• Serving as TFFJ’s representative within our partner school community

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• At least 2 years of work experience
• Ability to clear a required NYCDOE background check (required to work in schools)
• Ability to clearly, consistently, and accurately communicate both verbally and electronically
• Comfortable using a Windows PC for email, data entry, and calendars
• Ability to follow directions and provide directions to others
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Adhere to existing organizational systems
• Ability to work independently but also be a team player
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
• Ability to climb ladders/rolling staircases

Desired Qualifications

• Knowledge of, and demonstrated commitment to, social justice
• Interest or experience in food service, farming, urban agriculture, community health, or youth development
• The desire to work with youth 
• High energy level and a positive outlook 
• Ability to provide three references

 

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $45.00 - $55.00

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline