Company description

Grow Public Schools, founded by the Grimm Family Education Foundation (GFEF) in 2011, is an independent public charter school network with schools currently located in Arvin (K-8) and Shafter (K-8), California.  

At Grow Public Schools (GPS), we believe educational excellence is achieved when health and wellness is at the center of a child’s learning environment.  To achieve this, students learn through diversified personalized instructional methods and platforms - digital, hands-on, project, inquiry and direct learning pedagogies.  As a result, students achieve academically, emotionally and physically, maximizing their individual potential to be prepared for the rigors of college, career and life. 

Grow Public Schools seeks to be the leader among K-8 educational institutions in California, particularly in Kern County and the Central Valley.  Through a process of continuous learning, evolution, and growth, we offer an innovative school model to families, especially the historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged.  We strive to provide a model of excellence and innovation rich with rigorous expectations, instilling a growth mindset in our scholars that will result in college readiness and lifelong success.

Job description

Position Summary: 

The Garden Educator is involved in teaching garden classes and is responsible for maintaining a year-round productive and educational organic garden. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Maintains garden as stated in the garden handbook  
• Maintains garden at a level that ensures ample produce to the Kitchen classroom.  
• Involved in all garden classes, guiding students through propagation, harvesting, cultivation, composting, greenhouse production, and maintenance of the garden  
• Collaborates with the Lead Garden Educator and garden staff on the design of grade-appropriate garden activities
• Assists with soil fertility, composting, garden planning, seed supply, pruning, irrigation, pest and disease management and small-scale chicken husbandry  
• Maintains garden records  
• Helps maintain garden equipment
• Collaborates with the Lead Garden Educator on the execution of grade appropriate garden skills, activities, and lessons  
• Maintains communication with kitchen staff about garden production and available produce. 
• Assists in planning and executing events at fall, winter, and summer camps and seasonal events throughout the school year 
• Other related duties as assigned

All Garden Staff Will: 

• Participate in the implementation, set up and teaching of daily lessons  
• Participate in ESY camps throughout the year including fall, winter, and summer camp
• Maintain garden facilities, equipment and inventory including tool shed, chicken coop, greenhouse and all hand tools  
• Teaches or participates as needed in the kitchen
• Participate in all staff meetings, garden walk throughs, and professional development days 
   
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required: 
• Ability to work with elementary and middle school children in an educational  environment
• Ability to maintain order and safe working practices in a kitchen setting  with young students
• Strong knowledge of the principles of gardening
• Ability to interact positively and effectively with a variety of constituents including students, co-workers, parents, and teachers  
• Ability to take direction and work on a variety of tasks simultaneously
• Ability to work collaboratively 
  Education and Experience: 
• Gardening experience (preferred)  
• Bachelor’s degree preferred  
• Background in agriculture, horticulture, liberal arts, education or related fields preferred  
• Experience working with young students preferred 

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: 

• Ability to work safely in summer weather (100° +)  
• Ability to stand, stoop, reach, and bend
• Ability to stand for long periods 
• Ability to lift, push and/or pull objects (up to approximately 50 pounds)  
• Ability to read small print  
• Ability to work with and in the proximity of equipment with moving mechanical parts  
• Ability to work outdoors in a physically demanding environment 
• Ability to smell, taste and feel to determine the quality of raw food products  
• Ability to work around loud noise

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $20/hr +

Application instructions

Deadline

February 10, 2025