Environmental Sustainability & Urban Gardening - SMBR

Reynoldsburg City Schools is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed  to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Primary Job Function: 

The Urban Gardening and Environmental Sustainability Teacher will plan and provide for appropriate learning experiences for  students. Provide an atmosphere and environment conducive to the intellectual, physical, social, and  emotional development of individuals to ensure success for each student. Supervise students in a variety  of school related settings. Monitor and evaluate student outcomes. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Primary functions may include the following duties,  responsibilities, skills, abilities, and other characteristics. This list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY  and is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of tasks performed by all positions within this  classification.  The Urban Gardening Teacher will:

•  Facilitate garden science classes, incorporating both environmental science and nutrition education as they relate to the garden;
• Worksclosely with classroom teachers to develop lessons that support classroom teaching in a range of curriculum areas (science, social studies, mathematics, language arts, etc.)
• Oversee and coordinate students’ hands-on experiences in the garden (planting, tending, harvesting and cooking); 
•  Build involvement in and commitment to the school garden within the school community, including teachers, administrators, students, parents and volunteers;   
• Build capacity within the school by co-teaching with classroom teachers, and developing teacher skills in outdoor classroom management techniques; 
• Maintains the garden, coordinating volunteers and working with community partners to secure all needed supplies.

• Knowledge and Pedagogy
  
  • At least 2-3 years of teaching experience middle-level aged youth  (outdoor group management experience preferred); 
  • • Knowledge and skills in small-scale organic food production or home gardening;
  • Knowledge of or interest in topics including urban gardening, botany, environmental science, health and nutrition, food systems, food access; 
  •  Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations including youth and adults;
  •  Strong oral and written communication skills, including public speaking skills;
  •  Ability to work independently and be flexible; 
  • Teachers understand the subject area content and clearly communicate how knowledge in the subject field is created, organized, and linked to other disciplines.
  • Generate multiple paths to mastery of standards through deeper learning experiences.
  • Use comprehensive planning skills to design effective instruction focused on rigorous academic content and 21st Century skills.                                       The Environmental Sustainability Teacher will:
  • Conduct environmentally based lessons in both classroom and field settings.
  • Develop and deliver educational programming, specific to the sustainability of the environment.
  • Research and design curriculum and programs that promote environmental literacy
  • Develop and implement strategies to engage and educate students on environmental topics
  • Organize field trips and provide outdoor activities designed to foster understanding and appreciation of the environment
  • Collaborate with other environmental educators and organizations      Classroom Environment
  • Teachers create a classroom climate that promotes openness, mutual respect, support and inquiry.

• • Teachers create an organized classroom that maximizes engaged student learning time, behaviorally, emotionally, and cognitively.
  • Teachers establish and maintain respectful, productive partnerships with families in support of student learning and well-being.
  • Teachers engage all students in complex problem-solving and exploring of ideas and issues in classroom activities, drawing on students' culture, experiences, and knowledge.
  • Through effective communication, teachers foster an inclusive classroom environment by honoring and respecting student voice and eliciting feedback to achieve collective outcomes.

• Student Assessment
  • Teachers continually assess student progress relative to continuous improvement goals.
  • Teachers follow RCS assessment guidelines and policies.
  • Teachers use a variety of formal and informal assessment techniques.
  • Teachers analyze student information and results and plan instruction accordingly.

• Professional Responsibility
  
  • Teachers are committed to continuous self-improvement and professional development.
  • Teachers continually reflect upon their practice and use feedback to promote student learning and adjust best practices.
  • For facilitation of learning, teachers draw upon educational research and research-based strategies in planning instructional content and delivery.
  • Teachers are an active member of a professional learning community.
  • Teachers understand and support the vision, mission, and goals of RCS, and serves as an ambassador for RCS.
  • Teachers view themselves as vital stakeholders tat contribute to a positive school environment.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Science or Social Studies
• Valid Ohio teaching certificate 
• Proper endorsements as required 

Physical Demands & Working Conditions:  

• Physical Demands – While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to  speak and hear. The employee is required to have dexterity of hands and fingers. The employee is  required to sit or stand for extended periods of time. They may be occasionally required to bend  at the waist, kneel or crouch. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision,  and ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job the incumbent is seated or  walking at will and must be able to push, pull, lift and carry over 25 pounds on occasion. 
• Working Conditions – Generally acceptable working environment with limited exposure to  unpleasant conditions. Exposure to such conditions may make working environment unpleasant or cause discomfort occasionally but has minor impact on personal safety and/or mental well being. 
• Driving Requirement – This job description does require driving; however, any employee who  chooses or is asked to drive an RCS vehicle for work related community business must receive  written annual authorization to do so.  

The physical demands described here are a representative of those that must be met by an employee to  successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to  enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.