What are the responsibilities and job description for the Three Season School Garden Coordinator, Salem Public Schools, Salem, MA SY2024-2025 position at Salem Public Schools?
Three Season School Garden Coordinator, Salem Public Schools, Salem, MA SY2024-2025
Job Description: The School Garden Coordinators will support Farm to School Consultants and the SPS farm to school team by ordering supplies and materials for their assigned garden(s), and ensuring gardens are maintained and ready for students and staff to use during school hours and for after-school and summer programs. Garden Coordinators will be expected to participate in Farm to School meetings. Coordinators will also connect with SPS Science Coaches to ensure that the garden is available for curriculum connections in the Fall. Hours are flexible; some weekend maintenance may be required depending on weather. These positions are open to anyone who meets the qualifications and has a passion for gardening.
Dates: May - October (official dates are weather-dependent)
Compensation: $2,000
Number of Openings: 1
Supervisor: Food & Nutrition Services Program Director / Director of Extended Academics
Designation: Stipend, part-time, seasonal
Required tasks may include:
- Coordinating with SPS educators/staff to submit orders for garden supplies (seeds, soil, compost, tools, etc.) as needed
- Coordinating with the Farm to School team on what to grow & scheduling of classes to come out to the garden.
- Provide weekly updates about the garden to SPS’s farm-to-school team on the school’s garden Google Classroom.
- Create a garden schedule so that teachers have a set time to take their students in the garden in the fall.
- Spring priorities:
- Meet with Erik from New Entry to come up with a plan for growing over the summer. Document the plan on the District Garden Annual Cycle
- Collaborate with New Entry and FTS Consultants to create a presentation on their school garden to share with stakeholders, how we are participating in urban agriculture at our schools.
- Possibly present garden plan @ See Me Festival
- Create a weekly garden maintenance plan with the help of Erik from New Entry for June-August.
Opportunities to address priority:
- School Day: STEM Connection: Take a tour with students in the garden
- Out of School Time Programs: Students designing a “dream farm” → connection with what is going to be grown at each school garden, schedule a tour their school garden & talk about the plans for their school garden.
Summer priorities:
- Follow & execute the planned garden cycle for each school.
- Hire & oversee the 2-3 high-school interns to that are following the weekly school garden plan to maintain the gardens
- Create a presentation on what has grown over the summer.
Fall priorities:
- Meet with garden consultants to establish connections to specific grades & units.
- Schedule classes with established garden connections
- Preparing gardens for planting in spring
- Adding soil/compost as needed
- Seeding/re-seeding, if not done by students/staff
- Weeding/general cleanup
- Watering
- Monitoring plant health, identifying and addressing pests and diseases
- Harvesting (when not in use by students)
- Recruiting community volunteers when needed
- Close the gardens for winter
Qualifications:
- Passion for integrating farm-to-school initiatives in public school system
- Able to collaborate with multiple disciplines to create & implement a school garden plan
- Experience and knowledge of vegetable gardening using sustainable practices. Home-gardening is an acceptable experience
- Understanding of basic food safety and sanitation practices
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Organizational skills to manage garden operations and volunteer schedules
- Basic computer literacy for record-keeping and communication
- Ability to perform physical work outside
Equal Opportunity Employer
Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.
