Full-Time Position

Description 

Under the supervision of the Director of Educational Programs and Partnerships, a Jones Valley Teaching Farm Instructor is responsible for developing and delivering hands-on food education using the Good School Food framework.  The Good School Food framework connects students to food, farming, and culinary arts through standards-based learning experiences. Instructors collaborate with Birmingham City School administrators and teachers at every grade level to implement programs at our eight school sites.  These lessons complement and expand what students are learning in the classroom. We teach across all subject areas, including science, math, social studies, English language arts, health, and art. Instructors are responsible for the day-to-day management of the Teaching Farm spaces. They work alongside Farm Managers to maintain the appearance and integrity of the sites.

At the Center for Food Education, Instructors are expected to conduct camps and assist with field trips for students across the state. 

Instructors are expected to develop, manage, lead, and implement one or more of our key programs: camps, field trips, and/or any new initiatives. This work requires a high degree of professionalism and a collaborative spirit.  A successful candidate must possess extraordinary interpersonal skills as well as strong management, organization, and communication skills.  

Jones Valley Teaching Farm

Founded in 2002,  JVTF is a non-profit 501(c)(3) located in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2012,  JVTF established Good School Food (GSF), a food education model rooted in academic standards and implemented in partnership with Birmingham City Schools. In the GSF model, JVTF designs and builds extensive teaching farm sites where staff deliver programming that connects students to food, farming, and the culinary arts through in-school and after-school programming.  Since 2012, JVTF has expanded the program to seven partner schools, including five in one distinct pre-K-12 feeder pattern in the Woodlawn community. Learn more at jvtf.org.

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct daily standards-based lessons for students in grades Pre-K-12th 
• Collaborate with teachers and administrators to develop relevant and rigorous lessons
• Develop, manage, lead, and implement  one or more  of our key programs
• Design and lead after-school programs
• Guide students in general maintenance of the Teaching Farm with a specific focus on compost, harvest, propagation, and cultivation
• Work collaboratively with the K-8  Farm Team  to create a superior outdoor learning environment, maintaining a vibrant and productive space
• Create a safe, structured, and warm learning environment for all students
• Mentor individual students in and out of class, model respect and curiosity for learning, and encourage students’ interests and talents while maintaining healthy and appropriate boundaries with students
• Design and conduct camps and field trips 
• Student recruitment for camp and field trips
• Meet weekly with the Education team 
• Maintain detailed records of lessons of daily activities
• Work with our education team to produce teaching and visual aids for standards-based lessons 
• Provide written feedback on standards-based  lessons to improve their quality and rigor over time
• Collaborate with the Impact department to document and maintain data from lessons and attendance

Please note this job description is not designed to provide a comprehensive list of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Job responsibilities may change at any time without prior notice. New job responsibilities may be added as needed.

What We Look For

• Believer in the power of education and food
• The “Teaching Farm” part of JVTF is not just part of our name, but it is the heart of our mission, and we make hiring young people a priority.  As an employee, mentoring and working alongside students and apprentices is a required and fundamental piece of our work. 
• A commitment to social justice
• A positive and constructive attitude
• Must be able to take initiative and problem-solve.  Must be a creative thinker. 
• A love for learning
• The ability to hear, reflect upon, and implement feedback
• Able to communicate effectively with youth, co-workers, stakeholders, and families in a respectful and culturally competent manner via written and verbal communication. 
• Able to work with a team but enjoys working independently
• Must be capable of participating in the physically demanding needs of gardening and landscape work
• Reliable transportation required
• Min 4 years experience in farming, youth development, and/or education (including intern and apprentice experience at Jones Valley Teaching Farm) OR Masters/BA/BS degree with a Teaching Credential

Duration and Compensation

This is a year-round, full-time position with a 3-month probation period. Competitive compensation package includes: 

• Compensation Range $45k-50k
• 403(B) with employer matching
• Paid Health and Dental Individual benefits 
• 22 Days of Paid Time Off at the onset of employment
• End of year Winter Break
• Generous parental leave

Application Information

To apply, please send a cover letter and résumé with “Instructor” in the subject line to jobs@jvtf.org.  In this cover letter, please highlight previous relevant experience(s). Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled.  No phone calls or drop-ins, please.