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WE’RE HIRING | JVTF INSTRUCTOR
March 16th, 2023

Full-Time Position

 

Description 

Under the supervision of the Director of Educational Programs & Partnerships, a Jones Valley Teaching Farm Instructor is responsible for developing and delivering hands-on food education using the Good School Food model. The Good School Food model connects students to food, farming, and culinary arts through standard-based learning experiences. Instructors collaborate with Birmingham City School administrators at every grade level to implement programs at our seven 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 Specialists to maintain the appearance and integrity of the sites.

At the Center for Food Education, instructors are expected to work with the Education Department to carry out camps and field trips to students across the state. 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

Jones Valley Teaching Farm (JVTF)  is a non-profit 501(c)(3) located in Birmingham, Alabama.

In 2012, JVTF launched Good School Food (GSF), our in-school food-based education model, in a pre-K-5 Birmingham City School. We have since expanded this program to six partner schools, including five in one distinct pre-K-12 feeder pattern in the Woodlawn community.

Good School Food is designed to improve education and health outcomes for students. We achieve this by building out extensive Teaching Farms on school campuses, and providing our partner schools with full-time Instructors who collaborate with teachers to develop and deliver programs and curricula that align food and nutrition concepts with learning goals in math, science, social studies, engineering, and language arts.

 

Responsibilities

General

  • Basic processes and procedures: Consistently shows up prepared and on time and is available in person, on the phone and through email. Maintains a professionalism when communicating and follows set channels of communication across the organization. Follows protocols outlined in the policy guidelines/handbook. Adheres to school system rules, administrative procedures, local board policies, and state and federal rules and regulations that are a regular part of a public school system.
  • Advocate: Seeks to understand the organization’s core purpose and develops a deep understanding for it. Actively communicates and supports this purpose. Maintains effective relationships with external stakeholders, including school staff, parents, community members and other constituents.
  • Environment: Creates and maintains a positive collaborative environment around them that is supportive and respectful of others and their ideas. Is an effective team player. Actively participate in Jones Valley Teaching Farm staff meetings and professional development. Effectively communicates the school activities to colleagues in order to be better supported in their role.
  • Improvement and Refinement: Is committed to the improvement and refinement of our work.

Specific

  • 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 specific focus on compost, harvest, propagation, and cultivation
  • Work collaboratively with the Farm Specialist to create a superior outdoor learning environment, maintaining 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 Impact department to document and maintain data from lessons and attendance

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
  • We strongly encourage people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, LGBTQ people, or those who are members
    of other marginalized communities to apply

 

Duration and Compensation

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

  • Compensation Range $31k-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 maternity and paternity leave

 

Application Information

To apply, please send a cover letter and résumé with “Jones Valley Teaching Farm 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.