Support Educator
Friends of the National Arboretum
Job Opening: School Garden Support Educator
late March 2023 - November 13, 2023
40 hours/ week
POSITION OVERVIEW
Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) seeks an enthusiastic, adaptable Educator to support
our School Garden Support team work. You will support the Educator Coaching Program (ECP)
in the spring and fall and the Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching (SIGBT)
in the summer. You will have the opportunity to build garden knowledge, learn new teaching
and group management techniques, and work directly with elementary aged youth in our 11
partner school gardens. You will gain participatory training techniques while supporting
engaging professional development for adult educators.
ABOUT US
Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) is a nonprofit membership organization working to
preserve and enhance the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) in Washington D.C. and bring this
remarkable resource to life as an important part of the city and region.
The primary program of FONA is the Washington Youth Garden. Founded in 1971, the
Washington Youth Garden provides unique environmental science and nutrition education
programming for youth and families. The mission of the Washington Youth Garden is to nurture
curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other.
Our small program team is a little community in itself, mixed with different personalities, cultures,
gifts and talents. Everything from mushroom cultivation to bread making. There�s always
something to learn from everyone. We enjoy lending each other a hand on projects and listening
to each other for feedback and suggestions.
ABOUT YOU
You are someone who loves engaging with kids (majority preK-5th grade) and adults (teachers,
parents and families, school staff) and is excited to contribute to supporting sustainable school
garden programs at D.C. schools. You are creative, adaptable, and resilient in the face of
challenges. You enjoy getting your hands dirty (literally� we work in gardens 70% of the year)
and crave variety in your day to day. You are detail-oriented and prefer to work collaboratively
with colleagues and partners. You are familiar with DCPS and/or D.C. public charter schools
and D.C. communities in Wards 4, 5, 7 & 8. You have good organizational skills, and are willing
to take initiative to ensure FONA�s School Garden Support programs run smoothly.
The ideal candidate will have experience, but more importantly interest, in the following:
? Public speaking/ communication
? Collaborating with youth (aged 3-10)
? Comfortable working outside throughout the season
? Gardening, farming, or landscaping
? Collaborating with teachers or schools
? Teaching experience in formal or informal settings, preferred but not required
? Familiarity and connection with Black, Latine, and/or marginalized communities in D.C.
? Spanish language proficiency
? Using Google Drive and Microsoft Office
? Can lift/ handle up to 40 lbs
Expected certificates and licenses:
? Driver�s License
? First Aid (can attain after hire)
? Completion of DCPS clearance process (can attain after hire)
? COVID-19 proof of vaccination or proof of a medical or religious exemption
Prior to employment, FONA will conduct a background check, including criminal and sexual
offender checks and education and employment verification.
REPORTS TO: School Garden Program Managers
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
While there is a lot of seasonal variability in this work, averaged over the course of the year, we
expect the School Garden Support Educator to be spending the approximate percentage of time
on different functions:
1) Program Support (70%)
? Educator Coaching Program
? Participate in school garden committee meetings to build relationships
with school staff, community, and partners
? Support school garden professional development opportunities for
educators such as SIGBT, Fall / Spring Maintenance Days, etc.
? Co-facilitate hands-on garden training and professional development for
teachers and school staff
? Support creation of resources and materials for events and trainings
? Lead students in small groups in garden activities and tasks
? Coordinate and implement weekly produce distributions at schools sites
? Assist with harvest support from the youth garden
? Support and co-facilitate school-based events such as, workdays, cooking
demonstrations and taste tests, garden clubs, family nights, etc.
? Co-teaching
? Co-facilitate Garden Science Co-Teaching sessions with school garden
manager
? Assist with Garden Science curriculum development
? Co-create session themes with partner school teachers based on WYG�s
Garden Science curriculum and framework
? Support lesson material procurement / creation and supply organization
? Support program tracking and evaluation
? Participate in planning and reflection meetings with Co-Teaching
participants, with the goal to be able to lead Co-Teaching sessions on
their own
2) Program Administration (20%)
? Have an understanding of FONA�s school garden support programs, goals, and
objectives
? Maintain communication with FONA staff and partners to support successful
program implementation
? Support accurate and timely data collection and entry for programs and
evaluation in trackers
? Assist in gathering program feedback during and after programing
? Creating flyers and promotional materials for programs and events
? Participate in programming meetings to support planning and implementation
? Provide photos and written material for social media, website page, newsletters,
and email correspondences
3) Organizational Support (10%)
? Act as an ambassador for FONA, present gardening and garden education
workshops at conferences and teacher trainings;
? Occasionally attend fundraisers and other special events.
? Participate in organization-wide meetings
WORK SCHEDULE & COMPENSATION
Work schedule is normally Monday-Friday, 9-5:00pm, with some flexibility depending on
programming hours. Expected hourly range is $21-24 - Salary is subject to FICA and income
taxes. Excellent benefits package includes full health care coverage, a matching 401k
retirement plan, paid federal holidays and generous accrued PTO, plus travel and cell phone/
internet reimbursement.
The expected start date is late March, 2023. Position concludes November 17th, 2023.
TRAVEL
This position is based out of the U.S. National Arboretum, with extensive local travel to 11
partner schools across Wards 4, 5, 7 & 8. A car is not required, but helpful. Reimbursement of
vehicle miles / public transit used is up to $200 per year.
HOW TO APPLY
Send resume to ------------. Write �School Garden Support Educator� in the subject line. In
addition, please answer two of the following three questions at this google form (or email the
video directly to ------------).
? What about this position interests you? What do you hope to gain from the experience?
? FONA�s youth programs works with primarily Black and Latine communities through
DCPS and charter schools in D.C. Please explain your connections to or roots in the
communities of Washington, D.C., and/ or your interest in working with D.C.
communities.
? Give an example of a time you've led a group or activity with youth or adult learners in
the past. What strategies or best practices did you use?
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and will not be accepted after February 27th.
All applicants will be required to complete a background check during the interview process.
Friends of the National Arboretum is an equal opportunity employer. We believe participation
across a broad-spectrum of human experiences and backgrounds is necessary. We value
different skills, identities, education levels, and generations on our team, and are committed to
creating a just and inclusive environment for all.
------------/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/School-Garden-Support-Educator-Position-Description-2023.pdf
Friends of the National Arboretum
Job Opening: School Garden Support Educator
late March 2023 - November 13, 2023
40 hours/ week
POSITION OVERVIEW
Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) seeks an enthusiastic, adaptable Educator to support
our School Garden Support team work. You will support the Educator Coaching Program (ECP)
in the spring and fall and the Summer Institute for Garden-based Teaching (SIGBT)
in the summer. You will have the opportunity to build garden knowledge, learn new teaching
and group management techniques, and work directly with elementary aged youth in our 11
partner school gardens. You will gain participatory training techniques while supporting
engaging professional development for adult educators.
ABOUT US
Friends of the National Arboretum (FONA) is a nonprofit membership organization working to
preserve and enhance the U.S. National Arboretum (USNA) in Washington D.C. and bring this
remarkable resource to life as an important part of the city and region.
The primary program of FONA is the Washington Youth Garden. Founded in 1971, the
Washington Youth Garden provides unique environmental science and nutrition education
programming for youth and families. The mission of the Washington Youth Garden is to nurture
curious minds and healthy bodies by connecting youth to food, the land, and each other.
Our small program team is a little community in itself, mixed with different personalities, cultures,
gifts and talents. Everything from mushroom cultivation to bread making. There�s always
something to learn from everyone. We enjoy lending each other a hand on projects and listening
to each other for feedback and suggestions.
ABOUT YOU
You are someone who loves engaging with kids (majority preK-5th grade) and adults (teachers,
parents and families, school staff) and is excited to contribute to supporting sustainable school
garden programs at D.C. schools. You are creative, adaptable, and resilient in the face of
challenges. You enjoy getting your hands dirty (literally� we work in gardens 70% of the year)
and crave variety in your day to day. You are detail-oriented and prefer to work collaboratively
with colleagues and partners. You are familiar with DCPS and/or D.C. public charter schools
and D.C. communities in Wards 4, 5, 7 & 8. You have good organizational skills, and are willing
to take initiative to ensure FONA�s School Garden Support programs run smoothly.
The ideal candidate will have experience, but more importantly interest, in the following:
? Public speaking/ communication
? Collaborating with youth (aged 3-10)
? Comfortable working outside throughout the season
? Gardening, farming, or landscaping
? Collaborating with teachers or schools
? Teaching experience in formal or informal settings, preferred but not required
? Familiarity and connection with Black, Latine, and/or marginalized communities in D.C.
? Spanish language proficiency
? Using Google Drive and Microsoft Office
? Can lift/ handle up to 40 lbs
Expected certificates and licenses:
? Driver�s License
? First Aid (can attain after hire)
? Completion of DCPS clearance process (can attain after hire)
? COVID-19 proof of vaccination or proof of a medical or religious exemption
Prior to employment, FONA will conduct a background check, including criminal and sexual
offender checks and education and employment verification.
REPORTS TO: School Garden Program Managers
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
While there is a lot of seasonal variability in this work, averaged over the course of the year, we
expect the School Garden Support Educator to be spending the approximate percentage of time
on different functions:
1) Program Support (70%)
? Educator Coaching Program
? Participate in school garden committee meetings to build relationships
with school staff, community, and partners
? Support school garden professional development opportunities for
educators such as SIGBT, Fall / Spring Maintenance Days, etc.
? Co-facilitate hands-on garden training and professional development for
teachers and school staff
? Support creation of resources and materials for events and trainings
? Lead students in small groups in garden activities and tasks
? Coordinate and implement weekly produce distributions at schools sites
? Assist with harvest support from the youth garden
? Support and co-facilitate school-based events such as, workdays, cooking
demonstrations and taste tests, garden clubs, family nights, etc.
? Co-teaching
? Co-facilitate Garden Science Co-Teaching sessions with school garden
manager
? Assist with Garden Science curriculum development
? Co-create session themes with partner school teachers based on WYG�s
Garden Science curriculum and framework
? Support lesson material procurement / creation and supply organization
? Support program tracking and evaluation
? Participate in planning and reflection meetings with Co-Teaching
participants, with the goal to be able to lead Co-Teaching sessions on
their own
2) Program Administration (20%)
? Have an understanding of FONA�s school garden support programs, goals, and
objectives
? Maintain communication with FONA staff and partners to support successful
program implementation
? Support accurate and timely data collection and entry for programs and
evaluation in trackers
? Assist in gathering program feedback during and after programing
? Creating flyers and promotional materials for programs and events
? Participate in programming meetings to support planning and implementation
? Provide photos and written material for social media, website page, newsletters,
and email correspondences
3) Organizational Support (10%)
? Act as an ambassador for FONA, present gardening and garden education
workshops at conferences and teacher trainings;
? Occasionally attend fundraisers and other special events.
? Participate in organization-wide meetings
WORK SCHEDULE & COMPENSATION
Work schedule is normally Monday-Friday, 9-5:00pm, with some flexibility depending on
programming hours. Expected hourly range is $21-24 - Salary is subject to FICA and income
taxes. Excellent benefits package includes full health care coverage, a matching 401k
retirement plan, paid federal holidays and generous accrued PTO, plus travel and cell phone/
internet reimbursement.
The expected start date is late March, 2023. Position concludes November 17th, 2023.
TRAVEL
This position is based out of the U.S. National Arboretum, with extensive local travel to 11
partner schools across Wards 4, 5, 7 & 8. A car is not required, but helpful. Reimbursement of
vehicle miles / public transit used is up to $200 per year.
HOW TO APPLY
Send resume to ------------. Write �School Garden Support Educator� in the subject line. In
addition, please answer two of the following three questions at this google form (or email the
video directly to ------------).
? What about this position interests you? What do you hope to gain from the experience?
? FONA�s youth programs works with primarily Black and Latine communities through
DCPS and charter schools in D.C. Please explain your connections to or roots in the
communities of Washington, D.C., and/ or your interest in working with D.C.
communities.
? Give an example of a time you've led a group or activity with youth or adult learners in
the past. What strategies or best practices did you use?
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and will not be accepted after February 27th.
All applicants will be required to complete a background check during the interview process.
Friends of the National Arboretum is an equal opportunity employer. We believe participation
across a broad-spectrum of human experiences and backgrounds is necessary. We value
different skills, identities, education levels, and generations on our team, and are committed to
creating a just and inclusive environment for all.
------------/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/School-Garden-Support-Educator-Position-Description-2023.pdf