Lower School Garden Educator (Part time)

Town School for Boys seeks a part time Garden Educator beginning in the 2018-2019 school year.

Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding in 1939, Town School is committed to providing a dynamic and engaging environment that suits the developmental learning needs of boys. An intensive academic program is supplemented by fine arts offerings and outdoor education trips that take advantage of the school’s Bay Area coastal location. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry and project-based learning. Town School values academic excellence, respect for self and others, diversity and inclusivity, community service, and social-emotional development. Town places a high value on maintaining a collegial atmosphere among faculty members. There is an expectation of continuous growth and improvement for all faculty and strong support for a wide range of professional development opportunities.

Specific Roles and Responsibilities: Town is seeking a highly qualified Garden Educator to work with Kindergarten through 4 th grade students. An ideal candidate would maintain the garden and develop new, and build upon existing, school garden programming in addition to the following:

● Expand and improve upon the existing Rooftop Garden program and curriculum, in partnership with administration and K-4 faculty and STEM department.

● Collaborate actively with administration and faculty to set goals, develop and lead garden-related programming, special events and community outreach.

● Coordinate the integration of the garden program and garden produce with ACRE Gourmet dining service.

● Coordinate the integration of garden-related programming with diverse and interdisciplinary academic programs.

● Oversee garden upkeep, fertility, maintenance, crop rotation and production.

● Organize, acquire, and coordinate delivery of gardening and curriculum materials.

● Communicate/promote Rooftop Garden Initiatives with the larger parent community. Desired Qualifications and Skills:

● A minimum of 2 years organic gardening or farming experience

● A minimum of 2 years teaching experience, preferably with elementary school aged students

● Familiarity with current Academic Standards (NGSS, Common Core, STE(A)M)

● A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

● Ability to stand, stoop and lift up to 50 lbs

● Ability and willingness to work for prolonged periods in diverse weather conditions, including intense sun, heat, wind and cold

Non-Discrimination Policy: Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. The school does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs. Town School for Boys is an equal opportunity employer.

The position currently requires 10-15 per week with opportunities for additional project work. Pay is commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with like NAIS schools. To apply for this position, please send a cover letter, resume, and three letters of reference to: Jennifer Warren employment@townschool.com Town School for Boys 2750 Jackson Street San Francisco, CA 94115 Town School for Boys www.townschool.com Mission At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated. Philosophy As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world. Statement of Teaching Philosophy Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish. We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another. Diversity Statement Diversity, inclusion and equity are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking. We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs, and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School. A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses he or she matters as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.