Environmental-Sustainability Teacher/EcoSPACES Program Coordinator – Newark, NJ

Organization: St. Philip’s Academy

Job Title: Environmental-Sustainability Teacher/EcoSPACES Program Coordinator

Location: Newark, NJ

Hours and Compensation: Full time, Competitive salary with excellent benefits

Position Dates: Start August 20, 2012

Application Deadline: August 15, 2012

Posted On: June 22, 2012

Organization Overview

In 2008, St. Philip’s Academy launched its EcoSPACES (St. Philip’s Academy Cultivating Environmental Sustainability) Program with the vision that all students have access to nutritious, tasty food to support the development of healthy minds and bodies. Reinforced by the use of physical learning environments that include the roof top garden, teaching kitchen, gymnasium and dining room, students learn the importance of the closed food loop cycle. In addition, the learning environments are used by teachers to support existing academic curriculum to teach through hands on learning.

342 Central Avenue, Newark, New Jersey, 07103, United States

Description

St. Philip’s Academy is seeking a Coordinator/Teacher for our EcoSPACES program. Eco-SPACES is a multi-dimensional, co-curricular program designed to give students the tools to lead healthy and environmentally productive lives in the 21^stcentury through our Rooftop Garden, Teaching Kitchen, Seed to Table Healthy Lunch Program, Urban Farming Lab and Gymnasium/Outdoor Turf. The curriculum focuses on the closed food loop cycle, the physical body, nutrition, the health of our planet, the conservation of energy and natural resources, and on all aspects of “green living.” Students are exposed to a K-8 curriculum, designed to present a comprehensive program of sustainable living and health and wellness. It is our hope in doing so, that we expand their capacity to accept the best practices of environmental and nutritional stewardship so that they might make informed decisions for living a life that benefits our planet, while providing proper care for their own bodies.

The EcoSPACES Coordinator is a twelve month position responsible for the leadership, development and management of the EcoSPACES Program. The chosen candidate will manage the gardens, teaching kitchen and will work closely with faculty teaching within our learning environments.

Responsibilities

• Manages day to day operations of garden and teaching kitchen to ensure sustainability of the program
• Schedules and assist faculty with weekly EcoSPACES lessons and special projects
• Teaches 6^th grade EcoSPACES Environmental Science
• Plan, direct, articulate, communicate and promote EcoSPACES Program goals and values
• Responsible for overseeing day to day, on/off-site EcoSPACES program operations
• As determined by Director, work with Development Office as liaison with outside agencies, contractors, and City departments for sustainability and environmental matters related to classroom teaching
• Coordinates grade level and school-wide EcoSPACES assemblies and activities (Community Service Days, Earth Day, Thanksgiving)
• Coordinate and lead faculty in special programming and long-term projects
• Assess and document the EcoSPACES Curriculum at each grade level
• Ensure that all events, topics of study and projects are documented according to prescribed standards
• Research and offer professional development opportunities
• Facilitate the training of staff and volunteers (parents included) related to the EcoSPACES program
• Define and oversee internship opportunities
• Draft and submit for approval: systems, policies and procedures related to EcoSPACES programs
• Ensure that the physical education curriculum is concurrent with the goals and values of the EcoSPACES program
• In cooperation with the Associate Head of School and the Academic Leadership team, ensure that the closed loop food system and sustainability environments maintain a healthy curricular presence
• With the EcoSPACES Director, develop and submit an annual summary evaluation for each of the EcoSPACES environments.
• Work closely with the EcoSPACES Director on short and long term annual planning projects for submittal to the Head of School

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess the following skills and attributes:

• Experience in gardening/farming and/or Seed-to-Table programs.
• The ability to work well independently in creating new programming as well as collaboratively in working with grade level teachers
• Organizational and time management
• Charismatic and dynamic with children
• A working knowledge of kitchens, agriculture, and nutrition
• Leadership experience in a classroom setting
• Futuristic vision
• Sense of humor
• Commitment to a collegial work environment
• Optimistic
• Open-minded

How to Apply