Job: District School Garden Coordinator

Location: Watertown Public Schools

Salary: $35/hour

Part-time Garden Coordinator to be responsible for planning/planting/maintaining the existing elementary school gardens, collaborating with principals and teachers, coordinating volunteers, and supporting garden activities with students.

Responsibilities include:

Coordinating 4 school gardens (Hosmer, Lowell, Cunniff, and Watertown Middle School) and the implementation of a new Freight Farm (WHS):

• Creating a garden plan the serves curriculum needs and requirements, in particular science and math
• Maintaining an attractive & functional garden space with a variety of edible crops, flowers, native species, and specialty plants throughout the growing season
• Managing an annual school garden budget
• Purchasing all garden equipment, material, and supplies including watering system for each garden
• Pursuing grant opportunities for school gardens
• Routinely visiting each of the gardens to ensure condition and upkeep this includes watering systems and pest management.
• Making sure all tools and materials are available at the appropriate site when they are needed.
• Integrating students, volunteers, and community members into the garden work as much as possible.
• some weekend garden workdays will be required
• Organizing summer garden care
• Attending professional development on hydroponic gardening.

Supporting teachers in the schoolyard garden and in the classroom

• In collaboration with the district math and science coordinator, developing garden plans for the growing season and the curricular links and adapting the plans as the needs arise.
• In collaboration with garden teacher leaders, planning indoor and outdoor garden activities for in-school, programs
• Planning and implementing garden integrated lessons and activities with teachers
•  Organizing parent volunteers including community work days and summer garden care in the garden
• Active membership on Watertown’s Farm to School team

Other tasks as needed

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience teaching children or youth, preferably in the field of Environmental Education or Science
• Experience developing and working with volunteer base
• Strong communication and organization skills
• Working knowledge of organic gardening practices
• Ability to do physical work outside, including lifting up to 50lbs.
• Access to a car or truck for occasional use