Cooking & Gardening Teacher
Cook Campus
Job Overview: The Cooking and Gardening teacher is a member of the Specialists Team. This role is responsible for furthering Mundo Verde’s sustainability mission through developing and teaching students a curriculum focused on improving student wellness by empowering them with the knowledge, skills and desire to grow and cook healthy food, and building their sense of connection to nature and the garden-to-fork process. The curriculum should connect to Mundo Verde’s sustainability standards and DC Health standards. The Cooking and Gardening teacher will develop methods and tools for assessing student learning in these domains.
Reports To: The Cooking & Gardening Teacher is supervised by the Principal
Responsibilities and Duties
Garden and Grounds Coordination
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Community Involvement; organize Garden Build Days, compost memberships, parent volunteers, and the school’s participation in community gardening events
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Maintenance and Expansion; planning, planting, watering, weeding, compost for the gardens and trees
Cooking and Gardening Specialist Teacher
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Write curriculum for all grades
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Attend Wednesday Professional Development sessions, coaching sessions, and related OSSE/DC Greens or other trainings
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Order weekly cooking class ingredients
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Manage class preparation, set-up and clean-up
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Support an extended day cooking and gardening elective class
Summer Program Development
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OPTIONAL: Serve as summer cooking and gardening teacher
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Research, arrange and schedule summer field trips that are aligned to summer mini-Expeditions
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Develop cooking and gardening curriculum for the summer
School Wide Support
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Expected to attend (when relevant) and support pre-planned evening events throughout the year such as APTT, Expo, Flamboyan family visits, etc. as needed
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Expected to attend at least one family event a year such as orientation, prospective parent info sessions, family potlucks, etc.
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Attend and participate in team meetings
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Support school safety by assisting with student arrival and dismissal procedures
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Other duties as assigned
Qualifications, Skills and Values
Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree, preferably in art or education, preferably in a content area, such as: Environmental Studies/Sciences, Sustainability, Strategic Planning and Management, Nutrition, or equivalent experience.
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Minimum of one season of experience in a gardening/farming/outdoor education position required.
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Two years of experience teaching either cooking or gardening preferred.
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Bilingual (English and Spanish) preferred but not required.
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Experience in an urban school setting is preferred.
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Experience working with special needs students in an inclusive setting, preferred.
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Ability to work as a member of a team, strong leadership capabilities, and a commitment to their own learning.
Skills and Values:
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Demonstrated ability to be an independent solutions-oriented problem-solver
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Commitment to demonstrate love and joy towards students, colleagues, and the work
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Willing, hard-working attitude with a growth mindset toward self, students, and colleagues
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Demonstrated ability to take ownership of personal work and the school mission
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Strong commitment to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion and creating an anti-racist school environment
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Capacity to embody the characteristics of a Community Steward by practicing six community building virtues and values every day: 1) Empathy, 2) Speak your truth, 3) Perseverance, 4) Inquiry, 5) Collaboration, and 6) Appreciation
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Demonstrated ability to collaborate deeply with colleagues
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Ability to manage time and work in a fast-paced, dynamic school environment, multi-task, prioritize and stay calm under pressure
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Commitment to, interest in, and experience working with children ages 3-12
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Flexibility, professionalism, creativity and a willingness to learn
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Demonstrated commitment to a growth mindset, professional growth, development
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Demonstrated comfort and familiarity with healthy cooking and nutrition concepts and the farm to fork process
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High levels of creativity, initiative, and leadership
Other Job Details
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Schedule: 8 hour day starting
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Location: Calle 8 Campus, 4401 8th St. NE, WDC
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This position has no direct reports
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Position Type: This is a 10-month salaried position which is exempt and therefore not eligible for overtime pay under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act
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Employment subject to TB test, fingerprinting and background check
What we offer
Mundo Verde cares for and values our phenomenal staff and provides the following:
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A competitive salary based on one’s education and experience
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A Tier 1 school home in which to inspire children in a progressive environment
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An opportunity to be a part of developing compassionate global stewards and life-long biliterate learners
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Colleagues who are devoted to their practice, their students, and the school mission
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A leadership team dedicated to supporting professional growth by providing feedback and support
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A 3-4 week summer institute and other professional development opportunities as available
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FT salaried: A benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, short/long-term and life insurance, employer contributions to a 401(k), a transportation stipend, and paid time off (10 days of PTO: 8 Sick, 3 Personal), off on winter break, spring break and holidays scheduled in the school calendar.
MVBPCS is an equal opportunity employ