Garden and Culinary Educator

NEW SETTLEMENT•New York, NY

3d•$21 - $24•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cooking and Gardening Educator is a full or part -time year-round position that reflects our belief that food education for our children is a liberatory practice. We are looking for an energetic person to join our small but mighty team. They will teach cooking and gardening classes to children and families at the New Settlement Community Center and in our afterschool programs. This person should enjoy getting lost in the art of writing lesson plans and love building connections to learning through food. This is a hybrid position which requires an in person and remote schedule.

Requirements

Experience working in or engaging with a low- or moderate-income, diverse, community-based setting required.
One to three years of teaching experience.
At least one year with food as the vehicle for teaching.
Minimum 2 years of experience (paid or volunteer) working with elementary and/or middle school age youth, preferably within afterschool program contexts and schedule.
Ability to navigate school-based and community-based program settings.
Contagious passion and dedication to building buy-in and support from afterschool program frontline staff.
Strong skills writing and facilitating lessons, workshops, and/or education.
Bilingual English/Spanish speaker strongly preferred.
Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to work well with a wide variety of individuals, including youth and seniors, especially in a public setting.
A demonstrated knowledge and ability to implement culturally responsive education.
Knowledge of or enthusiasm about food justice and restoring food sovereignty to communities strongly preferred; personal experience facing the negative aspects of the food system.
Joyful, creative, and a critical thinking.
Personal or professional knowledge of the culture, history, and languages of the Southwest Bronx.
Undergraduate coursework or degree in relevant field a plus

Responsibilities

Teach children and families about food and nutrition by delivering engaging, hands-on lessons.
Incorporate cooking and gardening into lessons.
Engage community members in learning and reflection about the food system through age-appropriate topics.
Adapt external curricula to New Settlement community.
Coordinate with programs to schedule classes and locations.
Collaborate with program Group Leaders and Assistant Group Leaders to incorporate them into teaching and lessons.
Plant, maintain, and harvest from container gardens.
Create and execute gardening plan in collaboration with school and community stakeholders/partners.
Grow food with students, staff, and community members in school gardens.
Cook culturally responsive recipes using fresh, seasonal food.
Maintain dynamic educational settings, from cooking supplies and equipment kits to container gardens, where kids can get their hands dirty and experience what they’re learning first-hand.
Plan and facilitate events, workshops and series, as needed.
Contribute to the ongoing development of the program and team.
Track lessons and activities and monitor success to ensure that projected outputs and outcomes, for example increase in self-efficacy in ability to make home cooked food, are achieved; adjust accordingly.
Carry out administrative tasks and procedures.
Supports and enhances a culture that respects and honors diversity, invests in professional development and encourages self-care.
Perform other duties as reasonably requested.