Explore Farm-to-School Education. Be part of our AmeriCorps team as a Farm and Food Educator!
As an AmeriCorps member serving with us, you’ll have the opportunity to explore and develop your teaching, farming, and cooking skills with our K-12 farm-to-classroom program over a 10½ month service term. Help students create connections to healthy food that will last a lifetime!
Since 2014, the South Whidbey School Farms Program has grown fresh vegetables using sustainable practices integrated with a farm-based curriculum. Our robust program covers over an acre and a half of growing space. It includes vegetable beds, fruit orchards, a developing edible forest space, and a culinary classroom. Our specialist farm science classes are taught to K-5 students at the South Whidbey Elementary School and are offered as farm electives and CTE Agriculture classes at the South Whidbey Middle and High Schools.
The students are the farmers! Their farm-grown produce is used in school lunches, culinary classes, a fresh-food snack program, in-garden eating and by local non-profits that work in food insecurity.
AmeriCorps members work closely with our farm team and certified farm teachers, using the growing season, nutrition and Next Generation Science standards as the basis for daily curriculum to provide students with hands-on learning and farming. Members and staff lead students in instructional experiences focused on preparing the soil, planting, caring for, harvesting, cooking, and enjoying the food they’ve grown!
FARM AND FOOD EDUCATORS (3 positions available)
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Participate in all tasks associated with cultivating the school farms at the Elementary and High Schools – seeding, planting, weeding, watering, general maintenance, harvesting, crop planning, etc.
- Work closely with the farm specialist teacher and farm team to plan and develop lessons for K-5 classes.
- Assist with teaching daily K-5 farm specialist classes, with opportunities to lead classes.
- Assist with farm elective and agriculture classes at the South Whidbey High School as needed.
- Assist with culinary classes (prep, teaching, and clean-up), with opportunities to lead classes.
- Develop website/social media content about the School Farm.
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
- Experience and comfort working with children aged Kindergarten – 12th grade, especially K-5.
- Experience in gardening/farming, or a strong interest and willingness to learn.
- Experience or interest in culinary education and nutrition.
REQUIREMENTS:
- A love of vegetables!
- Strong communication skills.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- An ability to work independently and in a team.
- A passion for food, outdoor education, and healthy eating.
- A willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
- Ability to lift 50 pounds.
- Flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
- Monthly living stipend of $1780 (total 1700 hour service term = $18690)
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7395 upon successful completion of service
- Student Loan Forbearance on qualifying loans during the service term
- Basic Food Benefits eligibility
- Basic Health Care Coverage
- Subsidized Childcare for qualifying members
- Post-term Education Resources
- Ongoing professional development in related areas of interest
What is AmeriCorps?
AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages citizens in solving community problems. Members commit to full-time or part-time positions offered by a network of nonprofits, faith and secular community-based organizations, public agencies, Indian tribes, and institutions of higher education to fulfill assignments in the fields of disaster services, economic opportunity, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, and veterans and military families. Members serve in these positions over a 10-12 month period.
AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), an independent federal government agency.
Term of service: September 1, 2024 – July 15, 2025 (40 hrs/week)
We work with members to secure affordable housing in the community.
Please send your resume and a cover letter to: Jay Freundlich, jfreundlich@sw.wednet.edu
View the AmeriCorps listing for this position HERE
We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and will hire promptly when the right candidate comes along.
Contact us right away if you are inspired to join our team!
South Whidbey School Farms 
