Food & Garden Educator - Oxford, United States - FoodCorps Maine

Description

Who We Are

FoodCorps partners with schools and communities to nourish kids' health, education, and sense of belonging so that every child, in every school, experiences the joy and power of food.

Our AmeriCorps members serve alongside educators and school nutrition professionals to provide kids with nourishing meals, food education, and culturally affirming experiences with food that celebrate and nurture the whole child.

Building on this direct service, FoodCorps advocates for policy change, grows networks, and develops leaders in service of every kid's health and wellbeing.

Our goal is that by 2030, every child will have access to food education and nourishing food in school


What We're Looking For

• Commitment to building a healthier future for school children
• Demonstrated leadership aptitude and effective communication skills
• Motivation and commitment to serve fulltime directly in a community
• Self determination in the face of challenges and solutionsoriented creativity
• Respect for diversity of opinion, experience, and background
• Display a growth mindset by willing to grow through coaching and implementation of feedback
• Knowledge of the culture, history, and/or language of the communities we serve
• Desire to gain handson experience in food education

To be considered for a FoodCorps service member position, you must:

• Be 18 years or older by the start of your service term
• Be a legal, permanent resident of the United States
• Hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent at the start of service
• Individual service positions differ by location. There may be additional requirements, such as language proficiencies and access to a vehicle, depending on the site to which you apply._

What You'll Do

Our AmeriCorps members work alongside educators to provide kids in K-8 schools with food education and culturally affirming experiences with food that celebrate and nurture the whole child.

Although they do this in a variety of ways depending on local partner goals, below are the foundational activities that all Food Education members complete:


Essential Functions

• Teach handson food education and lead taste tests to nourish student's sense of excitement about eating fruits and vegetables and trying new foods.
• Grow nourishing food with students, teachers, and families to create dynamic educational gardens where kids can get their hands dirty while learning about food.
• Build a schoolwide movement around nourishing food by building strong, collaborative relationships with teachers, families, and school administrators.
• Participate in FoodCorps training around teaching, gardening, family engagement, and antiracism in service.
• Complete FoodCorps reporting and evaluation to help us measure local and national impact and improve programming.

Non-Essential Functions

• Publicize FoodCorpsrelated projects and success stories through press engagements, blog writing, social media posts, newsletters, etc.
• Collaborate with community partners to raise money to support local FoodCorpsrelated projects (when allowable).

What You'll Gain

• Up to $33,000 living stipend for Service Members, paid biweekly.

- $7,395 AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, upon successful completion of your term of service

• Health insurance
• Partial childcare reimbursement, if you qualify
• Student loan forbearance, if you qualify
• Training, mentorship, and professional development opportunities

- *Participation in FoodCorps health insurance is required unless proof of existing coverage is provided._


Where You'll Serve
You would work in the Oxford Hills School district at one or two elementary schools.

The Oxford Hills region is located in picturesque western Maine, where outdoor opportunities-including skiing, hiking, and water sports
- abound Many small towns partner together in this district, giving it both a small-town feel and the amenities of a bigger city.

The Oxford Hills School District is a leader in outdoor education, which is a tenet of our strategic plan.

All elementary schools have outdoor classrooms, gardens, and trails/playgrounds; sites at the middle and high school will be completed for the start of the school year You will be joining a dynamic team of people and community organizations who support outdoor and place-based learning.

The FoodCorps Service Member will serve Oxford and Harrison Elementary schools.

These schools already have "Garden Champions" and established partnerships with our Outdoor Learning Coach, our Roberts Farm Experiential Learning Center teacher, Healthy Oxford Hills, Western Maine Land Trust, and Lakes Environmental Association.

The Details
In order to successfully complete your term of service, you must, at a minimum, serve 1,700 allowable hours. The service duration is August 5, July 4, 2025.

FoodCorps service members report to the designated supervisor at their service site. FoodCorps state and natio