Description: Springwater Environmental Sciences School is a public charter school located in rural Oregon City. Giving all students regular opportunities to experience and explore the natural world is central to the mission of Springwater. This position will be responsible for planning opportunities to visit and work in our community. The Coordinator will also collaborate with K-8th grade teachers to teach principals environmental stewardship and garden practices that connect to grade-level standards. Students generally spend 25-30 hours in garden education per school year.
Benefits of working at Springwater: The Springwater staff is collaborative and committed to each other and our school community.
Teachers work together to make decisions that guide day to day operations and the vision and direction of the school.
We have small classes of between 20-24 students.
Our teaching contract is 170 work days versus 191 days in Oregon City.
As a public school, we still offer full PERS and insurance benefits.
Our salary schedule is competitive with surrounding schools ($46,500-$89,700)
Only 10 minutes from Oregon City, 30 minutes from downtown Portland
Our campus and the surrounding Clear Creek Natural area are beautiful and enable all of us to get out of the classroom and into the world every day. You are going to love it here!!
Responsibilities
Work with students to start seeds in the spring, prepare the garden beds, maintain the beds during the school year and harvest in the fall.
Teach garden lessons to students grades K-8 using curriculum guide and overview. This will include some work in the garden, preparing and eating garden produce and learning general principles of botany and horticulture.
Teach principles of environmental sciences and stewardship
Coordinate once a week off site visit for 50 students.
Come to school once a week over the summer to ensure the garden is being taken care of.
Purchase and install necessary materials in the garden.
Qualifications
Has passion and previous experience working in an organic farm or school garden.
Have experience in working with children aged 5-13 in a garden or other outdoor setting
Knowledge of or interest in topics including education, health and nutrition, and the environment.
Demonstrated ability to work with diverse populations of youth and adults.
Ability to collaborate with colleagues and create schedules and respond with flexibility when needed.
Creativity to develop lessons, events and community engagement opportunities.
Ability to work independently, be flexible, and be self-directed.
Compensation: Base salary range for .6 FTE ($25,000-45,000) paid over 12 months with benefits (staff development funds, health/vision/dental insurance & PERS (when eligible)
How to apply: Please send a 1) cover letter, 2) resume 3) completed application and 4) at least 3 reference letters with contact information to Greg Mylet greg@springwaterschool.com
***If interested and qualified, this position could be combined with our .4 FTE Physical Education position to make a 1.0 FTE job.***
Please also respond to the following questions.
What are the three most important things you can do as a teacher to create conditions for student success?
What is the one topic that brings you the most joy to teach? Talk about the lesson and how you share this joy with your students.
Share 3 program or project ideas that we could do to connect our students with the community and help build environmental stewards. (Imagine you have access to a school bus and 50 students).
