Early Childhood Garden Educator (San Francisco, CA)

Company Description

La Scuola International School is a private, Preschool - Grade 8 independent school in San Francisco soon to be expanding to the Peninsula with the opening of a new Campus in East Palo Alto in February 2022. 

The school founded its preschool, La Piccola Scuola Italiana,  in 2002 and has earned awards and accolades for its work with Reggio Children in Italy as a leading example of the Reggio Emilia pedagogy in North America.  In 2012, the school expanded its curriculum through grade 8 and is the only school in San Francisco to offer the International Baccalaureate program for the elementary and middle school years as well as the only school in the world to offer a program that blends Reggio Emilia, the International Baccalaureate and Italian language immersion. 

The mission of the school is to inspire brave learners to shape the future. The school does this by believing steadfastly in children’s innate ability to learn and by challenging them academically, creatively and innovatively in an environment that is intentionally designed to elicit creativity and curiosity from those that work there. 

Its language immersion program helps children to develop cognitive skills as well as empathy and awareness of the world around them. The school’s  multicultural and diverse community esteems different perspectives and experiences and strives to educate the global citizens and leaders of tomorrow.

La Scuola International School is accredited by NAIS, CAIS, WASC and CIS and is one of two  Italian schools recognized by the Italian government in the United States.

We believe our community thrives through diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and realities. Only through a persistent drive to listen and learn from one another, create and promote equitable opportunities and to continue to reflect and evolve will we be able to establish systems which will address the needs of the one and the many.

Job Description

Position Overview

The Environmental Studies and Garden Teacher leads and plans for garden and Environmental Studies classes in collaboration with classroom teachers, Atelieristas, the IB PYP Coordinator, Division Heads, and Director of Teaching & Learning, and develops them within the IB PYP Curriculum framework and in line with the Reggio Emilia philosophy. The teacher also offers critical support to teachers and students to ensure that a school can maximize and grow the educational potential of the garden. Position reports to: Director of Early Childhood Education

Essential Responsibilities

• Facilitates joyful and meaningful garden and Environmental Studies learning experiences

• Collaborates closely with classroom teachers/the IB PYP Coordinator, the Atelieristas and the Division Directors to develop lessons that support classroom teaching and IB PYP units of inquiry in a range of curriculum areas (science, social studies, mathematics, language arts, etc.)

• Oversees and coordinates students’ hands-on experiences in the garden (planting, tending, harvesting);

• Builds involvement in and commitment to the school garden within the school community, including teachers, administrators, students, parents and community volunteers;

• Builds involvement in and commitment to the school garden outside of the school community;

• Develops teacher skills in outdoor classroom management techniques;

• Maintains the garden, coordinating volunteers and working to secure all needed supplies;

Job Duties

• Teaches or facilitates classes on campus;

• Manages the school garden, plans and prepares for garden work activities, manage planting schedule, ensure availability of tools and other necessary materials;

• Plants and cares for vegetable garden and other planting areas with students or independently, as best and appropriate;

• Maintains composting system;

• Maintains irrigation system and be the point person for outside contractors;

• Attends school wide staff meetings/professional development days/open houses/roundtables;

• Coordinates garden events and parents work days to bring students, families, teachers and community members together;

• Coordinates school-wide garden events as needed and works with Atelieristas on other specialist events

• Attends collaborative planning meetings and planning meetings with teachers/PYP Coordinator;

• Monitors, documents, and reports on all activities and extent of student learning;

• Prepares Garden and Environmental Studies Newsletters and documentation to be shared with community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• Experience working with children ages 2-5
• Experience in vegetable and basic landscape gardening
• Comfort with irrigation programming and minor repairs
• Flexible and creative approach to teaching
• Ability to or