Description

AMERICORPS 2022-2023 - NUTRITION PROGRAM EDUCATOR POSITION

Be part of our AmeriCorps team!
Teach cooking, eating, and nutrition education to K-6 students - help create a
love of healthy eating that will last a lifetime. Serve with teachers,
farmers, food educators and volunteers who strive to enrich the South Whidbey
School District’s robust farm program and connect it to culinary and nutrition
education.

Since 2014, the South Whidbey School Farms Program has grown fresh vegetables
using organic practices integrated with garden-based curriculum linked to
Common Core and Next Generation Science standards. Our robust farm-to-
classroom program is a specialist farm science class taught to 650 students
K-6 at the SW Elementary School weekly and 50 students in farm elective and
CTE Agriculture daily at the SW High School. The students are the farmers, and
their school farm-grown produce is delivered to the cafeteria for school
lunches; it's used in culinary classes and a snack program, and it's
enthusiastically eaten at the farm by students!

The South Whidbey School Farms Program partners with Whidbey Island Nourishes
(WIN - a volunteer-powered, nonprofit organization dedicated to nourishing
youth on South Whidbey) to teach culinary and nutrition lessons and distribute
a healthy snack program. The snack program delivers fresh fruit and vegetable
snacks every day to classrooms and uses produce harvested from the School Farm
as much as possible. The culinary classes teach students core cooking skills,
focusing on seasonal eating that inspires a deeper connection to the land
where they live and the food they are growing at the school farm.

Requirements

NUTRITION PROGRAM EDUCATOR (one position available)

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Teach engaging age-appropriate cooking skills and nutrition education to K-8
grade students.
Connect students on the Farm and in the classroom to seasonal, vegetable-
forward eating opportunities.
Implement the snack program at the South Whidbey Elementary School (coordinate
produce procurement, prep, and delivery).
Lead three healthy snack events over the course of the school year that will
creatively challenge students to try new flavors and create excitement about
eating healthy.
Support the School Farm team as needed.

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
Experience and comfort working with children aged Kindergarten – 8th grade.
Nutrition background, cooking experience or a love of fresh food.
Creativity and flexibility to teach students.
Experience/comfort in communicating, leading and directing others.

REQUIRED SKILLS:
Outstanding organizational and time management skills.
Ability to problem solve and communicate.
Self-directed and able to work independently as well as with a team.
Willingness to work outside in all weather conditions.
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
Flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor.

Visit our websites to learn more about our programs -
https://whidbeyschoolgardens.wordpress.com/
https://www.whidbeyislandnourishes.org/

Term of service: September 1, 2022 – July 15, 2023 (40 hours/week)
More specific information about stipend and educational award is available on
the Washington Service Corps website -
https://washingtonservicecorps.org/become-a-member/
We work with members to secure affordable housing in the community.
View the position listing on the AmeriCorps website -
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?id=95618&fromSearch=true
Please  send your resume and a cover letter to Melinda Gardiner, Whidbey
Island Nourishes Executive Director, whidbeyislandnourishes@gmail.com

We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and will hire promptly when
the right candidate comes along.
Contact us promptly if you are inspired to join our team!