Outdoor School Garden Educator - Ready to Grow Gardens

About Us: Ready to Grow Gardens (RTGG) is a premier outdoor education company partnering with schools in Northwest Houston. You must be located in Houston to work for RTGG. Our expertise is in the design and creation of organic school vegetable gardens where we lead students in TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) aligned science-based garden lessons.

RTGG is owned and operated by founder Stephanie Baker who earned her Texas Master Gardener certification in 2002 and then went on to create her dream job establishing unique outdoor learning gardens in CFISD. In the 2023-2024 school year, Ready to Grow Gardens will serve 38 schools spanning five school districts in and around Houston. RTGG has a team of knowledgeable, enthusiastic educators who teach students PreK - 5th grade how to plant seeds, tend and grow organic food, and harvest the fruits of their labor all while reinforcing relevant science objectives. In our 21st year, RTGG is proud to be the oldest and most experienced garden education company in Texas.

About the Role: We are seeking Garden Educators that enjoy working with elementary-aged children, love nature and all things outdoors, are flexible and take ownership of their responsibilities. As a Garden Teacher, you are the face of Ready to Grow Gardens for our partner schools. You will travel to a different school each day (one per day) teaching students PreK - 5th grade, the Ready to Grow Gardens curriculum in outdoor classrooms (gardens).

Garden Teacher Responsibilities:

• Teach 30-45 minute pre-designed garden lessons to elementary students throughout the school day
• Complete physical labor (pruning, fertilizing, weeding) to keep the school garden tidy and in season
• Collaborate with other Garden Teachers one Sunday afternoon each month to prepare for the next month’s lesson
• Complete Garden Day follow-ups (email communication) for each Garden Day in a timely manner
• Maintain positive relationships with students, teachers, parents, and administrators at assigned schools
• Communicate with schools about their responsibilities to ensure successful school garden growth

Requirements

• Good interpersonal communication skills
• Excellent classroom management skills (experience in a traditional classroom, Sunday school, or camp environment)
• A minimum of 2 years of gardening experience (food and flowers) specifically in Texas.
• Works well independently and is able to prioritize responsibilities
• Must have their own form of reliable transportation
• Be able to lift a minimum of 40 pounds
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) is a plus

Benefits

• Training & Development
• Fast track to a deep understanding the steps to successful gardening in Houston
• Teaching and interacting with students in a nontraditional setting (garden/outdoor classroom).
• Team building with a group of like minded professional garden educators
• 3 paid sick days
• Paid mileage based on standard mileage rate
• Starting pay is $20/hr with room for negotiation based on experience and room for growth