Are you passionate about teaching young students and connecting them to nature? Do you love gardening or being outdoors? SEI is seeking emerging education professionals to join our Climate Corps Education Outside (CCEO) AmeriCorps cohort to advance science and eco-literacy in public elementary schools by activating school gardens as a learning laboratory for environmental education.

CCEO’s program objectives are to:

• Spark children’s interest in science
• Increase children’s environmental stewardship knowledge
• Develop children’s connection with the natural world
• Improve children’s attitude towards vegetables

CCEO is an 11.5-month, full-time (40 hours per week) fellowship program starting on August 19th and concluding at the end of July. This program offers emerging environmental educators extensive professional development and training as they advance outdoor science education in Bay Area public schools. While we encourage Fellows to continue the Fellowship for a second term to provide a level of consistency to our school partners, it is not required.

As a CCEO Fellow, you will be placed at a public elementary school and serve as the garden educator of that site. Fellows teach 10-16 garden and science lessons per week on Mondays through Thursdays to students in grades K-5 in the on-campus outdoor garden classroom using the provided CCEO curriculum. Fridays are designated for cohort-wide training and site administration. You will also maintain the outdoor garden classroom and work to engage the larger school community in the space. As part of a cohort of approximately 30 CCEO Fellows, you will participate in a year-long training and professional development program designed to support you in your role. Over the summer, you will work to improve curriculum and program resources, maintain your outdoor classroom, and participate in other program projects. Work site locations include North/Western San Francisco,  South/Eastern San Francisco, Northern San Mateo County, and Southern San Mateo County.

CCEO Fellows serve a high percentage of low-income children and many English-language learners. Fellows must be committed to social justice and have cultivated or be willing to cultivate a lens of cultural humility, intersectionality, and belonging. While the field of environmental education has a long way to go, we strive for equity and inclusivity for Fellows, program staff, schools, and students.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

I. Learning & Teaching Outdoors 

CCEO Fellows provide garden-based lessons that help students practice science and connect to the natural world. As a CCEO Fellow, you will:

• Prepare for and teach multiple lessons per day to various grade levels, which may include Special Day Classes
• Create a safe and positive outdoor classroom culture
• Apply a lens of cultural humility to all teaching and learning with students
• Adapt and implement the provided CCEO curriculum for your school site
• Collaborate with teachers to integrate indoor and outdoor learning experiences
• Coordinate harvesting, cooking, and eating in the garden with students as part of your lessons

II. Outdoor Classroom Design 

CCEO Fellows develop and maintain inviting, educational, and productive garden classrooms. As a CCEO Fellow, you will:

• Collaborate with your school community to maintain and improve the school garden
• Plant and maintain an edible vegetable garden
• Plant and maintain perennial plants for student exploration and long-term garden habitat
• Perform regular maintenance tasks such as weeding, watering, harvesting, and pest control
• Develop garden infrastructure to support learning outcomes
• Purchase garden supplies and instructional materials using the provided site budget

III. Community Engagement 

CCEO Fellows build strong relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders, communicate about their work, and identify and support needs in the school community. As a CCEO Fellow, you will:

• Represent and manage the Climate Corps Education Outside program at your school
• Build strong relationships with community members to serve the needs of the school and students
• Spread awareness of the program through conversations, presentations, photos, blogging, newsletters, bulletin board displays, etc.
• Engage parent and community volunteers in the garden 
• Seek out grants and donations to support the garden space

IV. Professional Development 

CCEO Fellows participate in bi-monthly program training sessions to support their growth as educators. As a CCEO Fellow, you will: 

• Attend and actively participate in training sessions focused on building your teaching, gardening, and community engagement skills
• Engage in quarterly lesson observations with your Regional Supervisor to discuss and implement feedback

V. Site Administration 

CCEO Fellows track data about program implementation at their school site, which is integral to demonstrating impact to funders. As a CCEO Fellow, you will support organizational data collection by: 

• Tracking and inputting individual student attendance
• Tracking and inputting  completed lessons with groups of students
• Collecting and inputting data related to volunteer engagement and grantseeking
• Administering pre- and post-student assessments at the beginning and end of the school year

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• A living allowance stipend of $3,092 per month (pre-tax amount), for a total stipend of up to $35,000 over 11.5 months.
• An additional $10,000 education award upon successful program completion (comprised of the Segal Education award at $7,395 and the Californians For All Award at $2,605)
• Kaiser Silver Healthcare–SEI pays 100% of the insurance premiums
• Member Assistance Program (MAP), which provides free telehealth counseling services
• A minimum of 6 observed holidays and 3 breaks (Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring) in alignment with your site’s school calendar
• Eligibility for CalFresh, approximately $200/month in food stamps
• 10+ hours of individualized professional coaching and mentoring from SEI staff
• 100+ hours of training and professional development provided by CCEO
• Reimbursement for travel to/from training
• Ability to log hours for professional development experiences sought independently
• Professional networking opportunities with partner organizations and program alumni 

We encourage anyone interested in this position and who meets some of the qualifications to apply, even if they do not meet all of them. We recognize that a unique perspective and background can enhance a role when many, if not all, of the listed qualifications are met. 

• At least 1 year of experience teaching or working directly with youth
• Two/four-year college degree or coursework in a related field
• Be eligible to work in the US without employer sponsorship
• Be 17 years old or older
• Pass state criminal and FBI background checks
• Be negative for tuberculosis
• Reside in the Bay Area by early August 2024
• Be able and willing to commit to the 11.5-month service term
• Have experience with or willingness to learn about gardening or farming
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills and responsiveness
• A commitment to Climate Corps Education Outside’s mission and vision
• A commitment to social justice and anti-racism
• Desire to work in a public school setting
• Experience working with children and adults from diverse backgrounds
• Competency in Spanish or Chinese is a plus, but not required
• This position requires prolonged activity with bending, stooping, and stretching; eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate garden tools, a keyboard, a telephone, a photocopier, a calculator, and other office equipment. Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with students as well as maintain data records. Also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, & INCLUSION

We seek candidates who share SEI’s commitment to equity and environmental justice, and who share a commitment to work and learn within an anti-oppression framework. Persons of color, persons with disabilities, and members of the LGBTQ+ community are strongly encouraged to apply. SEI is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to promoting diversity, inclusion, and equity. We believe that a wide array of perspectives contributes to creative climate solutions where all communities thrive. We strive to reflect diverse communities, especially those most impacted by climate change and other kinds of environmental, social, and economic injustices.