We are hiring 2 Garden Educators!
School Garden Educator (Hiring two .8 FTE positions)
Apply by 7/10/2025
Interviews begin week of 7/21/2025
Training begins 8/19/2025
Job Description
Grow Portland is a nonprofit that supports schools and communities by facilitating hands-on garden experiences that foster connections to food, nature and each other. We are rooted in relationships and seeking applicants who are enthusiastic about teamwork and connecting children to the natural world through their school garden.
In 2025-2026 Grow Portland is partnered with 16 primarily low-income schools (PreK-middle school) in 2 districts with 6,000+ participating students.
TO APPLY: Complete application by July 10th. Application- Google Form link
Position Overview ( .8 FTE position):
Teach at 3 elementary schools (David Douglas and/or Portland Public districts):
32 hrs/week, M-Th with occasional evening & weekend events, through the school year with variable summer work, including 2 weeks (40 hours) paid training starting August 19, 2025.
Teach hands-on garden lessons to Pre-K-5th grade students; tend and maintain 3x school gardens; and lead school community engagement with the support of Grow Portland Education Director, Site Coordinator and classroom teachers.
Tend and maintain 3x urban school gardens (including planting, weeding, watering, harvesting, mowing, etc.).
Cultivate and facilitate school and family engagement in the gardens through work parties, events, and volunteer support.
Administrative tasks including lesson adaptations, data tracking forms, evaluations, newsletters, and school communications.
Participate in Grow Portland staff meetings, trainings, team site work, and professional development opportunities.
Who are we looking for?
The ideal candidate will have a passion for outdoor education, working in diverse school communities, gardening, food & environmental justice and will be self-motivated, creative, detail-oriented, organized, and flexible. Additionally, we are looking for the following professional, and/or lived experience or transferable skills*:
At least 1 year teaching/leadership experience with elementary-aged students (outdoors preferred).
Farm, garden, or environmental education or related experience with elementary-aged students.
Garden/farming experience, especially in the Pacific Northwest.
Experience working with racially and linguistically diverse communities. Ideal candidates have lived experiences that reflect the students and communities we serve (primarily low-income students and students of color).
Passion for teamwork/collaboration while also able to work independently.
Access to reliable transportation with the ability to transport garden and teaching supplies every day (ideally with a car - challenging on a bike, but could be done with a cargo bike or trailer set-up!).
Commitment to equity, justice, diversity, and inclusion efforts in all organizational activities.
Clear verbal and written communicator.
Ability to comply with all school district & state requirements regarding safety protocols and background checks.
Willingness to prioritize community care by willingness to maintain vaccinations and mask (KN95 or N95) or stay home when sick.
Skills/Ability to:
Complete basic computer tasks (Google Suite preferred) with access to a reliable computer and/or device for managing email, phone communication, spreadsheets, newsletters, evaluations, and ongoing digital communication.
Meet deadlines, communicate support needs, and prioritize tasks.
Preferred but not required: Fluency and ability to communicate effectively (read, write, and speak) in one of our school priority languages (Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese).
Lift up to 50 lbs, climb, squat, and stand for long periods of time, work in variable weather conditions throughout all seasons.
Work collaboratively and independently on self-directed tasks.
Hours & Compensation:
$23-25/hr to start, including a $1/hr language differential if teaching in a language other than English (prioritizing Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese).
32 hrs/week, M-Th with occasional weekend & evening events, through the school year, including 40 hours paid training starting August 19, 2025.
Schedule typically Mon-Thurs. Mondays reserved for admin, site work, and staff meetings. Teaching Tuesday-Thursday.
Summer hours available though variable in nature and often less than school year hours depending on summer programming, funding, and site needs.
Working with a passionate and dedicated team.
Generous, flexible PTO (approx. 4 weeks during the school year for personal time, holidays, and sick time).
100% employer paid medical and vision benefits.
Employee-paid dental benefits.
Retirement savings option after 1 yr with up to 3% match.
Tech and cell phone stipend + mileage reimbursement.
Ongoing professional development opportunities.
*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work, or life experiences that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills in your application or attached cover letter/resume and clearly explain how they apply to this position.
TO APPLY: Complete application by July 10, 2025. Application- Google Form link
Learn more about us: www.growportland.org Facebook & Instagram: @growportland
QUESTIONS: Email growportland@gmail.com
Job Description Details
Garden Education:
● Teach hands-on, academically-supported garden lessons to PreK-5th grade students, including Special Education classes, (with classroom teacher support) on pre-scheduled garden days during the school day and potential summer programming (NOTE: we work with all classrooms in each school, so each Educator teaches approximately 900-1,200 total students).
● Meaningfully connect culturally and linguistically diverse children to the natural world with an appreciation for diverse learning abilities and needs.
Garden Site Care:
● With the support of Site Coordinator & Educator Team: plant, tend, and care for 3x urban school gardens that center edible, sensory, Native, and pollinator plants (planting, watering, weeding, mulching, harvesting, mowing, etc.). Gardens are cared for in partnership with students during lessons to promote biodiverse, safe and engaging learning spaces where all students can thrive.
● Collaborate with Grow Portland staff, school staff, parent volunteers and students for garden care through weekly tending and work parties.
Harvest garden produce for cafeterias and food pantries when possible. Coordinate distribution.
● Ensure Garden School supplies and tools are well stocked, cleaned, and organized (seeds, soil amendments, tools, etc.), coordinating needs with Site Coordinator and Leadership Staff.
Relationships, Communication & Coordination:
● Facilitate meaningful, reciprocal relationships with teachers, administrators, families, volunteers, and students through teaching time, weekly emails, in-person communication, and seasonal school newsletters and work parties.
● Orient teachers and volunteers on expectations and protocols of the program at the beginning of the school year with meetings and print/emailed materials.
● Work with school/family communities to identify meaningful modes of engagement and input.
Promote family and community involvement in the gardens through seasonal work parties, community events, and after school programming as needed.
Maintain proactive, solutions-oriented communication with all Grow Portland staff to support strong working relationships, team building, and growth.
Administration & Professional Development:
● Adapt Grow Portland lesson plans to be school-specific and reflect the needs of different grades, cultures, languages, and learning abilities. Collaborate and share curriculum adaptations and best practices with Grow Portland education team.
● Utilize administrative systems within Google Drive to complete data tracking spreadsheets, photo updates, and basic administrative tasks such as managing teaching calendars and weekly email communications with teachers and school communities (approx 2-4 hrs/week).
Participate in Grow Portland staff meetings, professional development opportunities, and goal-setting throughout the year.
● Support program evaluations through distribution to teachers, families, and students.
Grow Portland is committed to centering equity, diversity, inclusion, and justice across all aspects of our organization. We believe that our team must represent the communities we serve- therefore, we strongly encourage and prioritize hiring people of all backgrounds, especially people of color, people from immigrant and refugee communities, people with disabilities, people who speak English as a second language, and those who have experienced food insecurity. Grow Portland is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, national origin, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other characteristics protected by law.
For more on our guiding principles, values, and equity commitment: https://www.growportland.org/our-equity-commitment
Board of Directors:
Grow Portland board members represent Grow Portland in the community in a positive and proactive way. Board members are also expected to share common values in environmental stewardship, social justice and youth empowerment. They support the staff in strategic planning, financial oversight, and meeting equity goals. If you are interested in a further conversation and learning more, please complete this interest survey.
Internships
If interested, email wisteria at growportland dot org
Grow Portland can support up to two interns. Ideal candidates can commit to a minimum of 6 months but there is flexibility based on the scope of each internship. While internships are currently unpaid, we do collaborate with various school programs where funding is available along with working to design each internship to meet the unique development & learning outcomes of the student.
Communications, Marketing & Outreach
Development & Fundraising
Grant Writing & Tracking
Garden/Site Support
Data Management (goals & objectives tracking, administration systems)
Program support (Project based: Digital curriculum development, native plants & signage, etc.)