Organization Description:

Spark-Y has been empowering youth since 2009 with hands-on engagement opportunities focused on agriculture, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and STEM. We work with a variety of schools, businesses, partner organizations, and community entities in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. Projects vary widely, but primarily focus on three central themes:

Youth Programming - Working with schools and educational programs, we bring hands-on learning to youth in a variety of ways, including: engagement with agriculture systems, take-home virtual STEM kits, job pathway programs, and more.

The Urban Ag. Lab & Sustainable System Builds - Spark-Y builds sustainable agriculture systems and manages an Urban Ag. Lab for hands-on learning, entrepreneurship, and sustainable food production. Systems include: gardens, greenhouses, aquaponic systems, hydroponic farms, compost and vermicompost, rain gardens, and many others.

Internships and Community Projects - Hosting youth interns from high school through grad school, Spark-Y has engaged with a variety of projects aimed at youth and community engagement, environmental justice, restoration, and beautification.

Job Description:

The Sustainability Educator implements Spark-Y's STEM programming through action-oriented systems education. They engage in real-world, hands-on projects with a diverse range of students while cultivating community connections by forming strong positive relationships with project stakeholders, community partners, and school teachers/ administrators. They facilitate dynamic, hands-on activities focused on sustainable systems and entrepreneurship. They lead students by cultivating youth engagement and drive culturally-sustained learning, leadership, and empowerment.

They connect state learning standards with robust Curriculum and Training (CAT) support and STEM-based curriculum while also maintaining an authentic and empowering student experience. They promote an environment conducive to creativity, curiosity, youth leadership, and learning. They perform school information reporting as well as Spark-Y impact measurements and systems data tracking. The Sustainability Educator operates as a leader, a trainer, and a knowledgeable resource within Spark-Y, ensuring optimal performance of systems and success of our mission.

Send cover letter and resume to: jobs@spark-y.org by 8/15/2022.

Essential Job Functions:

Program Delivery & Coordination

  • Lead education programs at partner schools.

  • Use innovation and coordination skills to facilitate the design and build of sustainable systems (e.g. aquaponics, compost, school gardens) with youth of all ages in a safe and educational environment.

  • Build and develop partnerships with stakeholders, community partners, and school administrators and teachers.

  • Cultivate meaningful, positive relationships with youth through daily and weekly programming.

  • Commitment to culturally responsive teaching practices and continuous learning.

  • Expand on and customize Spark-Y curriculum, incorporating existing sustainable systems within the school and linking hands-on projects to learning targets.

  • Implement a syllabus and schedule for each class / program.

  • Supervise interns and volunteers in assisting with delivery of school programming, system upkeep, and system design / build projects.

Curriculum Development Support

  • Perform background research on lesson topics.

  • Collaborate with the Curriculum Manager and other members of the Spark-Y Curriculum team to create new curricula.

  • Write and prepare lesson plans including gathering all the materials necessary for any activity included in the lesson.

  • Develop supporting materials for lessons.

  • Proofread existing lesson plans and supporting materials.

Records & Reports

  • Manage program impact measurements, attendance, pictures, media, and blogs, as well as sustainable systems data tracking, upkeep procedures, and safety standards.

    Provide weekly program updates to leadership and submit recurrent action reports.

    Attend regular meetings with both Spark-Y and partner school, including staff meetings, education meetings, and quarterly review meetings as part of our Annual Review Process.

Essential Experience and Skills:

  • Interpersonal skills

  • Verbal and written communication skills

  • Skilled at teaching and assessing science and STEM concepts

  • Comfortable with public speaking and teaching in a classroom setting

Education: 

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
Existing teaching license (in or out of state) beneficial but not required.

Preferred Skill/Experience:

  • Excellent organization and time management skills

  • Strong work ethic and ability to take initiative and act independently in preparing for scheduled teaching assignments

  • Some teaching experience required (prior experience working with Pre-K to 8th grade students preferred)

Salary and Benefits:

$34,000-$42,500 (Commensurate with experience). Organization-wide time off including federal holidays. PTO includes 12 vacation days and 5 personal days. Flexible schedule. Monthly health care stipend. 14 paid days Maternity / Paternity Leave in addition to FMLA standard 12 weeks.

To apply, send a resume, and a cover letter to jobs@spark-y.org with the subject line  “[LAST NAME] - Sustainability Educator Application.” Only applicants that follow these instructions will be considered. All resumes/cover letters sent directly through Indeed and similar sites will not be considered.

Applications due by 5pm 8/15/2022

Our leadership and staff build collaborative relationships with our partners and team members to empower ourselves and others. We’re a forward-thinking organization fueled by resourceful innovators that take the initiative to better serve our mission. We encourage applicants of all backgrounds to apply, including women and applicants of color. | EEOC Employer.