Director, School Garden Programs

The Kohala Center’s Farm to School programs are an integral component of our ‘āina-based education and food self-reliance efforts. The primary function of our farm to school and school garden work is to revitalize island food production through assisting K–12 schools in reactivating, initiating, and implementing school garden programs that provide students with learning opportunities centered on the growing of food and fiber while meeting various Hawaii Department of Education standards in science and related fields. Our school garden programs include the Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network, the Hawai‘i Farm to School and School Garden Hui, FoodCorps Hawai‘i, the Kū ‘Āina Pā Teacher Training Program, and Ke Kumu ʻĀina, a forthcoming after-school and school vacation STEAM education program for middle-school students centered on native, endemic, and Polynesian plants and Hawaiian field systems.

Responsibilities
The Director will be responsible for coordinating the Hawai‘i Island School Garden Network and FoodCorps Hawai‘i, working with the Hawai‘i Farm to School and School Garden Hui, as well as creating and leading (and/or working with staff to lead) after-school and school vacation STEAM education programs for middle-school students on gardening, agriculture, Hawaiian field systems, field science, and native, endemic, and Polynesian plants. The Director will also be responsible for developing a professional education program for middle-school teachers, with a focus on classroom and hands-on instruction about how to use culturally relevant, project-based learning activities in alignment with the Core Curriculum Standards and Next Generation Science Standards to educate students on gardening, agriculture, native, endemic, and Polynesian plants, and Hawaiian field systems.

Duties

• Program development and management
• Curriculum development and providing/coordinating professional development workshops
• Educating schoolchildren on gardening, agriculture, and Hawaiian field systems
• Organizing and conducting field trips and field science programs
• Community outreach and engagement
• Attending and coordinating school garden network meetings
• Working in a wide variety of settings in the community, in an office setting, and at various outdoor sites on island
• Interacting with students, teachers, parents, farmers, scientists, researchers, community and project partners, government officials, and policy makers
• Meeting and workshop planning
• Public speaking
• Supervising staff
• Writing program reports and proposals
• Managing budgets

Skills and Qualifications
Candidates should have experience/expertise in program management, youth education, gardening/agriculture, Hawaiian field systems, field science, plant biology, agroecology, native, endemic, and Polynesian plants, and professional development/curriculum development. Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communications skills required. Candidates must have strong organizational, project management, and time management skills. Must be comfortable with working in diverse communities, driving to project sites, inter-island travel, and transporting minors. Bachelor’s degree required, MA preferred. Master gardener certification and teaching experience are also preferred.

How to Apply
Please submit your cover letter and resume to Cortney Okumura, Director of Human Resources, at cokumura@kohalacenter.org. No phone calls please.