About FirstLine Schools

In 1998, FirstLine Schools started the first charter school in New Orleans. FirstLine now operates five PreK-8th grade schools.  Our mission is to create and inspire great open admissions public schools in New Orleans. 

Our faculty is a diverse and talented group dedicated to our students’ success and to their own growth as teachers.  Our schools are led by leaders who hold themselves accountable for student achievement and teacher development.

About ESYNOLA

Founded in 2006, Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA) envisions generations of New Orleans children who have healthy relationships with food, the natural world, themselves, and their community.  ESYNOLA's mission is to teach children to make healthy connections through food.  Our goal is to improve the long-term well being of our students, families, and school community, by integrating hands-on organic gardening and seasonal cooking into the school curriculum, culture, and cafeteria programs. 

We believe that:

• Food education should be taught in conjunction with core academics
• Children learn by doing
• Health and wellness contribute to the success of the whole child
• Beauty is the language of caring
• Local farms and sustainable farming practices are vital
• School food reform is an integral part of the education we offer our students
• Families and communities are integral to our success

Position Summary

The role of the Americorps Library Associate & Garden Educator is to support the library and teaching garden at Langston Hughes Academy. This split position works half-time or more in the school garden teaching garden class and part-time with students in the library. The corps member will work to inspire students' curiosity for the natural world, inspire a healthy relationship with food, and cultivate a love of reading. This position is ideal for someone who wants to grow in their teaching skills and experience, is comfortable performing garden maintenance and teaching in all kinds of Louisiana weather, and can consistently maintain a positive rapport with students in varying educational environments. 

Position Responsibilities:

School 

• Be on time and active for school duty posts (recess, lunch, etc.) 
• Attend school morning meetings, professional development sessions, and support school-based initiatives

Garden 

• Support a small group during garden classes, delivering content that is sensory, healthful, experiential, developmentally appropriate, and scientifically accurate
• Prepare for lessons; includes pre-reading lesson plans provided by the garden educator and outlining them in order to be ready to support class
• Assist in the preparation and cleanup of classes 
• Work with garden team to maintain garden and care for school animals (goats, chickens, and a pig) through daily and weekly tasks
• Maintain consistent and constructive communication/feedback with the garden team, and receive and respond to teacher coaching, when applicable
• Participate in collaborative goal setting process with lead garden educator to create individual benchmarks
• Attend, prepare for, and participate in garden education professional development sessions
• Develop teaching and classroom management skills
• Support student assessments and observations in garden classes
• Guide students to make connections between the garden and the kitchen, understand local, seasonal, and sustainable culinary practices, and make healthful food choices at home and at school
• Update chalkboards and behavior chart in preparation for all classes
• Assist the ESY team in preparations for An Edible Evening ESYNOLA fundraising event in the spring

Library

• Organize and maintain an attractive library media center, including bulletin boards 
• Coordinate, recruit volunteers, and execute a Book Fair once or twice annually including motivating scholars, and setting fundraising goals
• Run book mobile classroom visits for prk-8 grade weekly, facilitating book check outs and organizing book returns
• Provide reading and information literacy related activities to foster a joyful culture of reading
• Help develop site related policies, procedures, service patterns, and schedules that provide maximum

access to the library and other information resources

• Provide access to a diverse collection of resources that meet site related goals and the changing needs and interests of students and staff.
• Participate in library education professional development sessions

Education & Experience:

• High school diploma 
• Good sense of humor and positive rapport with kids
• Belief in FirstLine’s mission and vision
• Interest in urban gardening and agriculture preferred, prior experience with gardening is a plus.
• Dedicated to working hard and receiving feedback
• Excitement to learn through direct experience
• Great attitude in the heat and cold weather

Desired Qualities & Characteristics:

• Believe in every student’s ability to achieve in a rigorous college or career prep curriculum
• Achieve results based on agreed-upon expectations
• Take personal responsibility 
• Highly detail-oriented 
• Collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders 
• Share a commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Model the FirstLine values of Service, Learning, Collaboration, and Results

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to lift, push and/or pull objects, up to 50 pounds
• Ability and willingness to work outside in varying weather conditions, including heat and cold
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit, walk, stand, talk, and hear.