Garden Educator

Program Overview: Team Up AmeriCorps places AmeriCorps members at organizations throughout Southwest Colorado. While these members serve as part of a regional cohort and participate in regional cohort trainings and activities, they spend the majority of their term serving directly at a specific host site organization. Through collaborative service, Team Up AmeriCorps members develop their own professional skills and passions, expand effectiveness of southwest Colorado organizations, and ultimately support people to thrive. Team Up has been utilizing collective impact initiatives since 2015 to collaborate across sectors and promote communication towards common goals within rural Southwest Colorado communities.

This fall Team Up AmeriCorps is seeking two Garden Educators to serve in our school gardens at the Montezuma School to Farm Project.

MSTFP’s mission is to unite our local agricultural heritage with our growing future by engaging students at the crossroads of food production, resource conservation, and nutrition through educational experiences. MSTFP has been operational in the community of Montezuma County for 17 years. What began as a project under the conservation district grew into its own nonprofit in 2020. MSTFP has hosted AmeriCorps members for at least 10 years. Members have taught lessons, helped in the school gardens and become an integral part of the organization and community.

Service Position Summary: The Garden Educator’s main focus will be on education surrounding food literacy in the local schools. They will assist with in-school lessons and out of school programming and create community outreach events focusing on nutrition, food production and resource conservation. They will be increasing capacity for food distribution and community outreach through educational events. When serving in the schools, the AmeriCorps members will focus primarily on elementary aged students, with an occasional visit to middle schools.

AmeriCorps members will serve together in a team implementing programming alongside our Educator Director, Production Director and Executive Director. During harvest and planting season, more time will be spent in the MSTFP school gardens and during the winter, more time will be spent teaching and planning programs. The duties are very seasonally-dependent and follow the school year, so time will be split up to reflect these ebbs and flows. When planning community events, members will be expected to collaborate as a team, and during teaching, they may be together or be split up to assist another member of the MSTFP team.

Essential Functions (Primary Responsibilities): Team Up AmeriCorps members serve directly at their Host Site organization to develop, implement, and enhance programs, projects, and activities through direct and indirect service.
MSTFP Duties:
Maintain school gardens with the guidance and support of MSTFP staff
Harvest, wash and distribute garden produce during the growing season
Coordinate with MSTFP volunteers and community partners
Organize and host our Friday program at the Mancos school garden
Develop and implement new lesson plans aligned with our mission
Be the lead educator at the Mesa School garden in the Montezuma-Cortez school district, which is a new addition to the MSTFP
Team Up AmeriCorps Duties:
Track host site and AmeriCorps data
Attend Team Up AmeriCorps regional trainings, cohort connection days, and Days of Service

Marginal Functions (Secondary Responsibilities):
Create social media posts using photos taken by AmeriCorps members and staff members
Assist in planning community events and pioneer new events to engage the community with our mission
Assist in teaching weekly or monthly garden lessons to students in Pre-Kindergarten through 5th grade within the Cortez and Mancos districts utilizing the garden classrooms alongside host site staff
Assist in teaching MSTFP school garden curriculum lessons that are aligned to the Colorado State Academic Standards and Next Generation Science Standards alongside host site staff

Physical, Emotional, and Intellectual Demands:
Willingness to learn, adapt, and grow in a position
Ability to serve independently, take initiative, and be motivated by the projects they are doing
Compassion and awareness: self-awareness, awareness of cultural differences, social differences and understanding of implicit bias

Desired Qualifications:
Ethic of national and community service and a strong desire to create positive change
Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; computer literate
High School Graduate required (GED accepted,) college graduate or equivalent work experience preferred
Ability to pass criminal history check
Applicants are required to have a reliable vehicle they are willing to use for service & proof of auto insurance
U.S. Citizenship or lawful permanent resident status required

Term of Service - Time Commitment: This is a Full Time (1700-hour) national and community service position requiring approximately 40 hours/week. The position begins September 1, 2026 and ends August 31, 2027. Flexible hours are required, including occasional evening and weekend commitments. Service on the following dates is required:

September 1: First Day at Host Site/Host Site & AmeriCorps Orientation
September 9-10: Team Up AmeriCorps Member Orientation
September 10: Meet n’ Greet with all Members & Site Supervisors
Jan 19: Dr. MLK Jr. Day Activity
March 31: Farmworkers Day of Service
April 9: Spring Convening of Members & Site Supervisors
2nd Wednesdays, monthly: Cohort Connections
in-person in November, May, and August
virtual in October, December, February, June and July

Training and Support Provided: Team Up AmeriCorps members receive significant training and experience in community engagement, project implementation, leadership, diverse populations, and more. Up to 20% of total hours served may be spent in applicable, approved trainings. Members will be supervised and supported by MSTFP’s Director Sorrell Redford sredford@mstfp.org, as well as by Team Up AmeriCorps program staff. The PY 25-26 cohort of Team Up AmeriCorps members serving throughout the region will also act as additional resources and support for each other.
Location and Service Conditions: This position is based out of MSTFP’s warehouse located at 30 N. Beech St, Cortez. This space has an attached educational garden as well as a mobile kitchen. The member/s will also spend significant time at MSTFP’s school gardens at the Cortez Middle School, Kemper elementary, Mesa elementary, Mancos elementary and Mancos Early Learning Center. Occasional off-site engagement and partnership activities, meetings, etc. will be required.

Benefits:
A living allowance of approx. $1,115.63/per pay period (twice per month). Taxes are deducted and the living allowance is distributed by direct deposit to the member’s bank account.
An education award of $7,395 upon successful completion of the term of service.
It is possible to temporarily postpone repayment of qualified student loans through forbearance while serving as an AmeriCorps member
Mileage reimbursement for travel to required AmeriCorps trainings and gatherings
Non-tangible benefits including extensive training, valuable experience, networking, and the opportunity to serve the local community in a crucial area of need
Access to fresh produce from MSTFP’s school gardens
Access to Good Sam’s food and resources at no cost
Host site-specific benefits: Gas stipend of $50/month provided directly from host site

Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Team Up values the diversity of our community. In principle and in practice the diverse nature of our board, staff, and volunteers is recognized as one of our best assets. We respect each individual’s unique gifts and prohibit unfair or discriminatory practices against anyone because of age, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, gender, sexual orientation, and any other protected category.

AmeriCorps prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment based on the protected categories of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability (mental or physical), political affiliation, marital or parental status, pregnancy, reprisal, genetic information (including family medical history), or military service.

Reasonable Accommodations and Disability Inclusion: Reasonable accommodation will be provided as needed for applications, interviews, and service.

To Apply:
Step 1. Email a cover letter and resume to Team Up AmeriCorps Coordinator Brenna Travis @ BrennaT@TeamUpSW.org. Be sure to indicate which position(s) you are interested in.
Step 2. Create an account on myAmeriCorps.gov and submit an application for the position Garden Educator @ MSTFP
https://my.americorps.gov/mp/listing/viewListing.do?fromSearch=true&id=129642
Please complete BOTH steps to apply.