Outdoor & Garden-Based Learning - Education Specialist

About the role

Ready to Grow Gardens is seeking highly adaptable, confident educators to lead hands-on, TEKS-aligned science instruction in outdoor classroom gardens across Houston-area elementary schools. This is not a passive or assistant role. You'll lead groups independently, make real-time instructional decisions, and manage multiple grade levels throughout the day—using nature as your classroom.

Responsibilities

• Teach 6-9 engaging, 30-45 minute lessons per day to PreK-5th grade students using our fully designed TEKS-aligned curriculum (no lesson planning required)
• Perform garden maintenance (weeding, planting, pruning, fertilizing) to keep gardens thriving
• Collaborate with fellow Garden Educators one Sunday afternoon per month to prepare for the upcoming month's lessons
• Send short, timely Garden Day follow-up emails to schools when necessary
• Maintain positive, professional relationships with students, teachers, and administrators
• Communicate proactively with schools to ensure gardens stay healthy between visits

Requirements

• A genuine love of children and outdoor learning
• A positive, flexible attitude and strong communication skills
• Dependability and self-motivation
• Ability to lift, bend, and perform physical work in the garden, you should be able to lift a minimum of 40 pounds
• A valid driver's license and reliable transportation (travel between campuses required)

Qualifications

• Highly adaptable and confident educators
• Experience teaching or working with children is preferred but not required
• Gardening or horticulture knowledge is preferred but not required
• Bilingual (Spanish and English) is highly preferred but not required

Skills

• Strong communication skills
• Ability to lift and perform physical work
• Positive and flexible attitude

Benefits

• Training & Development
• Fast track to a deep understanding the steps to successful gardening in Houston
• Teaching and interacting with students in a nontraditional setting (garden/outdoor classroom)
• Team building with a group of like-minded professional garden educators
• 3 paid sick days
• Paid mileage based on standard mileage rate
• Starting pay is $20/hr with room for negotiation based on experience and room for growth after 90 days

Pay

$20/hour starting pay, (after 60 day review, pay increases to $25/ hour)

Schedule

Part and full time school-year position (August-May)