IDEA Public Schools Careers

Role Mission: The Production Farmer role works within the larger Healthy Kids Here initiative, dedicated to making IDEA Public Schools one of the healthiest school districts in the nation.  The Production Farmer implements the school farm program across a specified ¼ to 1.5 acre campus farm as a physical and visible marker of this commitment. The role involves starting in-ground vegetable production on campus, as well as maintaining the previously established hydroponic vegetable production. The Production Farmer role also has financial responsibilities regarding their campus farm. This role supports agriculture education within the campus and includes teaching students K-12, while coordinating with campus leaders in making College For All a reality. The CNP Farm Supervisor oversees this position. This position has no direct reports but does assist with supervising a K-12 population when the students are on the farm grounds.

What We Offer

Compensation:

• Compensation for this role is set at an hourly rate ranging between $22.57 for 0 years of experience and $28.22
• This role is also eligible for a performance bonus based on team performance and goal attainment.

Other Benefits:

We offer a comprehensive benefits plan, covering the majority of the employee premium for the base medical plan and subsidizing the majority of costs for a spouse/domestic partner and children. Some of the special benefits we offer at IDEA include:

• Paid Family Leave: Eligible staff may receive up to 8 weeks of paid leave for the birth or adoption of a child, based on their tenure with the organization and caregiver designation.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Staff members may apply for up to​ 50% of tuition paid toward a qualifying degree program, up to $5,250 maximum per year subject to manager discretion and budget availability.
• Employer-Paid Mental/Behavioral Health: 5 face-to-face counseling sessions within a year, unlimited 24/7 telephonic counseling, and other work-life services available at no cost.

Other benefits include dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, generous vacation time, referral bonuses and professional development. IDEA may offer a relocation allowance to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.

What You Bring -- Competencies:

• Mission Focus- focuses on IDEA’s core purpose of getting all students into college.
• Record of Results – holds high expectations for self and others to achieve and surpass intended goals.
• Problem Solving – able to synthesize, analyze, and prioritize data and opportunities to develop strategies for achieving quantifiable goals.
• Communication – effectively conveys information using a variety of channels and techniques.
• Continuous Improvement – proactively identifies opportunities to improve and consistently reflects on past actions to guide future decisions.

Qualifications:

• Education:  High School diploma or equivalent required
• Experience:  2+ years in general growing preferred; hydroponic experience is a plus. 1+ years in teaching or facilitating lessons preferred.
• License or Certification: Local or state recognized food safety certification preferred

Knowledge and Skills:

• The ability to motivate, delegate, and lead a team to accomplish goals.
• Experience with youth education and communicating with students.
• Comprehension of irrigation systems, and hydroponic practices.
• Understanding of vegetable production and general agronomy.
• Familiarity with Integrated Pest Management.
• Knowledge of methods, materials, equipment, and processes used in farming.
• Strong understanding of safety and sanitation practices involved with food production.
• Ability to understand and interpret data (charts, graphs, etc.).
• Can handle stress well to meet deadlines.
• Effective organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Computer literacy with understanding of Microsoft Office Suite (i.e. Excel).
• Able to follows verbal and written direction and asks for clarification as needed.
• Demonstrates problem solving, adaptability and flexibility.
• Good mathematical skills and basic finance understanding.

What You’ll Do – Accountabilities:

FARM IS OPERATIONALLY READY WITH CROPS PLANTED, QUICK-START & PREP WEEK COMPLETED, AND FOOD SAFETY AUDIT PASSED BEFORE THE FDOS

• Crops are planted in the ground, in the growing columns and in the nursery according to the production plan
• QuickStart checklist completed, signed and submitted to Farm Manager
• GAP Harmonized food safety and operations audit passed with 90% rating or better

MEET FARM COST PER SQUARE FOOT GOAL BY JUNE 30

• Submit requisitions properly according to business office policy
• Use the weekly farm dashboard to remain within budget
• Use projections to calculate expenditures for farm projects and events
• Oversee the in-ground farm expansion, including a pollinator garden, outdoor classroom, and other areas

CERTIFY 80 JUNIOR MASTER GARDENERS BY JUNE 30

• Ensure courses are being taught according to the curriculum
• 100% of student visitation hours are logged in at the end of every class
• 100% of students are logged into the JMG website to be registered as certified JM Gardeners at the end of every semester
• Coordinate student field lessons as needed to fulfill JMG requirements
• Certify students at the annual end of year ceremony
• Increase student awareness and participation on the school farm

MEET POUNDS PER SQUARE FOOT HARVESTED GOAL BY JUNE 30

• 100% of vegetables are started on time via transplant
• 90% of plants are in the ground according to crop succession plan
• 75% of all crops harvested within 2-4 days of original harvest estimate
• 100% of all farm logs are entered into tracking system by end of week
• Ensuring all equipment, land, and buildings are maintained properly
• Develop strong relationship with campus CM for distribution of produce
• Confer with APO’s and FM’s for any facility and maintenance issue regarding the farm

MEET AN AVERAGE OF 90% RATING ON GOOD AGRICULTURE PRACTICES HARMONIZED AND QUALITY OPERATIONAL AUDITS BY JUNE 30

• Ensure all individuals interacting with the farm are trained and aware of food safety protocols.
• Transition farm program notebook to a visual and list check off in high priority areas
• Ensure all records are entered in a timely manner and kept for auditing purposes
• Maintain and develop standard operating procedures for all potential hazardous and inefficient activities. Ensure documentation is within eyesight of potential activity.
• Follow the established schedule for our department’s online safety video training (SafeSchools)

We look for Team and Family who embody the following values and characteristics: 

• Believes and is committed to our mission and being an agent of change: that all students are capable of getting to and through college  
• Has demonstrated effective outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them 
• Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly 
• Works with urgency and purpose to drive student outcomes 
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change 
• Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization 
• Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes 
• We believe in education as a profession and hold ourselves to high level of conduct, professionalism and behaviors as models for our colleagues and students 

• Demonstrates problem solving, adaptability and flexibility.
• Good mathematical skills and basic finance understanding.

About IDEA Public Schools  

At IDEA Public Schools, we believe each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to a multi-state network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools.    

IDEA Public Schools boasts national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s top high schools lists. IDEA serves over 80,000 college-bound students in 143 schools across Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Ohio, and is on-track to maintain its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college.     

When you choose to work at IDEA, you are part of our IDEA Team and Family. You will work alongside team members who set and reach ambitious goals every day, are excited to continue to grow with IDEA, and work relentlessly to make college for all a reality. 

At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members.  Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values

To Apply 

Please submit your application online through Jobvite. It’s in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.