PreK-Middle School Education Specialist Position

Bartram’s Garden is seeking a Full-Time PreK-Middle School Education Specialist. Bartram’s Garden is a 50+ acre public garden in Southwest Philadelphia, situated on Lenape territory on the banks of the lower Schuylkill River. It is a venue for art, access to the tidal river and wetlands, an outdoor classroom and a living laboratory. Bartram’s Garden attempts to hold the colonial legacy of the land with a commitment to learn and share the whole truth about the plants of Southwest Philadelphia and the people who grow them.  For more information on Bartram's Garden visit www.bartramsgarden.org
 

Bartram’s Garden has engaged elementary through middle school aged children within the School District of Philadelphia for over 25 years. More recently there has been an intentional focus on engaging schools that fall within our Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood. In addition to K-8 field trip experiences and classroom visits, the garden has created additional programs such as “Little Explorers” that work to meet the needs of our families with preschool aged children. 

The PreK-Middle School Education Specialist will function as lead educator and will manage and facilitate all of our early childhood through middle school engagement at Bartram’s Garden. This role is primarily tasked with designing and implementing a hands-on environmental/nature-based curricula that incorporates art, natural science and history for pre-k through middle school classrooms. The PreK-Middle School Education Specialist will strengthen our current portfolio of partnerships and also lead the growth of new partnerships within the Southwest and West Philadelphia educational provider network.  Important in this role is also developing relationships with teachers, principals, librarians, families, and other potential partners to Bartram’s Garden education programs.

Education Specialist Program Responsibilities:

• Function as lead teacher in all PreK through middle school engagement; coordinate logistics for all Bartram’s Garden PreK through middle school engagement

• Develop, design and implement PreK through middle school environmental/nature-based programming/curricula

• Daily supervision and mentoring of part-time Education Assistant

• Plan and coordinate preschool “Little Explorers” family program;

• Lead all communication, scheduling and logistics for visiting school groups, field trips and community partners

• Lead partnership outreach and engagement with libraries, recreational centers, etc.

• Successfully manage individual program budget and reconcile program expenses on monthly basis.

• Ensure documentation and compliance with all policies and procedures, including following all state mandated guidelines for clearances.
• Support the Bartram’s Education and Development teams in compiling quantitative and narrative reports of proposed and completed deliverables, including required grant reporting.  
• Participate in regularly scheduled Youth Education team meetings; and work in collaboration with other program coordinators.

Position Requirements:

• Previous teaching experience required, specifically with early childhood or elementary programs
• Previous education or experience in Environmental Science or Nature-Based curricula; fundamental understanding/knowledge of ecosystems 

• A love of nature and being outdoors

• Enthusiasm for connecting and working with young people of different ethnicities and backgrounds.

• Lived commitment to racial, economic, environmental, and social justice; experience working in diverse communities

• Personal or professional familiarity with Southwest Philadelphia

• Proficiency in utilizing and integrating office technology into daily workflow (Microsoft Office Suite, Outlook, Teams, Zoom)

• PA Criminal Background Check, Federal Bureau of Investigation Clearance, PA Child Abuse Clearance, PA Mandatory Reporter training

Physical Demands:

The PreK-Middle School Education Specialist is a position that is conducted indoors and outdoors, often as well as in an office setting. While performing the duties of this job, the employee will regularly be required to move and stand and/or walk for extended periods of time; work in immediate proximity to the public in a safe and friendly manner. The administrative components of this position require the ability to sit/stand at a desk, work on a computer, and use a monitor for extended periods of time.

Schedule and Compensation

This is a full-time, non-exempt, year-round position with an annual salary range of $50-$55,000. Our site is open daily, and the PreK-Middle School Education Specialist’s schedule will mostly align with the Philadelphia School District calendar and require flexibility to include occasional weekends and/or evening for organization wide events. Benefits include employer-paid healthcare and dental coverage, short and long-term disability coverage, and generous paid time-off including holidays, vacation, and sick time. ***This position is slated to begin in January/February 2027***