FirstLine Schools

Charter school network delivering holistic education

Director of Edible Schoolyard New Orleans

EducationPosted on Nov 9

Full-timeUnited StatesNo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in education, horticulture, environmental science, or a related field is required.
At least five years of experience working in a school environment and/or sizeable institution is required.
Experience with hands-on/outdoor education and/or leadership experience in these areas is required.
Demonstrated success managing and inspiring a diverse team is required.
Experience working with a high-poverty community of children and families, especially in an urban public school or urban public charter school environment.
Demonstrated knowledge and passion for food access, local food systems, urban gardening/farming, food education, and quality educational instruction is required.
Demonstrated ability to manage program evaluation.
Proficiency with information technology, specifically Google Drive.
Ability to work with frequent interruption and manage several work streams simultaneously.
Ability to work weekend and evening events is required.
The role requires lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects up to approximately 50 pounds and working outdoors in heat, cold, and light rain.

Responsibilities

Serve as the strategic and operational lead for garden and culinary education and experiences across FirstLine Schools, defining the long-term vision, maintaining program integrity, managing multi-site garden and kitchen spaces, and leading the ESY Program Manager and Network Garden staff.
Create the annual strategic plan, including the ESYNOLA team's and program's vision, goals, strategy, and success metrics, and maintain program integrity and rigor across sites.
Build relationships with School Directors and school leaders to develop and maintain sustainable, high-quality ESYNOLA programming and events.
Attend FirstLine Leadership Retreats and training, and communicate the information and network direction to the ESYNOLA team.
Collaborate regularly with FirstLine network team members, Network Directors, the C-Team, Academic team, Family Engagement team, and Development and Communications team.
Supervise the ESY Program Manager and Network Gardeners, and work with the Program Manager and school leaders to hire teaching staff.
Ensure classes and experiences are relevant to FirstLine students and families and balance experiential instruction with core content-driven instruction.
Support the Program Manager in planning and facilitating monthly professional development for teaching staff.
Onboard and mentor new staff on evaluation protocols; gather and compile data on ESYNOLA outputs and outcomes; liaise with evaluation partners; support evaluation plans, tools, and data collection; draft findings; and work with the Communications team to produce and disseminate the impact document.
Represent ESYNOLA's work throughout the FirstLine network and with external partners and donors.
Ensure gardens meet ESYNOLA standards by prioritizing seasonal fruit and vegetable production, cultivating Louisiana native plant habitats using methods safe for students, and fostering produce use in classes and distribution to school families.
Ensure kitchens meet ESYNOLA standards, including recipes that feature fruits and vegetables, promote moderation and balance, and represent diverse cultures, while teaching food and nutrition through a food-neutral lens.
Develop the Garden Team, including Garden, Volunteer and Greenhouse Associates, Network Gardeners, and AmeriCorps Gardeners when applicable.
Hire and onboard garden staff, including revising job descriptions, recruiting, interviewing, facilitating candidate review by site-based staff, and onboarding new staff.
Supervise the network garden team by arranging meetings and individual check-ins, providing feedback, setting goals, and conducting annual performance maps.
Oversee professional development in garden skills.
Manage vendors and contracts, and work with School Operation Managers and Garden Teachers on facility changes and needs.
Create systems for ESYNOLA operations and project management, including staff portal tools, event-planning templates, and volunteer recruitment and management.
Build the budget with the Chief Experiences Officer and Program Manager; oversee teachers' management of class budgets; manage purchasing for Network Gardeners; and facilitate delivery of garden supplies.
Support the Program Manager in leading Sweet Potato Fest at Ashe.
Support teachers and the Program Manager with school- and network-based events, including Watermelon Day, Iron Chef, Market to Table, Family Food and Garden Nights, and the High School Fair.
Oversee the operations aspects of An Edible Evening with the Director of Development, who supervises the contracted event planner; support the planner with supply purchasing, teacher communications, event volunteer management, and other event needs.

Desired Qualifications

A master's degree is preferred.
At least two years of experience in teacher leadership, such as coaching or mentoring, curriculum development, training, or serving as a department lead.
Teaching experience and/or small-group facilitation with successful classroom management.
Experience working with a high-poverty community of children and families, especially in an urban public school or urban public charter school environment.
Belief in every student's ability to achieve in a rigorous college- or career-prep curriculum.
Ability to achieve results based on agreed-upon expectations and take personal responsibility.
Attention to detail.
Openness to learning and evolving with AI as a tool at work.
Ability to collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders.
Commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to embed and model the FirstLine commitments: We Keep Learning, We Work Together, We Are Helpful, We Are the Safekeepers of our Community, We Share Joy, and We Show Results.

FirstLine Schools: Director of Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA)
Reports to: Chief Experiences Officer
FLSA Status: Exempt
Position Type: Full-Time

Position Summary:
The Director of Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA), an experienced educator, horticulturist, and leader, serves as the strategic and operational lead for garden and culinary education and experiences across all FirstLine Schools. This role is responsible for defining the long-term vision, maintaining program integrity, managing multi-site garden and kitchen spaces, and leading a team including the ESY Program Manager and Network Garden staff. The Director bridges the network strategic goals with ESY program specific implementation, ensuring curriculum quality, program evaluation, budget management, and engagement of community partners and donors.

The Director supports curriculum and teacher development, working with the ESY Program Manager to create effective professional development sessions for staff. This position works closely with the ESYNOLA Program Manager to build a team community and partners with garden and culinary educators to support the creation of family and student-centered ESYNOLA events. They also manage the ESYNOLA operations and facilities in collaboration with the FLS Operations team, the Network Garden team including garden production and health. They partner with the FirstLine Director of Development to oversee production of ESYNOLA’s annual An Edible Evening fundraiser, helping to guide a contracted event planner who handles logistics and manages vendors. This role is also responsible for data collection on ESY outputs and outcomes, and producing ESY’s annual evaluation and impact report.

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 and the natural world.

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
Families and communities are integral to our success

Position Responsibilities:
Strategic Vision, Alignment and Collaboration with FLS Goals and Priorities

Oversees and fosters ESYNOLA growth, maintaining program integrity and rigor across sites; leads the creation of annual strategic plan setting the vision, goals, strategy, and metrics of success for the ESYNOLA team and program
Builds and fosters relationships with School Directors and school leaders at each school site and the network to ådevelop and maintain sustainable, high-quality ESYNOLA programming and events
Attends all FirstLine Leadership Retreats and training and commits to communicating this information and network direction to the ESYNOLA team
Collaborates regularly with key members of the FirstLine network team, Network Directors, C-Team, and Academic team, Family Engagement team, and the Development and Communications team

ESYNOLA Program Oversight

Supervises the ESY Program Manager and Network Gardeners
Works with Program Manager and school leaders to hire new teaching staff
Ensures all classes and experiences are relevant to FLS students and families, and are balanced with both experiential and core content-driven instruction
Supports the Program Manager in planning and facilitating monthly professional development for teaching staff
Onboards and mentors all new staff on evaluation protocol. Gathers and compiles data on ESYNOLA outputs and outcomes, serves as liaison with any evaluation partners, supports the evaluation plan tools, data collection, and drafts findings, and works with Communication team to produce Impact document and disseminate results
Acts as a representative for ESYNOLA’s work throughout the FirstLine network and with external partners and donors

Operations & Facilities Oversight

Ensures gardens are maintained to the ESYNOLA standards:
- Prioritizing production of seasonal fruits and vegetables throughout the year and cultivating Louisiana native plant habitats utilizing natural and organic methods that are safe for our students
- Fostering the use of our produce in classes and distribution to our school families
Ensures kitchens are maintained to the ESYNOLA standards:
- Majority of recipes include fruit and vegetables and promote moderation and balance while representing a diversity of cultures
- Food and nutrition are taught through a food neutral lens
Supervises and develops the Garden Team
- Garden Team includes Garden, Volunteer and Greenhouse Associate, Network Gardener, and AmeriCorps Gardener when applicable
- Hires and onboards garden staff, including job description revision, recruitment, interviewing, facilitating applicant review of candidates by site-based staff, and onboarding of new staff
- Supervises network garden team, including setting up team meetings, individual check-ins, providing feedback, setting goals, and conducting annual performance maps
- Oversees garden skills professional development
Manages vendors and contracts; works closely with School Operation Managers and Garden Teachers on facilities changes and needs
Creates systems for effective ESYNOLA operations and project management, including tools on ESYNOLA staff portal, event planning templates, volunteer recruitment and management
Builds the budget with the Chief Experiences Officer and Program Manager. Oversees teachers’ management of class budgets, manages purchasing for Network Gardeners, and facilitates delivery of garden supplies

Special Events Coordination

Supports Program Manager on leading Sweet Potato Fest at Ashe
Supports teachers and Program Manager with school and network based special events including execution of Watermelon Day, Iron Chef, Market to Table, Family Food and Garden Nights and Network events like High School Fair
Oversees operations aspects of An Edible Evening, collaborating with Director of Development, who supervises contract event planner
- Supports event planner on purchasing supplies, teacher communications, event volunteer management and other parts of the event as needed

Education & Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in education, horticulture, environmental science or related field required; Master’s preferred
At least five (5) years of experience working in a school environment and/or sizeable institution required
At least two years of experience in teacher leadership (coaching/mentoring, curriculum development, training, department lead, etc.) preferred
Teaching experience and/or small group facilitation with successful classroom management strongly preferred
Experience with hands on/outdoor education and/or leadership experience in these areas required
Demonstrated success managing and inspiring a diverse team required
Experience working with a high poverty community of children and families especially in an urban public school or urban public charter school environment
Demonstrated knowledge and passion for food access, local food systems, urban gardening/farming, food education, and quality educational instruction required
Demonstrated ability to manage program evaluation
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, applicable to a variety of stakeholders
Proactive, problem-solving approach to complex challenges
Commitment to FirstLine and ESYNOLA’s mission and vision
Initiative and drive for continuous improvement
Proficient with information technology, specifically Google Drive
Ability to represent the organization to a variety of audiences
Ability to work with frequent interruption and to manage several work streams simultaneously
Ability to work weekend and evening events required

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
Open to learning and evolving with AI as a tool at work
Collaborate effectively with a range of stakeholders
Share a commitment to creating great schools in New Orleans
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to embed and model the FirstLine Commitments: We Keep Learning, We Work Together, We Are Helpful, We Are the Safekeepers of our Community, We Share Joy, We Show Results!

Physical Requirements:
The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Physical exertion is required, including lifting, pushing, and/or pulling objects of up to approximately 50 pounds. This role also requires working outdoors in heat, cold, and light rain. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be required to sit, walk, stand, talk, and hear.

Supervises:
Yes, ESY Program Manager and Garden Team

About FirstLine Schools:
In 1998, FirstLine Schools started the first charter school in New Orleans. FirstLine now operates several (Pre)K-8th grade schools. Our mission is to create and inspire great, open-admissions public schools in New Orleans. Our staff is a diverse and talented group dedicated to our students’ success and to their own growth. Our schools are led by leaders who hold themselves accountable for student achievement and teacher development.

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. FirstLine Schools offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 403b plan.

FirstLine Schools is an equal employment opportunities (EEO) organization.

About the Company

FirstLine Schools

Charter school network delivering holistic education

FirstLine Schools operates a network of charter schools in New Orleans, delivering K-12 education across multiple campuses. Its schools focus on college preparation, career readiness, and healthy living by nurturing students' minds, bodies, and spirits, while offering programs like the Edible Schoolyard that integrate gardening and cooking into the curriculum. The organization runs its programs through public funding, donations, and educational grants, and provides additional supports such as free homework help and community involvement opportunities. What sets FirstLine Schools apart is its holistic, campus-network approach that scales successful programs across several schools, accompanied by a commitment to transparency and public accountability. The goal is to make New Orleans the first city in America where every child has access to a great school.

Company size: 201-500
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: New Orleans, LA
Founded: 1998

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