Farm School Teacher and Program Coordinator

Ray of Sunshine Farm is looking for an energetic, organized and entrepreneurial Farm School Teacher & Program Coordinator to take ownership of our children's farm education program.

This is more than a teaching position. We're looking for someone who loves kids, loves nature and animals and can run the program from end to end, from helping get the word out, managing registration and communication with families, teaching our prepared curriculum or developing your own, and then delivering a wonderfuland memorable hands-on experience at the farm.

Our parent/guardian accompanied farm classes introduce young children to animals, gardening, food and agriculture through real experiences: feeding animals, collecting eggs, planting seeds, harvesting vegetables, exploring the garden, and learning about life on a working farm.

The role:

Teaching & program delivery

• Lead engaging, age-appropriate classes for young children
• Teach through hands-on experiences with our animals, gardens and crops
• Follow and improve existing lesson plans and develop new activities over time
• Lead songs, crafts and farm activities
• Confidently manage groups of children while maintaining appropriate safety rules
• Create a warm, welcoming experience for children and their parents/caregivers
• Prepare materials before class and reset/clean up afterward

Program management & administration

• Own the class calendar and coordinate upcoming sessions
• Set up and maintain classes and registration on our website
• Monitor enrollment and manage class rosters
• Communicate with registered families before and after classes
• Answer routine questions from prospective families
• Manage cancellations, transfers, waitlists and other registration details
• Track enrollment and identify classes that need additional promotion
• Maintain supplies and anticipate what will be needed for upcoming classes

Marketing & enrollment

• Help keep classes full by actively promoting upcoming programs
• Create and post class announcements on appropriate local and social media channels
• Help with email/newsletter and social-media promotion
• Reach out to local parent groups, preschools, schools and community organizations
• Develop relationships that can generate repeat enrollment and referrals
• Look for new opportunities to grow the program, including new class ideas, age groups, special events and seasonal programs

Who we're looking for:

This position would be a great fit for someone who combines a natural ability with children with strong organization and initiative.

You don't need to arrive knowing everything about farming. We can teach you about our animals, gardens and farm routines. It's much harder to teach someone how to engage a group of young children, communicate well with parents, stay on top of administrative details and take genuine ownership of a program.

Experience in preschool or elementary education, outdoor education, children's programming, camps, recreation programs, nature education, program coordination or a similar field would be valuable.

We're especially interested in someone who:

• Loves working with young children
• Is warm and engaging while still comfortable being in charge
• Is extremely reliable and organized
• Communicates professionally with parents
• Is comfortable using websites, email, social media and online registration tools
• Doesn't need to be told every small thing that needs to happen
• Enjoys building something and thinking about how to make it better
• Is comfortable outdoors, around animals and getting dirty

What success looks like:

A successful person in this role isn't just someone who teaches a great class. The whole program runs well because they own it and they are looking to grow with the farm!

Families know what's happening. Registration is accurate. Classes are promoted early enough to fill. Materials are ready. Parents get their questions answered. Classes start on time. Children have a great experience. And after each session, you're already thinking about how to make the next one even better.

About Ray of Sunshine Farm

Ray of Sunshine Farm is a small working farm in San Jose's Almaden Valley. We grow fruits and vegetables, raise a variety of farm animals, and create opportunities for families and children to experience agriculture firsthand.

Our farm school isn't intended to recreate a classroom outdoors. We want children to touch, explore, participate, ask questions and develop a real connection with each other, the animals, plants, food and the natural world.

Schedule: Part-time and flexible; combination of scheduled classes and flexible administrative hours

Pay: $28.00 - $40.00 per hour

Expected hours: 10.0 – 30.0 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule

Work Location: In person