Instructional Specialist - Garden (10 month/school year)

BERKELEY SCHOOLS
Berkeley, California United States  View Map
Posted: May 29, 2026
  • Salary: 35.74 - 43.5 Hourly USD
  • Part Time
  • Other
  • Job Description

    DEFINITION: Under direction of an assigned supervisor, enrich the instructional program by providing information and expertise to an assigned student or group of students in a specialized area such as garden, sports, art, music or dance.

    ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES: Plan and implement presentation and materials related to specialized area of instruction to enrich the academic program; Develop methods to explain or demonstrate the information to students; Instruct students in assigned area of expertise and assist certificated instructor in evaluating whether student(s) have understood the concept of information; Provide technical assistance in the operation and maintenance of specialized instructional equipment as assigned; Provide assistance to and interact with students; Prepare and issue material and equipment for student use; Monitor and control student behavior according to established procedures; Maintain records of students' progress and attendance as assigned; Maintain inventories of supplies, material and equipment, ensuring that adequate amounts are available for timely instructional use; Adjust and maintain specialized equipment, if any, ensuring timely availability for student use; Maintain a variety of records and files; Maintain learning environment in a safe and orderly condition; Perform other related duties as required.

    Gardening:

    Plan, implement and coordinate all aspects of a garden education program; co-teach lessons using the Garden-Based Learning curriculum; deliver education through day-time and after-school garden-based classes promoting the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and beans; conduct interactive classes that provide hands-on learning opportunities for students and teachers; instruct students on principles of agroecology and ecoliteracy, seasonality, food systems, nutrition and healthy living; provide hands-on instruction to students on growing, tending to, maintaining, harvesting and preparation for consumption of a variety of food crops in a school garden; educate students regarding healthy food choices; develop a programmatic approach that emphasizes the 4R's; participate in site-based team meetings focusing on nutrition education

    Maintain and oversee an edible school garden using organic gardening methods, including planting, composting, irrigating and harvesting fruits and vegetables; construct and install structures and buildings; develop and implement nutrition and gardening projects and events; shop for and purchase garden supplies and supplemental produce; conduct fruit and vegetable tastings

    May assist with grant writing and fundraising processes; solicit and secure donations; assist with outreach activities focused on the school community and recruiting volunteers, including coordinating parties and special events and supervising volunteers

    KNOWLEDGE OF: Specialized area of enrichment instruction; Methods of instruction; Test development and construction; Principles, practices, procedures and equipment of specialized area of expertise; Correct English usage, grammar, spelling, punctuation and vocabulary.

    SKILL AND ABILITY TO: Plan, develop and conduct enrichment presentation; Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; Interpret an extensive variety of specialized information in various forms and work effectively with abstract and concrete variables; Operate and demonstrate the use of specialized equipment and materials; Monitor and control student behavior; Provide assistance and information to students in area of specialty; Work independently under general supervision; Establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships and others; Prepare and maintain a variety of records, reports and files; Use effective interpersonal skills using tact, patience and courtesy; Schedule and perform work to meet established timelines; Work independently with minimal supervision.

    EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Any combination of training and experience that could likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills and abilities would be completion of four years of college with major course work in the area of specialty and at least one year of work experience directly related to the field of specialty.

    PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS: Require vision (which may be corrected) to read small print; Require the mobility to stand, stoop, reach and bend; Require mobility of arms to reach and dexterity of hands to grasp and manipulate small objects; Require the ability to stand for long periods; Require the ability to walk long distances; Perform lifting, pushing and/or pulling which does not exceed 50 pounds and is infrequent aspect of the job; Is subject to inside and outside environmental conditions.

    EXAMINATION INFORMATION:

    The first step in the examination process is the application screening and whether or not the candidate meets the minimum qualifications listed.

    The testing process may consist of a written exam; an oral exam; a performance exam; a structured interview (SI); a qualification appraisal interview (QAI); an evaluation of training & experience/education (T&E) and/or any combination thereof.

    ONLY the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) test requires and is mandated to have a passing score of 70 on each of the three parts of the test.

    All other tests will have a passing score set between 50 and 99 depending of a variety of factors affecting that specific recruitment.

    All candidates must pass the first examination process to be invited to the next step/test in the process.

    As the testing process consists of a minimum of two examination processes; the weight of each those processes may be determined at any step in the processes.

    Qualified candidates will be notified of the date, time, and place of the examination(s)/test(s).

    Candidates will be notified of the minimum pass points/test score for each examination and/or test in the examination process.

    OTHER: Proof of identification for completion of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, must be submitted at the time of processing for employment.

    SALARIES: All salaries as stated are based on present information and are subject to change. Appointments are made at the minimum salary shown in the posting and increases are granted at intervals based on anniversary date.

    Notification of Non-Discrimination Policy

    The Berkeley Unified School District is committed to fostering a positive working environment for its employees. Accordingly, BUSD practices shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation and bullying of any employee based on an employee's actual race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

    The Board also prohibits retaliation against any district employee or job applicant who complains, testi?es or in any way participates in the district's complaint procedures instituted pursuant to this policy.

    The following employee has been designated to handle questions and complaints of alleged discrimination regarding Board Policy 4030:

    Compliance Officer and Title IX Coordinator

    2020 Bonar Street, Room 116

    Berkeley, CA 94702

    Phone: 510-486-9338

    Email: nondiscrimination@berkeley.net

    Closing Date/Time: Thu, 18 Jun 2026
  • ABOUT THE COMPANY

    • Berkeley Unified School District
    • Berkeley Unified School District

    About the District

    Since the founding of the University of California, Berkeley in 1868 and the establishment of Berkeley’s first high school in 1879, Berkeley’s community has been proud to be a leader in public education.  In 1968, the Berkeley Unified School District was the nation’s first school district to desegregate without a court order.  What you should know about our District:

     

    • Students are our priority.
    • We take pride in our diversity.
    • We hold high expectations for ourselves and our students.
    • We treat each other with respect and act with integrity.

    Berkeley Unified is responsible for educating more than 9,400 individual students in 11 public elementary schools, 3 middle schools, one comprehensive high school, and an alternative high school. In addition, the district has 3 preschool facilities and an Adult School serving several thousand students each year. With a tradition of excellence rooted in a vibrant community, Berkeley Unified alumni have become national and international leaders in business, civic society, politics, academia, sports and the arts. Students and staff in Berkeley Unified come from a wide variety of ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds, surrounded by one of the most intellectually and culturally rich regions in the United States.

    The Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals of Berkeley Unified are encapsulated in the four E’s:

    • Excellence
    • Equity
    • Engagement
    • Enrichment

    Excellence in Learning, in Teaching, and in Service to our Students and Families

    Equity in Access, in Resource Allocation, and Educational Outcomes

    Engagement with Parents, Guardians, Families, and Community

    Enrichment in Curriculum with Music & the Arts, Libraries, Gardens & Nutrition, Science & Health, Physical Education & Sports

    Parent and Community Involvement
    The Vision for BUSD is one in which parents, family, and community are an integral part of each school. When parents and families get personally involved in education, their children do better in school and grow up to be more successful in life.  This is why Berkeley has dedicated resources and specialized staff to support the home-school partnership and to give all parents/guardians access to understanding opportunities and services available for their children.

    Public Support
    Over the past 25 years, the Berkeley Unified School District’s ability to provide well-rounded educational resources and opportunities to all students has been significantly boosted by the generous financial support of local taxes that augment the General Fund for specific purposes.

    Berkeley voters have overwhelmingly supported the Berkeley Schools Excellence Program (BSEP), a special local tax first adopted in 1986 and renewed consistently since then, most recently as Measure A in 2006. (1986 to present)

    Berkeley voters are as committed to the safety and modernization of school and district facilities as to the students and educational programs they house, most recently evidenced in the renewal of a maintenance special tax and a new facilities bond in 2010.

    • Facilities Bonds (1992, Measure BB of 2002, Measure I of 2010)
    • Maintenance Parcel Tax (Measure H of 2010)

    Very Low Class Size
    Berkeley Public schools have among the lowest class sizes in the state. While many school districts have exceeded 20 students in kindergarten through third grade, thanks to the BSEP tax measure Berkeley has maintained 20:1 since 1984. Grades 4 and 5 classrooms have average student-teacher ratios of 26-1, again much lower than the state average.

    • All Berkeley elementary schools have fewer students than the state average of 525 students — in fact, the Berkeley average is 375.
    • The average student-teacher ratio in academic classrooms in middle school is less than 28:1, and many math classes are 20:1.
    • The average student-teacher ratio in academic classrooms in high schools is 28:1.

    Because the Berkeley community recognizes that public education is the cornerstone of a productive, creative, and healthy society, all of our schools benefit from the generosity of monetary and in-kind donations.  Visit our “Public Support” page to find out more about the generosity and commitment of our supporters and how the many different funding and volunteer organizations enhance each child’s education in the Berkeley Public Schools.

    Show more

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