School Programs Educator (Part-Time)

Description

Why Cheekwood?

Working at Cheekwood Estate & Gardens offers you the opportunity to work for one of the most beautiful places in Nashville. Formerly the home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, Cheekwood now serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum with period rooms and art galleries. At Cheekwood, you will have the opportunity to explore a wide range of roles tailored to your skills and interests. Whether you are passionate about horticulture, art curation, historical preservation, or one of our many other career opportunities, you would have the chance to thrive and make a meaningful impact here. Working in such a place that cherishes its rich history, vibrant art scene, and serene gardens offers a unique blend of fulfillment and inspiration. You will find yourself in a supportive environment where every day brings new opportunities for personal and professional growth, amidst the backdrop of picturesque settings.

What does the Cheekwood Education Team do and why join? 

At Cheekwood, the goal of the Education Department is to enrich the experiences of our visitors, members, and class participants. Their primary focus is to foster learning opportunities that blend the natural beauty of our gardens with the historical and artistic aspects of the museum. Members of the Education Department create engaging programs and workshops that explore themes of horticulture and art, aiming to inspire curiosity and appreciation for the natural world and human creativity. By joining the Education Department at Cheekwood, individuals can immerse themselves in a dynamic environment where they play a vital role in engaging learning experiences. Whether leading guided tours, organizing hands-on workshops, or developing educational materials, team members have the chance to make a meaningful impact on visitors' understanding and appreciation of the intersection between nature and culture.

What will you be doing?

In this role, you will get to set up and lead field trips at Cheekwood. You will prepare activities, engage with students, and keep learning about teaching methods and garden topics. You will also attend paid training sessions and help with other tasks as required.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Assist School and Outreach Programs Manager and Coordinator with running school field trips and be a part of a teaching team of educators. 
• Arrive up to 1 hr. before the scheduled field trip to set up supplies and stations in garden spaces and stay to clean up.
• Facilitate field trip curriculum including leading engaging conversation with students while conducting activities outdoors in the garden and inside the museum.
• Learn Cheekwood’s standard aligned field trip curriculum for grades pre-K-12th.
• Engage in learning to enhance knowledge of various learning styles, teaching techniques, what’s growing in Cheekwood’s garden, and topics relevant to the curriculum. 
• Attend paid training about field trips and outreach topics and Cheekwood. 
• Prepare/restock field trip materials for upcoming field trips and outreach programming.
• Create a positive environment that encourages active learning for students.
• Travel to schools for outreach programming.
• Other duties as assigned.

Secondary Activities and Responsibilities

• Knowledge of Cheekwood’s Education Department and the mission of the institution.
• Knowledge of Cheekwood history and botanic garden. 

Requirements

• At least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or equivalent.

Preferred Education

• Experience in working with students in an educational setting; specifically elementary school aged children.
• Bachelor’s degree in biology, Environmental Science, Horticulture, or related educational field preferred.

Required Skills

• Knowledge of basic teaching methods and non-traditional techniques for early childhood development. 
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions. 
• Must work well without direct supervision. 
• Must have excellent time management skills and quick thinking on their feet.
• Must want to work with children outdoors. 
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well with others. 
• Ability to respond to emergency situations calmly and follow protocols.
• Responsible attitude and professionalism toward career essential. 
• Ability to work outdoors in a variety of weather conditions and terrain changes.

Preferred Skills

• Previous teaching experience is desired in traditional or non-traditional settings.
• Experience conducting educational programming is also desired.
• Experience following lesson plans.

Required Work Schedule and Hours

• Field Trips run weekly, typically Tuesdays-Fridays. 
• Applicants must be available 7:45AM-3PM on the days they are scheduled to run field trips or outreach events. Hours within that timeframe will differ depending on the start time of the booked school group.

              - Mid-March to the end of May, Tuesday-Friday; up to 15 hours per week.

              - September through November, Tuesday-Friday; up to 15 hours per week.

              - Significantly reduced hours available during the remaining months.