Milton Hershey School (MHS) is a tuition-free, home, and private school for over 2,000 Pre-K through 12th grade students. Founded in 1909 by Milton and Catherine Hershey, the lives of more than 11,000 students have been positively transformed through MHS’s high-quality career-focused education, nurturing home life, and extensive extra-curricular opportunities. MHS boasts an amazing agricultural and environmental education program that is available to all students.

MHS is seeking an Associate Director for the School’s Agricultural and Environmental Education Program (AEE) which provides all enrolled students agricultural, horticultural, and environmental experiences. Additionally, students with interest in agriculture & environmental education can enrich those experiences by taking classes, participating in clubs and activities, and working in one of the School’s Agricultural and Environmental Education centers. MHS’s AEE program has 135 acres of fields, greenhouses, gardens, and orchards; as well as three animal barns and an environmental center.

The Academic Coordinator supports the Director, AEE and the AEE Instructional Advisors as the instructional lead in the planning, development, administration, and assessment of experiential education programs to fully leverage AEE’s resources so students have authentic, firsthand learning experiences which enhance student achievement, improve agricultural & environmental literacy, and facilitate development of life and career skills.

Compensation range for this position is $72K – $97K, plus benefits.

Responsibilities include: 

• Collaborate with AEE staff and Pre-K-12 scholastic staff to support the integration of classroom curriculum and AEE projects. This includes co-teaching & developing experiences for students that integrate science, as well as provide exposure to various agricultural and environmental careers.
• Lead the AEE staff in the design, implementation, and assessment of curriculum and projects with scholastic staff in all three Centers (Environmental, Horticulture, Animal). This collaboration focuses on integrating agriculture, environmental, and animal science content and provides students with exposure to relevant careers.
• Support the design and facilitation of after-school clubs, internship and co-op opportunities, student work program, student home activities (e.g., 4-H, FFA), and summer programming to engage students in learning-based, experiential opportunities.
• Coordinate the student work program and internship program, in collaboration with the Authentic Work Experience opportunities, for students in all centers as well as students working in our student run businesses (Ice Cream Center and Project Market). This includes collaborating with the AEE staff in the promotion, selection, hiring, and onboarding of students to fulfill their responsibilities within each center.
• Design and lead professional development to AEE staff and Pre-K-12 teachers that disseminates new ideas and best practice to help staff leverage an unparalleled range of agricultural, environment, and animal resources.
• Maintain and utilize an external network of professionals to support and implement best practices in agricultural and environmental education based on current research.
• Manage special projects and other duties, as needed.
• Maintain the data base of all AEE project plans related to the Environmental, Horticultural, and Animal Centers.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on Agricultural Education, STEM, Education, or affiliated degree. Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience or demonstrated knowledge of principles of regenerative agriculture, sustainable agriculture, Permaculture, and/or season extension preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) or equivalent agricultural or environmental pedagogy.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in experiential education, preferably in a leadership role.
  Candidates should be eager to engage with students and have experience working with diverse students from lower-income settings.
• Experience in designing and leading professional development to adults.
• Demonstrated success designing, implementing, and evaluating value-add experiential education programming, in the agricultural and environmental realm.
• Exceptional leadership skills including the ability to strategically plan, inspire, collaborate, and deliver value-add results.
• Exceptional communicator including verbal, written and platform.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, organizational skills, and the ability to multi-task competing priorities.
• Demonstrated critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills.
• Strong analytical skills including the ability to interpret and apply student outcomes data.
• Able to work independently and provide forward-thinking vision to create, innovate, implement, and maximize experiential education opportunities as it relates to the AEE program and resources.
• Candidates must demonstrate a high degree of integrity as all MHS staff are role models for students.
• Candidates should be willing to actively engage with students.