Environmental Literacy Teacher - Talbot Community School

Environmental Literacy Teacher - Talbot Community School

Portland Public Schools is seeking skilled environmental literacy / science teachers to support learning and curriculum at Talbot Community School.

Under the general direction of the school principal and the district Outdoor and Experiential Coordinator, each Environmental Literacy / Science teacher will work with partner schools in a "specials" model. The aim of this program is to continue the district's efforts toward building our experiential environmental literacy and science curriculum at the elementary level. Also, the teachers will help tend the garden as well as build school community support around garden maintenance and care.

The position serves as a collaborator, teacher, and resource specialist to students and school staff regarding the schoolyard, garden, and environmental education as an integrative part of the existing standards‑aligned curriculum. Teachers will also work individually with building administration on school‑specific initiatives.

• Have significant knowledge within the field of environmental literacy and environmental education and / or science.
• Be current on best practices in climate, environmental and/or science education.
• Have familiarity with working with students with building climate resilience.
• Be familiar with the habitat, flora, and fauna of the schoolyard.
• Foster love in students of the natural world by inspiring curiosity and wonder.
• Continue to build upon their own "naturalist" and environmental literacy knowledge.
• Be highly organized and self‑directed; manage time well and effectively.
• Teach with an understanding of experiential learning theory and pedagogy.
• Plan, design, and implement a school‑based garden.
• Maintain a garden throughout the year as needed by season.
• Be an inspiring, educational resource about the Living Schoolyard for teachers and administrators at the school.
• Be a model of successful outdoor learning with strong outdoor class‑management skills.
• Collaborate and meet regularly with the building principal, Elementary Director of Academics, Experiential Learning and Environmental Literacy Coordinator, and other Environmental Literacy Teachers to ensure coherence and equity for students across the district.
• Design and implement curriculum based on the PPS articulated curriculum, characteristics of learners, predominant learning theories, elements of lesson planning, and meeting the needs of diverse learners.
• Organize school‑wide events, community celebrations, and information sessions which center the outdoors and living schoolyard as a school and community resource.
• Manage the School‑based Gear Library.
• Assist teachers in utilizing outdoor classroom spaces.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Strong equity orientation and openness to personal reflection on bias; culturally and linguistically responsive; high expectations for all students; belief that all teachers can help students achieve; experience with culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy; asset orientation toward multilingual learners and students with disabilities.
• Experience with Environmental Literacy and/or Science Instruction, including garden and food‑based education; familiar with Environmental Literacy Principles, Next Generation Science Standards, Student‑Led Inquiry, climate resilience, place‑based education; willingness to learn about Indigenous studies, Wabanaki curriculum, and food justice; experience teaching from an experiential framework; robust outdoor classroom management skills.
• Great relationship builder: collaboration skills, ability to build trust with teachers and administrators; positive team player; go‑getter attitude; positive role model for the community.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; leads with clear rationale and equity at the center; humility and positive intentions in collaborative work; includes diverse stakeholders in decision making.
• Systems thinker: understands coherence; connections between school‑site and larger district vision; shares wins, solves problems, brings innovative spirit.