Deeply Rooted Ranch Educational Program Director

 

Deeply Rooted Ranch focuses on growing and raising nutrient-dense food while sharing regenerative experiences and educational opportunities to nurture learning, land, and community.

Inspired and trained by Holistic Management International and The Savory Institute, our team utilizes a holistic decision-making matrix when managing our goals for our land, our quality of life, and how we would like to serve our community. Healthy soil is at the center of everything we do. When the soil is healthy, the forage is healthy and that forage converts to nutrient-dense food for the livestock and the humans. Healthy soil equals healthy humans. In turn, the outcomes of our decisions also positively contribute to the reversal of climate change.

Common practices utilized on our ranch include low- and no-till land preparation techniques, the avoidance of synthetic chemical herbicides and pesticides, keeping the soil covered with cover crops as needed, rotating livestock via our holistic planned grazing plan utilizing temporary and semi-permanent fencing, promoting perennial, living root systems in our pastures and our gardens, increasing biodiversity through conservation efforts, and celebrating and experimenting with team members’ innovations and ideas to prepare us for what the future has in store.

Our land was purchased in August 2022, and since then, we have acquired our breeding flock of ~70 sheep with plans to sell lamb to our community and local restaurants. We have started the first four hives in our apiary with plans to expand. Our market garden allows us to focus on the seasonal growth of annuals and perennials, both inside a hoop house as well as in rows. Our plants are started in our incredible climate-controlled greenhouse on site. We currently sell our farm boxes of produce to individuals and restaurants and look forward to building even more relationships with our community through the sales of our food. We will be adding laying chickens to sell eggs and broiler chickens to be sold whole and parted to our community soon as well. Construction on our ~2,200 sq ft commercial kitchen will be complete in just a few months allowing us to teach culinary classes, create value-added items from our harvests, and cater camps, retreats, weddings, and other educational programs on the ranch.

The ranch hosts two other businesses on site. DRR Processing is a small USDA-inspected poultry processing business that provides the much-needed service of processing the poultry from our ranch for sale to the public while also servicing local farmers and ranchers desperately needing processing services in our region. This facility also doubles as an educational site for those interested in learning about poultry processing.

Additionally, the nonprofit Fearless Farmers hosts on-ranch immersive programs as part of their larger training programs available to educators, farmers and ranchers, and community members who enjoy increasing ecological literacy in youth and adults.

It is crucial to our mission that all team members celebrate and promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as representatives of Deeply Rooted Ranch.

“Deeply Rooted Ranch honors the dignity of all people. We are all nature. Just as nature cannot thrive without diversity, everyone’s uniqueness belongs. We support young people and adults of all abilities and disabilities, experiences, races, ethnicities, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions, religion and non-religion, citizenship and immigration status, and any other category people use to define themselves or others. We create an environment of allyship where you can be fearlessly you.”

To achieve our mission, Deeply Rooted Ranch:

• Provides nutrient-dense food to the local community
• Educates children, youth, and adults through camps, classes, family days, and tours
• Hosts immersive outdoor experiences like farm-to-table dinners, weddings, and retreats
• Connects with like-minded organizations to build partnerships that are important when serving our community

Deeply Rooted Ranch Educational Program Director Job Summary:

The Deeply Rooted Ranch Educational Program Director will teach and lead a team of Ecological Educators to deliver the highest quality educational programs utilizing Fearless Farmers’ curricula with a focus on place-based learning. Children, youth, and adults will participate in day camps, overnight camps, semester-long homeschool programs that meet one day per week, farm tours, family days, school field trips, culinary classes, and more. Your personal artistry is encouraged and celebrated in this role!

The Deeply Rooted Ranch Educational Program Director is responsible for:

• Developing educational programs to offer at the ranch that align with Deeply Rooted Ranch’s mission and values (ex. Homeschool Programs, Family Farm Days, Field Trips, Summer Camps, etc.), ensuring alignment with relevant standards and guidelines.
• Assisting the COO and CEO in the hiring of Ecological Educators who will be trained and managed by the Educational Program Director.
• Coordinating with the ranch on-site team regarding team teaching collaborations (ex. Deeply Rooted Ranch Culinary Director leading culinary classes, Farm Operations Manager leading livestock classes, etc.).
• Leading and teaching the educational programs in conjunction with Ecological Educators on the team on the ranch and off-site in schools, at community programs, etc.
• Complying with all national, state, and local laws related to child and adult safety.
• Completing and submitting all reports on time to comply with standard operating procedures as well as with national, state, and local laws.
• Attending staff meetings that occur once weekly at minimum.
• Being available to work evenings and weekends to lead educational programs that are occasionally offered during those times.
• Attending conferences and vendor booths to promote educational programs we offer.
• Remaining up-to-date on CPR and First Aid Certifications.
• Participating in professional development opportunities provided by Deeply Rooted Ranch.
• Providing leadership, mentorship, and guidance to the team of Ecological Educators.
• Conducting regular weekly check-ins and performance evaluations, and foster a positive, inclusive, and collaborative work environment.
• Aligning with Deeply Rooted Ranch's mission, vision, and values of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, lifelong experiential learning, access to nature, and social-emotional learning. This involves creating engaging materials using Fearless Farmers curricula, hands-on activities, and outdoor learning experiences that promote environmental awareness and stewardship
• Overseeing all program logistical needs, including but not limited to gear, transportation, tools, equipment, etc
• Ensuring fiscal responsibility and effective utilization of resources to maximize program outcomes.
• Developing and implementing evaluation strategies with the CEO and COO to measure the effectiveness and outcomes of Deeply Rooted Ranch’s educational programs.
• Generating reports and communicating findings to leadership and other stakeholders to demonstrate program success and promptly inform future improvements.
• Contributing to a positive, productive workplace through open communication, problem-solving, a sense of humor, and dedication to achieving Deeply Rooted Ranch’s holistic goals.

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Master's degree in Environmental Education, Sustainability, or equivalent science-based degree
• Experience: 3+ years of teaching; 2+ years of supervisory experience with a team of at least 3 people.
• FBI Background check required.
• Must be able to work outdoors in all weather conditions for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to lift 50 lbs occasionally.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Job Type: Part-time

Pay: From $50,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Burton, TX 77835: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Experience:

• Teaching: 3 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

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