Conservation Nursery Educator

Sustainability in Prisons Project (SPP)            

                              

Position Title: Conservation Nursery Educator

Employer: The Evergreen State College (TESC)

Hrs/wk.: 19 hrs. per week, regular business hours

Duration: June 1, 2017 to June 30, 2018, one-year extension dependent upon funding

Location: Sustainable Prisons Project office (Sem II E 2116)

Pay: $15 per hour; additional funding may be available for thesis work on SPP topic

Supervisor: Carl Elliott, Conservation Nursery Manager elliottc@evergreen.edu (360) 867-6784

Close date: please send a cover letter and resume to Carl Elliott by May 15th 2017

 

Background:

The Sustainability in Prisons Project is a partnership founded by The Evergreen State College (Evergreen) and the Washington Department of Corrections (WA Corrections). Graduate students work collaboratively with both partners and additional collaborators to coordinate programs and support SPP’s mission:

 

Our mission is to bring science, environmental education, and nature into prisons. In response to the dual crises of ecological degradation and mass incarceration, we create programs to reduce the environmental, economic, and human costs of prisons. Scientists, inmates, prison staff, students, and community partners empower each other to innovate inside and outside prison walls. Together we promote education, conserve biodiversity, support sustainable practices, and help build healthy communities.

 

Reporting, Accountability and Advancing SPP:

  • Provide weekly updates to supervisor and to the team every two weeks at staff meetings.
  • Actively participate in promoting the staff team and the organization as a whole, including:
    • Participating in team meetings
    • Creating and collaborating on outreach and dissemination materials
    • Identifying and acting on opportunities for inter-program support and enhancements
    • Presenting on SPP to varied audiences in multiple venues
    • Considering and contributing to proposals for new funding for SPP programs
  • Maintain good communication through regular updates with team members at each site.
  • Update task lists and keep current in a format agreeable to coordinator and supervisors.
  • Provide reports detailing accomplishments and progress as required by funding sources.
  • Reference and update program protocols
  • Write blog entries and other website content about events and accomplishments

 

Conservation Nursery Educator Tasks:

SPP has conservation nursery programs at three facilities. Each facility is staffed by an inmate technician crew and led by an SPP Conservation Nursery Coordinator or Educator under the supervision of SPP’s Conservation Nursery Manager. In addition to leading the Conservation Nursery Education program, this position assists with tasks at the other nursery sites as needed. Primary position duties include:

  • Make independent bi-weekly or weekly site visits of conservation nursery projects at Washington Corrections Center’s Skill Building Unit to ensure program success
  • During weekly visits, provide education and work alongside inmate technicians (technicians) for a full workday in two sessions: 8:30 to 11:00 and 12:30 to 3:00
  • Demonstrate a professional, positive attitude and strong work ethic in order to lead by example
  • Oversee the training of all technicians:
    • Independently generate original, appropriate curricula for the cultivation of native prairie plants for seed, horticultural techniques, and Salish lowland prairie ecology, basic botany, gardening and life skills
    • Education for the technician crews:
      • Research and implement educational techniques appropriate to intellectually challenged adults with reading levels of K-3
      • Design appropriate educational visual aids
      • Create a seasonal lesson plan and update as needed
      • Maintain all materials and curricula to facilitate program replication
    • Supervise the technician crews:
  • Track and record all cultivation protocols:
    • Planting, cultivation and watering logs
    • Oversee the growing, harvesting and processing of native prairie seed
    • In collaboration with Nursery Manager, plan calendar of the priorities and all data collection
    • Monitor, collect, and analyze data; oversee and ensure the quality of data collection and record keeping
  • Identify pest and disease issues; record and report to project supervisor, research and implement disease and insect control
  • Inventory supplies and equipment; occasionally deliver heavy materials as needed
  • Inform program supervisor of any changes to project scope, physical site, or infrastructure needs
  • Adapt to issues as they arise, including structure modifications and overall project scope
  • Communicate effectively with WA Corrections staff regarding projects, work plans and general schedule; communicate effectively with WA Corrections staff to coordinate all work plans and infrastructure improvements
  • Assist the Conservation Nursery Manager to follow WA Corrections regulations with clearances for visitors, chemicals, supplies/equipment, media, and technician interactions
  • Provide lecturers for the general prison population throughout the year
  • Help identify appropriate research projects involving technicians, volunteers, and other students
  • Assist in and develop original research supporting the goals of the conservation nursery and SPP
  • Curate educational materials for conservation nursery
    • Mange server organization
    • Edit materials for other coordinators
  • With the conservation nursery manager, conduct primary research, writing, and copy editing of Conservation Nursery Manual for 2016

 

Supervision

  • Direct the work of volunteers and undergraduate interns who provide general program and research support as needed
  • Supervise the technician crews including:
  • Maintain active crew list in accordance with SPP protocol
  • Work with WA Corrections staff and project supervisor to evaluate crew members by reviewing their performance and skills assessment check list on a monthly basis; suggest possible improvements and changes to the program, scheduling, crew assignments, or staffing
  • Facilitate and coordinate meetings with WA Corrections partners quarterly to evaluate and improve the program
  • Provide weekly work priorities for technician crew, WA Corrections staff, conservation cooperators, and volunteers
  • Accommodate the prison’s hiring requirements/process and provide suggestions for optimizing the process

 

Opportunities:

    • Work in a collaborative, engaged community of incarcerated individuals , corrections professionals, scientists, researchers, faculty, staff, and students
    • Provide valuable contributions to SPP programs
    • Assist in offering environmental education
    • Present the project at conferences, publish articles, and actively share knowledge with other groups about engaging the incarcerated community in conservation and education.
  • Provide valuable contributions to SPP programs and contribute to the establishment of the SPP Network

 

 

Required Qualifications

  • Currently enrolled in an Evergreen graduate program
  • Available to work 19 hours a week, mainly during office hours Monday-Friday (some hours may be flexible)
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Willingness and ability to follow directions, collaborate on projects, and give and hear feedback
  • Current driver’s license and available and reliable vehicle for trips to prisons in western Washington (mileage will be reimbursed)
  • Willingness and ability to work safely in a correctional setting and to communicate and collaborate with Corrections staff and supervisors to address concerns and respond to inmate requests
  • Ability to lift and moving heavy materials, trays, and flats from 20-50 lbs.