Food Educator

2026-2027 Food Educator 

Position Overview 

FoodCorps is seeking a passionate individual to join as a Food Educator during the 2026–2027 program term. As a Food Educator you will work in collaboration with educators, partner site organizations, and local communities to deliver engaging food education and hands-on experiences that support student health and well-being at 1-2 elementary schools. This role is a full time position that takes place in person, Monday-Friday during the typical school day with occasional school events during evenings or on weekends. 

Food Educator (Fixed-Term, Hourly)

Employment Classification: Fixed-Term Hourly Employee, Non-Exempt, Full-Time (38 hours/week), In-Person, At-Will
Employment Term: August 3, 2026 – July 2, 2027

Who We Are

FoodCorps is a national nonprofit advancing child well-being through food in school. FoodCorps partners with students, families, and communities to champion nourishing food at local, state, and national levels. Our FoodCorps members support schools in providing nutritious meals, locally-informed food education, and welcoming school environments that set kids up for positive, vibrant relationships with food. Building on this program, we develop leaders, grow networks, and advocate for policies in service of every kid’s health and well-being. FoodCorps is working toward a world where, by 2030, all 50 million public school students have access to food education and nourishing meals in school. Learn more at www.foodcorps.org.

What We’re Looking For 

Food Educators teach alongside school educators to provide kids in K-5 schools with food education and community rooted experiences with food that celebrate and nurture the whole child. Although they do this in a variety of ways determined by local partner goals at their sites, below are the foundational activities that all Food Educators complete: 

Core Responsibilities

• Teach Food Education: Teach hands-on, FoodCorps specific lessons focused on developing food literacy skills. This empowers students to make informed food choices and advocate for positive changes to school meal menus.
• Lead School-Wide Learning: Lead hands-on learning across the school community to build food literacy for all students. This includes:
  • Organizing cafeteria taste tests and cooking clubs.
  • Cultivating and utilizing the school garden.
• Support Family Engagement: Organize, lead, or participate in family engagement events to build food literacy within the wider school community and collaborate with teachers, families, and administrators to promote food education and community-rooted menu change.
• Participate in Required Training: Attend and actively participate in all required FoodCorps training sessions and meetings focused on teaching, gardening, and family engagement.
  • Note: This may require overnight travel (up to 3 times throughout the term: summer, fall, and spring, with each trip lasting up to 4 days and 3 nights).
• Complete Program Administration: Fulfill administrative tasks necessary for reporting and evaluation (e.g., submitting timesheets, sharing impact data and stories, administering surveys, and providing programmatic feedback) to measure and improve local and national impact.
• Support Strategic Goals: Work with FoodCorps staff to contribute to multi-year goals and support local recruitment efforts.
• Contribute to Advocacy: Support state and federal campaigns and advocacy priorities aligned with FoodCorps' 2030 goal.
• Celebrate Success: Publicize FoodCorps-related projects and success stories through various channels (press, blog writing, social media, newsletters, etc.).
• Fundraising: Collaborate with community partners on local fundraising efforts to support FoodCorps-related projects.

Site-Specific Activities, may be required

The following activities are specific to local partner goals and may be required by your site:

• Mealtime Engagement: Spend time in the cafeteria during mealtime to build relationships and offer tastings or taste tests.
• Cooking Instruction: Lead cooking activities with students in classrooms, clubs, or at school-wide events.
• School Garden Cultivation: Grow nourishing food with students, teachers, and families in dynamic educational gardens.
  • Physical Requirement: This role may require a moderate level of physical activity, primarily in the fall and spring. Tasks may include consistent lifting, bending, shoveling soil and compost, and working in variable weather conditions (heat, humidity, or cold).

Who You Are 

You are committed to our mission and are committed to working the full program term that runs from August 3, 2026 through July 2, 2027. You have strong interpersonal and communication skills and are eager to put them to work supporting school food systems and school districts’ unique goals to nourish kids. Self motivation is your super power and paired with your exceptional project management skills, you are able to complete the administrative tasks that the role calls for with excellence and timelines.

The Details

Pay and Benefits 

FoodCorps is committed to supporting our employees’ health, financial security, and work-life balance.

• Pay: $23.38/hour (paid biweekly) with overtime eligibility, totaling an estimated $40,000 for the 11-month term.
• Health & Insurance: Two medical plan options, dental, vision, life insurance, AD&D, short- and long-term disability (STD/LTD), HSA with generous employer contributions, HRA, FSA, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and many additional voluntary benefits.
• Retirement plan: 401(k) plan w/ annual employer match up to $3,000, fully vested.
• Time Off & Work-Life Balance: Accrued PTO (approximately 180 hours) prorated and front-loaded personal time prorated, 12 holidays, approximately 2-week winter break between Christmas and New Year, birthday off, volunteer time off and more.

Background Checks 

To be eligible for employment, all Food Educators must pass a three-part background check, including clearing the National Sex Offender Public Registry, state background checks in your state of employment and residence at time of application, and an FBI criminal history check (fingerprint-based). This position includes access to vulnerable populations (individuals with disabilities, senior citizens, and/or youth). 

Other

FoodCorps is an equal opportunity organization. FoodCorps does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, color, creed, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, national origin, alienage or citizenship, disability, marital status, military or veteran status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state, or local laws, regulations or ordinances. 

FoodCorps provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees as required by law. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodation at any point in the employment process.All positions at FoodCorps are at-will. FoodCorps Member positions, though designed to last for one year, are not guaranteed for a set period of time. Both FoodCorps members and FoodCorps have the right to terminate the position at any time. FoodCorps reserves the right to conduct employment, education, and background checks upon which your position may be contingent.