Milwaukee Public Schools in partnership with AmeriCorps is seeking two full-time members that will help teachers and school nutrition professionals at Milwaukee Parkside School and Vincent High School by developing and implementing nutrition programs that will educate children about the benefits of making healthy eating choices. This specialist assistant member will assist with creating and implementing healthy food curricula including school or community garden development, cooking in the classroom programs or field trips to farms, and work with schools to help implement wellness programs. Specialist assistant members will share information with other. Specialist assistant members to create a statewide network; and provide data and information to be used in a best practices’ guide that can be used by other schools.

Specialist assistant members will also serve as the main liaison between the schools and the community. They will educate food service directors about sourcing local, healthy foods for the school districts they serve and will create an action plan laying out the steps necessary to procure local food into their programs. They will also be responsible for recruiting and mobilizing volunteers to enhance and increase the capacity of the AC F2S program. This will include organizing a F2S Task Force within the school or community, recruiting farmers to present in the schools, organizing farm tours, and organizing snack preparation or food tastings. With the assistance of the site supervisors, they will create a database of volunteers for sustained program efforts. Additionally, members will work to connect with farmers in their community and add them to the Wisconsin Local Foods Database.

All specialist assistant members will help develop strategies and build community stakeholders to make the Program sustainable; collaborate on how best to bring healthy foods into schools; collect data and track. Program performance using measures such as the amount of local food purchased; attend training to support their roles; coordinate and facilitate local advisory committee meetings; and recruit and manage local volunteers.

AmeriCorps Member Benefits for the 2023-24 Service Year:

• Full-time members (1700 hours)
• Living allowance $30,600
• Education award $6,895 (upon successful completion)
• Health insurance
• Child care benefits (if income eligible)

Program Year Details

• The 2023-2024 service year will run from August 15, 2023 to August 14, 2024.
• Member orientation (mandatory for all members with minimal exceptions) will be both virtual and in-person this year.
• August 21-22, 2023 – Member pre-orientation (virtual, a few hours each day, exact times TBD).
• August 28-30, 2023 – Member orientation (in-person at Treehaven UW-SP in Tomahawk, WI).

Interested applicants should complete all sections of the application, including the online submission of a current resume AND through DPI at: https://widpi.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3DAmoYokanboJNA

As of November 1, 2021, all MPS employees are required to be fully vaccinated. The health and safety of our staff and students is our number one priority.

All offers of employment are contingent on the candidate showing proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (currently one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine or two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine) to pass the pre-employment requirements. Individuals with medical issues or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent them from getting the vaccine may request an accommodation from the vaccine requirement.

Requirements:

• Age Minimum: 18 years
• Education Requirement: High School Graduate/GED
• Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills in a team setting
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Passion for inspiring healthful eating among youth and for promoting local, sustainable agriculture
• Working knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet software and ability to efficiently navigate the internet
• Ability to work independently
• Ability to provide one’s own transportation for work purposes
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License
• Must be a U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, or lawful permanent resident alien
• Must be able to completely pass a National Criminal History Check conducted by DPI-Human Resources before serving vulnerable populations as outlined in 45 CFR §2510.20

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in education, nutrition, environmental science, or agriculture
• Experience working with youth in an educational setting
• Volunteer or paid experience with socially, economically and/or ethnically diverse populations
• Experience working with food service in schools, restaurants, or other institutions
• Experience working with farmers
• Skillful in establishing and maintaining professional work relationships
• Experience recruiting and managing volunteers

The Milwaukee Public Schools does not discriminate in its programs, activities, facilities, employment, or educational opportunities on the basis of a person's sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, or disability. Reasonable accommodations requested by qualified individuals with disabilities will be made in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, as amended by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008.

In accordance with Wisconsin Statutes, every applicant for a position with Milwaukee Public Schools will be subject to the open records law. Any applicant not wishing to have his/her identity released must submit a written statement to that effect to the Office of Human Resources. The identities of all "final candidates" may be released. Milwaukee Public Schools reserves the right to interview the best-qualified candidates.

This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, disability, age, sex, political affiliation, or religion.