The Food Trust and the PA Farm to School Network are seeking individuals who are interested in supporting a school, district or Early Care and Education (ECE) team as a “coach” from June 2024 – May 2025, playing an integral role in the PA Farm to School Institute.
About the Institute: The PA Farm to School (FTS) Institute is a unique year-long learning opportunity for selected school, district or early childhood and education (ECE) program teams from Pennsylvania. During a two-day summer retreat taking place on Wednesday June 26 – Thursday June 27, 2024, at Heritage Creek Farm Camp (2126 Risser Mill Road Mount Joy, PA 17552), teams develop relationships, skills and a collaborative action plan to enhance farm to school activities including starting and maintaining school gardens, serving PA-grown produce in school meals and snacks and providing educational experiences for kids to learn about food and agriculture. With the ongoing guidance of a coach, a financial award, additional professional development and peer networking opportunities, teams put their plans into action over the course of a year while strengthening their capacity to integrate farm to school activities in the classroom, cafeteria and community.
About the teams: Teams consist of 4-7 individuals who work within school and Early Care and Education (ECE) communities who were selected to participate in a unique year-long learning opportunity. The team members represent a variety of sectors including nutrition/food service staff, teachers, administrators, family members, students (middle and high school), nurses, farmers and community partners. We encourage teams to include a combination of people from different roles who bring a diverse set of skills, backgrounds and perspectives.
About the coaches: Every team participating in the Institute will be matched with a designated coach based on their geography and/or specific needs. Coaches are financially and professionally supported by the PA Farm to School Institute and PA Farm to School Network, equipping them with the skills and resources to provide teams with the best support possible during the summer retreat and throughout the year. Coaches facilitate the development of the action plan, based on the team’s completed Farm to School Program Self-Assessment tool, and identify resources and technical assistance opportunities to complement implementation. Coaches keep teams informed of learning and professional development opportunities that can strengthen their plans and programs. They can help infuse creativity into the planning and implementation process by regularly offering insights, suggestions and feedback. Most of all, coaches guide their team, rather than do things for them—they listen, reflect, evaluate, rethink and support the implementation of the Action Plan.
Ideal candidates are individuals who:
- Are committed to supporting schools, school districts and/or early care and education (ECE) programs to create and accomplish farm to school goals.
- Have demonstrated leadership/facilitation abilities and effective communication skills.
- Are able to work independently to support their teams.
- Are willing to work collaboratively with their school team and fellow coaches.
- Have experience working within the school/ECE setting in some capacity (i.e., you have a basic understanding of the decision-making processes and/or policies that inform how something gets accomplished).
- Committed to developing knowledge and experience of the culture, history, and language of the school team they are coaching.
- Are from or have experience working with the local community of their school team, but not required.
- Have experience with farm to school activities is a plus, but not required.
- Can attend the two-day Institute retreat taking place between June 26 – June 28, 2024 (exact dates will be confirmed after school teams are selected) at Heritage Creek Farm Camp, 2126 Risser Mill Road Mount Joy, PA 17552.
What coaches do:
- Attend a coach orientation: all coaches are required to attend a virtual orientation in the first week of June 2024 (date TBD based on selected coaches’ availability) prior to the June retreat. The purpose of the orientation is to review overall plans for the retreat, identify roles and responsibilities of the coach during the school year and discuss strategies for coaching your team during the retreat.
- Facilitate an orientation meeting with your team: after learning about your team by reviewing their application and getting introduced via email, coaches will schedule the first team meeting to get to know each other and review the team’s completed farm to school self-assessment tool. This meeting should take place in the 2nd or 3rd week of June, prior to the retreat, and can be virtual or in-person based on the preferences and availability of team members and the coach.
- Facilitate the action planning process: coaches support their team to co-create their farm to school Action Plan for the 2024-2025 school year. This process takes place at the in-person retreat during four designated breakout sessions called “team time.” These sessions take place between workshops and panels during which team members are learning from other farm to school practitioners. Coaches help facilitate by clarifying ideas/options brought up by team members, sharing their expertise and experience, providing resources and suggestions when appropriate and helping the team make decisions.
- Facilitate implementation of the team’s action plan: coaches meet with their team monthly (virtually or in-person) throughout the 2023-2024 school year to support the team in assessing their progress, overcoming challenges and adjusting their plans accordingly. Coaches will also provide updates about resources and opportunities for team members to gain additional training and support provided by the PA Farm to School Network.
- Coach Networking: All coaches will join in-person coach huddles throughout the June retreat and virtually once a quarter after the retreat to learn and share with peers. Coaches will also be asked to attend quarterly gatherings for all Institute teams and coaches to hear about progress being made at all the participating school, district and ECE teams.
- Reporting: participate in the evaluation of the PA Farm to School Institute by sharing updates on the team’s progress throughout the 2023-2024 school year through quarterly reports.
- Final Reflection: Help your team complete their final reflection, an updated self-assessment and an action plan for the following year. Coaches and team members will also join in a final virtual gathering where they will present their progress to other teams in the spring of 2024.
What coaches receive and gain:
- All coaches are eligible to receive a stipend of $2,000 for their participation in the activities outlined above.
- Thanks to funding from United Healthcare, Shelburne Farms Institute for Sustainable Schools and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we are able to cover most of the costs associated with the programming provided to teams and coaches for the year-long Institute, including food during the two day in-person June retreat and a $50 per person lodging stipend to help partially cover the cost of accommodation during the June retreat.
- Regular access to a “coach supporter” who can help troubleshoot challenges related to your team’s action planning, implementation and relationship development.
- A unique networking and training experience within the PA Farm to School Network the 2023-2024 school year.
The PA FTS Institute is an adaptation of the Northeast Farm to School Institute and Vermont FEED’s proven model for growing robust farm to school programs that last. To learn more about the Institute model and the retreat experience, including a description of the coach role, please visit the Northeast Farm to School Institute website and watch the 5 minute video near the top of the page. To learn more about equity and inclusivity in farm to school work, please read this article provided by Vermont Feed.
Selection timeline:
Coaches will be selected on a rolling basis throughout April and early May and will be notified by May 10th or soon after.