Posted: December 16, 2011

The Culinary Intern is a semester-long position designed for someone with a strong culinary background who is interested in gaining more experience in the field of food education. This position supports programming in the teaching kitchen in two main ways: One is maintaining the Edible Teaching Kitchen space and the other is assisting in cooking classes. This position reports to the Lead Chef Teacher as her/his immediate supervisor.

SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES – Assist with a small group (6-12 students) of elementary/middle school students in kitchen classes, supporting holistic health and nutrition-based lessons that reinforce academic content and sensory engagement. – Lead small groups as necessary and deemed appropriate by the Lead Chef Teacher. – Receive harvest from gardeners and properly wash, dry, store, and label all harvests as well as weigh harvest and update harvest log. – Follow all “green” kitchen protocols for composting, recycling, utilizing ingredients, and food storage practices. – Set up the kitchen for daily cooking classes including sanitizing surfaces, restocking supplies, setting out
necessary smallwares and equipment, and prepping out ingredients as instructed by chef teachers. This also includes making stocks and sauces from scratch as needed for classes and special events. – Managing all clean-up tasks after cooking classes including washing and putting away dishes, washing and putting away laundry, emptying trash cans, cleaning out sinks, and cleaning out refrigerator drawers and ensuring that all servsafe procedures are followed. – Ensuring that daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning projects are posted and completed. – Set up for and assist with any special events as necessary. – Maintain organizational and inventory systems for all ingredients, equipment, and supplies. – Alert chef teachers when any ingredients or supplies need to be purchased.

TEACHING & LEARNING – Lead students in the rituals and routines of the kitchen, reading and following a recipe, identification and
measurement of ingredients, and proper use of all tools and equipment in the kitchen with the guidance of the Chef Teacher and Table Leader. – Strong belief in high expectations for all students in cooking classes consistent with school rules. Use behavior chart to provide transparency of all behavioral expectations and consequences. – Model proper table etiquette whenever eating in class and create a safe space to encourage students to try new foods and express their feelings appropriately. – Guide students to make connections between the garden and the kitchen, understand local, seasonal, and
sustainable culinary practices, and make healthful food choices at home and at school. – Guide students in proper cooking techniques and knife skills. – Prepare for lessons; includes reading and reflecting on lesson plans provided by the Chef Teacher in advance. – As appropriate, participate in special events both during and after school. – Model respect and curiosity for learning. Encourage students’ interests and talents.

COMMUNICATION, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND OUTREACH – Attend regular teaching kitchen team meetings to review, prepare for, and contribute to kitchen class and special event planning. – Participate in ESYNOLA all-staff meetings. – Check work e-mail daily and regularly check Google calendar to remain up-to-date on class schedule, lessons planned, and any additional site visits or special events as they arise. – Maintain consistent and constructive communication/feedback with teaching kitchen team; Work closely with Chef Teachers to provide/receive internal feedback. – Assist in communication with classroom teachers (ie, completing lesson/behavior feedback forms). – Participate in Kitchen Teacher trainings provided by ESYNOLA staff. – Participate in the Kitchen Specific trainings provided by ESYNOLA staff. – Participate in other school-based trainings provided by FirstLine staff when appropriate. – Ensure an engaging and rewarding experience for volunteers and other interns. Help orient volunteers and interns to the kitchen and cafeteria responsibilities. – Assist with ESY community and family events, including Family Food Nights and Open Garden Days (this
may require some weekend and evening work). – Participate in collaborative goal setting process with Lead Chef Teacher to create individual internship
benchmarks. – Participate in regular evaluation meetings with the Lead Chef Teacher to review performance and
establish/revisit goals.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE – Culinary and/or Bachelor’s degree or extensive restaurant experience preferred. – Experience working with elementary/middle school aged students preferred. – Experience cooking with children preferred. – Experience working with high poverty, minority population preferred, especially in a public/charter school setting preferred. – Strong enthusiasm for experiential, sensory education, with emphasis on hands-on food education required. – Natural, holistic food philosophy in support of local, seasonal, sustainable agriculture required.

CHARACTERISTICS AND SKILLS – Ability to work with frequent interruption and to simultaneously supervise a variety of tasks. – Ability to stand, reach, and bend. Mobility of arms to reach, dexterity of hands to grasp and manipulate large and small objects. – Ability to stand for long periods. – Ability to lift, push and/or pull objects, which may be approximately 50 pounds. – Willingness to smell, taste and feel garden produce, to help determine quality of raw food. – Willingness to work outdoors when necessary under all weather conditions. – Willingness to work occasional weekends/special events when needed.

Position reports to: Lead Chef Teacher

COMPENSATION
This is an unpaid position running from January 3, 2012-June 8, 2012. This position is approximately 20-25 hours per week, generally Monday-Friday with some weekends and evening commitments as needed.

To apply: Submit cover letter, resume and (3) professional references to april@esynola.org.

No phone calls please.

For more information about Edible Schoolyard NOLA and FirstLine Schools,
Visit www.esynola.org and www.firstlineschools.org