Land Stewardship Coordinator

Opening Statement

Job Purpose

The Coordinator will serve two distinct but interconnected functions:

• Teaching “Farm Arts” to elementary-aged students, fostering a deep, hands-on relationship between the students and the natural world.
• Care for the animals that reside at Hartsbrook, and Stewardship of the school’s land in alignment with our sustainability mission of implementing regenerative and biodynamic agricultural practices while overseeing research and resource development.

We are looking for a teacher who can collaborate to support a working farm, inspire children, and build strategic partnerships to further agricultural community development.

The Land Stewardship Coordinator will provide a high-quality experience for students that reflects Hartsbrook’s philosophy and values, including the active implementation of principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

About

The Hartsbrook School was founded in 1981 in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts by parents. As a fledgling Waldorf school, located on a biodynamic farm, we began with one teacher and a handful of kindergarteners. Today, The Hartsbrook School continues to thrive, enrolling over 250 students from early childhood through grade twelve at our 54 acre campus in Hadley, Massachusetts.

Hartsbrook’s campus encompasses extraordinary acres of preserved land, working farmland, woodlands, wetlands, and an ever-changing view of the Holyoke Range. Forty-two of our 54 acres are part of the Agricultural Preservation Restriction program, which grounds our integrated Land Stewardship program: agricultural arts, animal husbandry, pollinators, and CSA. Our teaching spaces include our original 1900s farmhouse, new sustainable buildings, advanced science labs, barnyards, greenhouses, gardens, forest classrooms, and fields.

The Hartsbrook School offers our students an education that builds the capacities needed to meet the challenges of today’s world. Our programs – from early childhood through high school – fully engage each child, nurturing and inspiring them as their unique gifts unfold. Our approach is unhurried, intentional, and deeply informed by our understanding of childhood and adolescent development. Academics are learned through experience and experimentation. Days are filled with arts, music, movement, academics, and meaningful work guided by our teachers who are committed to excellence and authorities on their subject matter, as well as storytellers, musicians, artists, and actors.

The Hartsbrook School stands on the ancestral homelands of the Nipemaug, of Awanusk and her people of the Kwinitekw Valley. We honor and deeply respect the Indigenous peoples of these broad lands. It is our task to understand the history that led to The Hartsbrook School being here today, including the harms of colonization both past and present; to develop relationships with the Indigenous peoples in this area; and, through our approach to the education of children and in joining with others, to restore balance and health to the land, to the human community, and to the being of the earth. The Hartsbrook School and Waldorf education embraces our common humanity. We promote an understanding of all the world’s peoples and their experiences. We are independent and non-sectarian, educating all children while valuing our many cultural or religious backgrounds. The Hartsbrook School is committed to antiracism and strives to make this work a priority in the life of the community. We reject discrimination based on racial identity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, creed, religion, national origin, or ethnicity.

Essential Job Duties

Teaching & Curriculum (Farm Arts, Elementary Curriculum Delivery: Lead the “Farm Arts” Elementary curriculum, providing age-appropriate, experiential learning.

• Integration: Collaborate with class teachers to integrate farm activities with main lesson blocks (e.g., Botany, Measurement, Zoology, Chemistry).
• Student Safety: Teach and enforce safety protocols regarding tool use, animal handling, and outdoor work.
• Support Hartsbrook Summer Camp through thoughtful coordination and engagement that may include animal care, garden spaces and how they intersect with camp programming.

Land Stewardship & Farm Management

Collaborate with Land Systems Manager on Strategic Growth, Research & Community Development: Working in close collaboration with school leadership and directors.

• Collaborate with Land Systems Manager on: Holistic Land Management, Regenerative Practices, Infrastructure Maintenance and Seasonal Planning.
• Develop sustainable, collaborative communication and work-sharing practices with the Land Systems Manager and Land Systems Support Staff.
• Collaborate with local universities, agricultural extension offices, and environmental organizations to utilize Hartsbrook land as a “living laboratory.”
• Community Development: Help to spearhead initiatives that use the land to support the broader agricultural community (e.g., hosting workshops, CSAs, or farmer training programs).
• Resource Development: Actively support fundraising efforts. Identify and apply for agricultural/educational grants and cultivate relationships with donors interested in land conservation and environmental education.
• Land Use Strategy: Work with the Land Systems Manager to develop a long-term strategic plan for the campus including the 42 acres under Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) that balances educational use, productive yield, and ecological conservation.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Farming: Minimum 3–5 years of professional experience in mixed-livestock and vegetable farming. Experience with Biodynamic or organic certification is highly preferred.
• Teaching: Proven experience working with children in an outdoor or classroom setting (Waldorf certification or experience is required).
• Leadership: Experience in program management, strategic planning, or non-profit administration.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Environmental Science, Education, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively with caregivers and
• families.
• The Hartsbrook School is committed to enhancing diversity and equity in education and employment. To that end, the School welcomes candidates who will contribute to a culture of inclusion and respect.

Employment Details

Requirements

• Relevant training and work experience.
• Physical capacity to lift a minimum of 40 lbs and be comfortable outdoors
• First Aid/CPR/AED Certification
• Allergy/Epi-Pen training
• Mandated Reporting
• Ability to pass CORI check and fingerprinting

Daily

Working Hours:

Monday, Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8:00 – 3:30pm

Weekly

Additional weekly department meeting after dismissal

Tuesday 3:45-5:15 pm

Department Chairs will organize so that HS and Elementary School agenda include LS questions.

Yearly

School year present on campus.

Throughout the year morning and evening chores.

Summer present on campus 5 hours a day doing farm chores and supporting summer camp programming.

Breaks

December Holiday break 5 days

February break 6 days

June 5 days

August 7 days (or equivalent total of 12 days during the summer break)

5 floating days between Thanksgiving and April break when class teaching would not be affected.

Professional Development days 2 days

Curriculum evening meetings 2 days

Report writing in June

Work closely with Land Stewardship Committee

Compensation

Starting salary of $45,432 increasing to $54,875 with 15 years of experience. Additional consideration for those with over 15 years of experience.

Benefits include employer contributions to health and dental plans short-term and long-term disability insurance, sick time, personal time, and professional development funding. Tuition remission is available for eligible children enrolling at Hartsbrook.

403(b) retirement contributions have been paused for 2025-2026 school year. The contributions from the school generally begin only after one year of working at the school.

To Apply

Please send your complete application for the above openings to [email protected] which will include:

• A cover letter explaining your interest and suitability;
• Your most recent and up-to-date resume;
• A completed Employment Application including the names of at least three (3) references;
• All employees need to pass a background check, including fingerprinting, and must possess the legal right to work in the United States.

The Hartsbrook School is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, age, gender, or any protected class. People of color and others underrepresented in our community are encouraged to apply. We recognize that the range of ethnicities, nationalities, languages, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientation, learning differences, and life experiences within our community enhance the school’s learning environment, and we are committed to fostering equity and inclusion. The Hartsbrook School is dedicated to dismantling racism and oppression, to continuing to learn and grow and ask the difficult questions of ourselves, our communities, and the world.