High School Agriculture Teacher (9–12)

Santa Fe South Schools – Santa Fe South High School
Oklahoma City, OK | 190–196 Day Contract (196 days for new teachers; 190 days for returning teachers)

About Santa Fe South High School

Santa Fe South High School is the original campus of Santa Fe South Charter Schools- opened nearly 25 years ago with just 200 students and a bold belief that zip code should never determine destiny. Today, we serve nearly 1,000 students in a beautiful, thoughtfully designed campus that helped bring new life to the Crossroads Mall area of Oklahoma City.

Students describe our high school in one word: familia. Relationships matter here. Teachers know students deeply, push them to achieve at high levels, and prepare them to have a seat at any table- ready to succeed now and in whatever path they choose later in life.

The Role

Santa Fe South High School is seeking an innovative, student-centered High School Agriculture Educator with a strong specialization in horticulture, greenhouse management, and sustainable urban agriculture. This position offers a rare and exciting opportunity to lead a dynamic agricultural program housed within a repurposed shopping mall campus, an environment uniquely suited for controlled-environment agriculture, indoor growing systems, and entrepreneurial innovation.

The successful candidate will design and deliver a rigorous, hands-on curriculum focused on plant science, greenhouse production, hydroponics, vertical farming, urban food systems, and sustainability. Students will engage in real-world learning experiences that prepare them for postsecondary education, industry certifications, and careers in horticulture and urban agriculture.

Key Responsibilities

Instruction & Curriculum Development

• Develop and teach courses in:
• Horticulture and Plant Science
• Greenhouse Operations & Management
• Hydroponics, Aquaponics, and Controlled-Environment Agriculture
• Sustainable Urban Agriculture Systems
• Urban Food Production & Food Justice
• Landscape Design for Urban Spaces
• Align curriculum with state agricultural education standards and Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways.
• Incorporate project-based and experiential learning opportunities.

Greenhouse & Facility Management

• Manage on-site greenhouse and indoor growing facilities located within the renovated mall campus.
• Supervise student-led production of marketable crops (vegetables, herbs, ornamentals, microgreens, etc.).
• Ensure safe operation of equipment and compliance with safety standards.

Sustainable Urban Agriculture Leadership

• Teach sustainable production methods including:
• Composting systems
• Water conservation strategies
• Renewable energy applications in agriculture
• Waste reduction and circular food systems
• Utilize the unique indoor mall environment to explore:
• Vertical farming
• Adaptive reuse in agriculture
• Climate-resilient production systems
• Connect agriculture to issues of food access, food deserts, and community resilience.

Student Leadership & Career Development

• Advise and support participation in organizations such as National FFA Organization.
• Facilitate Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE) projects related to horticulture and urban agriculture entrepreneurship.
• Develop partnerships with local urban farms, botanical gardens, food banks, and sustainability organizations.
• Support students in earning industry-recognized certifications in horticulture and greenhouse management.

Community Engagement & Entrepreneurship

• Lead student-operated plant sales, farmers market participation, or Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) initiatives.
• Develop partnerships with local businesses, restaurants, and urban agriculture networks.
• Use the former mall setting to create innovative retail-style agricultural enterprises (e.g., pop-up plant shops, indoor farmers markets).

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Education, Horticulture, Plant Science, or related field
• Experience in greenhouse management and plant production.
• Knowledge of sustainable and urban agriculture systems.

Preferred:

• Experience with hydroponic and controlled-environment systems.
• Background in urban agriculture or community food systems.
• Experience working in diverse urban school settings.
• Grant writing or program development experience.

Desired Attributes

• Passion for sustainable agriculture and food justice.
• Entrepreneurial mindset suited to a non-traditional campus environment.
• Ability to transform unconventional spaces into thriving agricultural learning labs.
• Strong classroom management and student engagement skills.
• Commitment to equity, inclusion, and culturally responsive teaching.

Unique Opportunity

This position offers the rare chance to build and lead a cutting-edge urban agriculture program inside a repurposed shopping mall, an adaptive space ideal for indoor farming, vertical production systems, and year-round greenhouse cultivation. The educator will play a central role in transforming an unconventional setting into a thriving hub for sustainability education, workforce development, and community impact.

Impact

The High School Agriculture Educator will empower students to:

• Understand and address urban food system challenges
• Develop technical expertise in horticulture and greenhouse management
• Explore agricultural entrepreneurship
• Build leadership skills
• Pursue meaningful careers in sustainable urban agriculture

If you are driven by purpose, energized by growth, and committed to preparing students for meaningful success in life, we encourage you to apply.