Special Ed Certified Food Nutrition and Cooking Educator - Part-time

Type: Part-time / Contractor

Schedule: 1–2 sessions per week (during school hours)

Compensation: $35–$45 per hour (based on experience)

Reports to: Curriculum & Program Coordinator, FoodStream Learn

AboutFoodStream Learn

FoodStream Learn is an NYC DOE-approved food education program that brings nutrition, cooking, and sustainability lessons to classrooms across New York City. Our mission is to help students build positive relationships with food through curiosity, culture, and creativity; empowering the next generation to make healthy, informed choices.

About the Role

FoodStream Learn is seeking a Special Education Certified Food Nutrition and Cooking Educator to lead inclusive, hands-on cooking and nutrition programs in NYC public schools. This role is ideal for a passionate educator who can create adaptive, engaging learning experiences for neurodiverse students. You’ll bring food to life in the classroom; connecting culinary skills, sensory learning, and cultural awareness to foster healthier relationships with food.

Key Responsibilities

Program Delivery

• Facilitate interactive food and cooking lessons that align with FoodStream Learn’s curriculum and meet the needs of neurodiverse learners.
• Teach foundational food preparation skills (peeling, slicing, measuring, and organization) while reinforcing hygiene, nutrition, and sustainability concepts.
• Encourage sensory exploration, students discuss smell, taste, texture, and color connections to cultural foods and experiences.
• Integrate literacy, math, and teamwork skills into each session.
• Guide students through cooking, clean-up, and meal sharing in a structured and supportive environment.

Lesson Planning & Coordination

• Collaborate with FoodStream’s Curriculum and Procurement Coordinators to adapt lesson plans and menus to each school’s needs.
• Confirm ingredient lists, equipment, and materials before each session.
• Design lessons that include engagement, hands-on activities, reflection, and discussion.
• Provide feedback, photos, and post-session reports to the FoodStream team after each class.

Sustainability Practices

• Incorporate composting and food waste reduction principles into lessons.
• Foster awareness of how sustainable cooking connects to environmental health.

Qualifications

Required

• Current Special Education Certification
• Experience teaching or facilitating in classrooms (food education, nutrition, or culinary arts preferred)
• Strong communication and classroom management skills
• Knowledge of food safety and basic nutrition
• Ability to adapt lessons for students with diverse learning needs
• Organizational skills to manage lesson prep, materials, and logistics
• Passion for food education and student engagement

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition, Culinary Arts, Education, or a related field
• Food Handler’s Permit or ServSafe Certification
• First Aid/CPR certification
• Experience in experiential or adaptive learning environments
• Bilingual (English/Spanish)

Compensation and Duration

• $35–$45 per hour (based on experience)
• Contractor position, renewable by semester
• Travel to schools within NYC required; ingredient expenses reimbursed with receipts

About FoodStream

At FoodStream, we’re building the intelligence layer of food security, connecting people, data, and technology to move food faster, smarter, and more equitably. Through FoodStream Learn, an NYC DOE-approved education program, we also power food literacy and sustainability education in schools. Every pound of food moved through our network reflects collaboration, innovation, and measurable impact.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume and a brief note about your experience teaching neurodiverse students and your passion for food education.

Qualified candidates must be able to provide:

• Proof of Special Education Certification (NYSED or equivalent)
• Proof of DOE fingerprint clearance or willingness to obtain it prior to placement
• Proof of Food Handler’s Permit or ServSafe certification (preferred)
• Professional references from previous educational or instructional roles

All hires are subject to standard verification in compliance with NYC DOE contractor policies.

At FoodStream, we are building the intelligence layer of food security, connecting people, data, and technology to move food faster, smarter, and more equitably. As a mission-driven, for-profit social enterprise, we use digital infrastructure to link the entire food recovery ecosystem, from donors and distributors to transportation providers and community organizations. Our work operates across two core verticals: FoodStream Network (FSN Connect), which powers real-time food movement and impact tracking, and FoodStream Learn, an NYC Department of Education–approved program that delivers food literacy and sustainability education in schools. Together, these platforms create a unified model that combines technology, education, and collaboration to reduce waste, expand access, and strengthen community resilience.