Middle School Art Teacher

Background

Two Rivers Public Charter School serves a diverse group of learners across three locations in Wards 5 and 6. Staff at Two Rivers create an exciting educational environment in which students and staff become a community of learners on a journey of discovery. Two Rivers uses the EL Education model, which emphasizes interactive, hands-on, project-based learning. The school focuses on the whole child, recognizing the importance of character education and the social-emotional needs of children while helping them achieve academic excellence.

The Two Rivers staff shares a strong belief that all children can learn and be high achievers. The curriculum at Two Rivers is rigorous, and standards-based, and provides opportunities for students to excel in all areas. An integrated arts program and a content-based Spanish program augment the school’s demanding academic program. These elements come together through learning expeditions that allow students to incorporate and apply their classroom learning through real-world experiences. The mission of Two Rivers is to nurture a diverse group of students to become lifelong, active participants in their own education, develop a sense of self and community, and become responsible and compassionate members of society.

The Art Teacher is responsible for working with students, other teachers and staff, and the Principal toward achieving the mission and goals of Two Rivers. This job description is meant to provide structure to the responsibilities and accountability of this position. There may be additional responsibilities that a teacher undertakes or that are assigned as the needs of students and of the school arise. The Art Teacher reports to the Principal.

This is a 10.5-month position which is exempt and therefore not eligible for overtime pay under

the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Responsibilities:

Curriculum/Instruction

• Implement the principles and components of Expeditionary Learning and the Responsive Classroom model. Teachers in their first year at Two Rivers are expected to commit to learning these models by attending new staff orientation in the summer and a new staff seminar held throughout the year.
• Plan challenging and engaging lessons and experiences designed to help students achieve content and curriculum standards for their grade level (outlined in TRPCS Curriculum Frameworks). Ensure that lessons have multiple entry points and support structures so that children with different abilities and learning styles are successful.
• Work to help plan, develop and refine the arts curriculum to address the national arts core standards and motivate students to participate in the arts. Ensure the arts curriculum reflects the diversity of the student population and the importance of the arts in different cultures and time periods.

Assessment/Accountability

• Conduct ongoing assessment of student work using multiple assessment tools including anecdotal records, student performances, reflections, and performance assessments with rubrics as appropriate. Use assessment data to plan for instruction and to set short and long-range goals.
• Regularly analyze student data to improve instruction, ensure equity, and make program recommendations and improvements.

Social Curriculum/School Culture

• Create and maintain a physically and emotionally safe environment for students. Communicate respectfully to students at all times. Model, practice, and discuss respectful, unbiased, and effective communication with students.
• Uphold and support the school-wide discipline policies. Document serious and less serious infractions to the policies and seek help and support from colleagues and administrators when discipline concerns arise.

Collaboration, Collegiality, and Professionalism

• Communicate and plan regularly with teaching teams to best meet the needs of individual students and bring the arts into learning expeditions.
• Seek information and support from the Campus Director of Special Education to best support students in classes with special needs. Attend IEP meetings as needed or required.

Professional Development

• Participate in weekly Professional Development Time (currently scheduled for Wednesdays, 2:00p.m - 5:00p.m) and contribute to sessions by sharing ideas, and student work, offering feedback, and facilitating sessions or discussions, as needed.

Family Communication and Involvement

• Meet with parents as requested to share information about student progress.
• Contact parents/guardians immediately when concerns arise about student performance or work completion.

Other Professional Responsibilities

• Be on time for classes, duties, planning sessions, team meetings, and professional development activities.
• Check voicemail and email daily and respond promptly to requests from parents, administrators, and colleagues.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

• Degree in Art, Art Education, or equivalent degree, or
• Bachelor’s degree and two years of relevant experience or satisfactory lead teacher experience in Art
• Bachelor’s degree and active OSSE certification or active certification from another state
• Bachelor’s degree and passing score on (1) Art: Content Knowledge PRAXIS and (2) Principles of Learning and Teaching PRAXIS