ETS, Visual Arts Teacher, DVUS /CRLS

Position: Visual Arts Teacher 

Visual & Performing Arts Department

Darby Vassall Lane Upper School (0.8)/Cambridge Rindge & Latin School (0.2 FTE)

Darby Vassall Lane Upper School Community:

Darby Vassall Lane Upper School is a vibrant 6-8 middle school, part of the Cambridge Public Schools. We are committed to collaboration and creating environments that enable all students to learn at high levels. We are mindful of societal inequities and work to challenge injustice. We strive to promote inquiry, reflection, critical thinking, creative expression, resilience, civic engagement, and lifelong learning.

The Office of Student Services (OSS):

The Office of Student Services is responsible for providing a variety of supports and services to students in Cambridge Public Schools (CPS). Our programs are dedicated to ensuring equitable access  and success for students with disabilities and students who have advanced learning needs.

SCALE Program:

SCALE stands for Social, Communication, Academic, and Life Skills Education. It is an eleven-month substantially separate program for scholars who require intensive, specially designed instruction in any or all of these areas in a specialized classroom setting. A majority of our scholars are on the Autism Spectrum; however, we provide services to students with a range of disabilities. We serve students throughout elementary, middle, and high school and also have a Post Graduate Program for young adults aged 18-22 who continue to qualify for special education services.

The Opportunity:

Vassal Lane Upper School, in partnership with the Visual and Performing Arts Department, seeks a confident, creative, social-justice-oriented, and compassionate teaching artist to lead and enhance the vision for an already vibrant arts program. The Visual Arts Teacher will teach grades 6-8 Art classes and report both to the principal and the Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Department (VPA).  The teacher will also teach visual arts for the Autism Spectrum program at the high school. 

Teaching Locations:

This position is to teach visual arts at Vassal Lane Upper School and the SCALE program at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Teach visual arts classes to grades 6-8
• Teach visual arts classes in the ASD program at CRLS (small groups)
• Implement a rigorous and balanced standards-based art curriculum, including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and printmaking
• Demonstrate artistic skill using a wide variety of 2D and 3D media
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners
• Demonstrate flexibility and compassion, while maintaining high expectations for student achievement
• Demonstrate strong classroom management skills
• Employ instructional methods that motivate students to continue to pursue study in the visual arts community
• Collaborate with school faculty to develop an interdisciplinary curriculum and work with challenging students
• Organize and participate in exhibitions of student work on and off campus
• Contribute to departmental and school wide curriculum projects and other initiatives
• Steward the careful use of supplies, equipment, and teaching resources

Your Skill Set:

As the incoming Visual Arts Teacher, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• 2 years’ experience leading visual arts instruction in an urban, multicultural setting in 6-8.
• Culturally responsive educator with a strong sense of social justice and equity.
• Experience and practice working with diverse learners, including students with special needs.
• High degree of comfort working with colleagues to build and refine engaging, standards-based learning experiences that are responsive to the needs and interests of the communities you serve.  
• Collaborative disposition, eager to partner with classroom teachers, VPA staff, and other team members in the district on behalf of our students and families.  
• Excellent classroom management skills and use appropriate, authentic assessment strategies to monitor student progress. 
• Ability to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners and adjust practice to meet the needs of all students. 
• Strong organizational skills, setting up structures that allow you to manage your own work effectively and position colleagues for success. 
• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s degree preferred. 
• Massachusetts Licensure for Art, 5-8 or All Levels, required.

How to Join Our Team: 

Apply online at www.cpsd.us. Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position and stating how you heard about this opportunity.

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.