Drama & Performing Arts Teacher: Southbridge Middle/High School

Southbridge Public Schools serve approximately 2,200 students across six schools—and we’re in the midst of an exciting and measurable transformation. In particular, our secondary schools are on a trajectory of rapid improvement. This brief video, Southbridge Middle School Celebrates Recent Improvement, highlights the results of a process of improving culture, climate, and instruction that empowered Southbridge Middle School to take dramatic steps forward even in the challenging aftermath of the COVID pandemic. Over the past couple of school years, SMS has continued to thrive and has been recognized for outstanding student achievement gains in Math, and by the University of Connecticut as a PBIS success story. We are now also seeing the same kind of transformative change at Southbridge High School, with culture & climate among both staff and students improving dramatically in the current 2024-25 school year, and we are confident that significant academic gains will soon follow.

This success is no accident—it’s the result of passionate educators, high-quality curriculum, targeted professional development, and a deep commitment to providing a better education to children in a community that has long been under-served. We are a district with many high-needs students, but they prove to us on a daily basis that when we provide them with high expectations and consistent support, they can excel. Most of all, our students thrive when the adults in our schools unite as a team to provide a safe and positive climate, when we uphold high expectations for both behavior and academics, and when we show our kids that we believe in them, we care about them, and we will never give up on them.

If you’re an educator who wants your work to matter—who wants to be part of a team that believes deeply in growing people and improving student outcomes—Southbridge is a place where you can see the impact of your efforts every day.

Job Description

Provides learning experiences in Drama/Theater, guided by the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks and district standards and requirements, while creating an environment that is conducive to student learning and involvement. Monitors students' understanding of the curriculum effectively and adjusts instruction, materials, or assessments when appropriate. The Drama teacher reports to the principal.

• Teach up to six sections of theater or performing arts classes spanning grades 6 to 8
• Develop units and lessons to engage students in multiple aspects of theater, production, and performing arts
• Support student learning through project-based, multi-modal approaches to teaching and learning.
• Adopt and utilize building wide classroom management techniques
• Provide appropriate feedback on student work
• Maintain and improve professional competence through attendance at professional development events, and by the self-generated activities that meet district expectations and the requirements for recertification
• Shares responsibility for accomplishing the goals and priorities of his/her grade/team/department, building and school district, attending all faculty and committee meetings as required, and district-wide committees as needed
  
  

Qualifications-required

• Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution;
• Hold a valid Massachusetts Teaching License in Drama/Theatre (5-12);
• Hold a valid Massachusetts SEI Endorsement OR Grade-level appropriate ESL License;
• Meet all state and federal guidelines in order to be fully licensed and Highly Qualified;
• Current authorization to work in the United States - Candidates must have such authorization by their first day of employment.
  
  

Qualifications-preferred

• Experience in urban, high-poverty, and/or turnaround schools;
• Major/minor in specific teaching content area;
• Additional certification in Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities and/or English Language Learners (ESL);
• Demonstrated experience in English Language Development (ELD) and Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) strategies strongly preferred;
• Bilingual language proficiency (Spanish/English) strongly preferred.
  
  

Equal Opportunity Employer

Southbridge Public Schools is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, religion, age, or sexual orientation.