POSITION

Job Title: CFS Teaching Artist

Department: Community Futures School

Reports To: CFS Administrator

FTE/PT: 1.0% FTE, .50% PTE

Date Approved/Revised: 2023

CORE VALUES

With a racial equity and social justice lens, MOCHA uses the arts as a vehicle to advocate for self-expression, culture and community-building, and the centering of youth voices. We achieve this through hands-on experiential arts education for Bay Area children, youth and their families, arts integrated Professional Development and curriculum for educators.

GENERAL SUMMARY

The Museum of Children’s Art (MOCHA) operates a children and youth museum space and provides educational outreach programs in the schools, libraries and the community. With a racial equity and social justice lens, our mission is to use the arts as a vehicle to advocate for self-expression, culture and community-building, and the centering of youth voices. Through MOCHA’s programs and events, the arts become a fundamental part of the everyday lives of Bay Area children and youth, their families and the community, creating a culture of racial equity and social justice.​

This position is for a Full-Time Teaching artist for the MOCHA’s Community Futures School. Teaching Artists will be able to draw from the existing Afrofuturist curriculum framework to utilize art integration as a method. The Teaching Artist will provide arts learning to multiple school sites and community partners throughout the year.

As an integral part of the Community Futures School (CFS), the teaching artist will be responsible for:

• Teaching participants to utilize art to research about Afrofuturism, as well as Indigenous & Queer futurisms, worldbuilding, scanning, and exhibition.
• Host guest educators, Subject Matter Experts, and speakers.
• Use multidisciplinary and engaging ways to begin a new unit of study or lesson while building on students’ prior knowledge and experiences.
• Attend all CFS & organizational training, professional development, and meetings.
• Provide office hours for one-on-one sessions with CFS Youth
• Create Lessons that would include clear objectives and relevant measurable outcomes.
• Deliver effective classroom instruction in digital & visual arts practices.
• Identify teaching strategies and learning activities appropriate to the specific discipline, age, level of English language proficiency.

This person must be exceedingly well-organized, flexible and able to uphold the mission, guiding principles, community agreements, and values of the Museum of Children’s Art in every aspect of the work. The ability to maintain a high level of professionalism and confidentiality while interacting with internal and external stakeholders while remaining adaptable, proactive, resourceful, and efficient is crucial to this role.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Deliver effective classroom instruction in visual arts practices.
• Plan lessons with clear objectives and relevant measurable outcomes.
• Make learning objectives clear to students using multiple types of informational support.
• Employ a variety of teaching techniques such as discussion, problem solving, cooperative learning, and problem-based learning and reflection practices.
• Provide regular feedback to students on their progress and be comfortable receiving and giving professional feedback as well.
• Create an environment that is conducive to learning, creativity, and student development.
• Respect student space and safety while maintaining appropriate standards of behavior, mutual respect, and safety.
• Manage classroom routines and procedures using SEL and CRM practices.
• Manage art supplies distribution and clean up for each classroom served.
• Prioritize culturally responsive and relevant approaches to teaching that encourages every student to engage and learn.
• Practice sensitivity and respectful language use as it relates to race, ethnicity, ability (including, but not limited to physical), socioeconomic conditions, and gender identity.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• Special projects.
• Ability to provide own transportation or utilize public transportation to and from programming.

JOB SPECIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to carry out each essential duty in a satisfactory manner. The job specifications listed below are representative of the education and experience as well as the knowledge, skill and/or ability (KSAs) required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Visual Arts Expertise in:

• Foundational concepts of visual arts and the elements of art, line, shape, color, texture and space.
• Foundational concepts of Afrofuturism, social emotional learning (SEL) and Community Resiliency Model (CRM).
• Methods, materials, and techniques unique to the visual arts such as: drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, collage, crafts, photography and textiles.
• Art criticism as it relates to evaluation and assessment of artworks and the Visual and performing Arts framework that uses reflection practices that support literacy building.
• Foundations of art history and the ability to integrate and center both historically celebrated and Afrofutirsts, as well as Indigenous and Queer futurists into classroom discussions and examples.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills and experience analyzing and presenting complex information
• Ability to work effectively with ideologically and culturally diverse partners.
• Curiosity about and ability to rapidly acquire knowledge in areas beyond current expertise, a life long learner.
• Accepts and incorporates constructive criticism
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Bi-lingual and multilingual candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Education & Experience

• A high school diploma, with some advance training or education in visual arts education required; an Associate’s Degree or higher or previous experience teaching visual arts in learning environments with children and youth.
• Five years or more years of experience in visual arts teaching.
• Willingness to accommodate requests for support outside of regular business hours on occasion, with appropriate notice.
• Background and health screening are required for this position. Successful completion.
• Strong background and experience in Afrofuturists art, scholarship, and/or education.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to support the mission, vision, guiding principles, community agreements, and values of Museum of Children’s Art and abide by applicable standards of conduct, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to interact and communicate effectively with people from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to problem-solve issues.
• Must be honest, dependable, and able to meet deadlines.
• Must be organized and able to handle multiple tasks.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Attend all required meetings and training sessions.
• Accepts and incorporates constructive criticism.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Sitting most of the time with some bending and reaching.
• Standing, walking, and bending periodically.
• Engaging in repetitive movements of wrists, hands, and fingers – typing and/or writing.
• Receiving and responding to oral communication.
• Exerting up to 20 - 40 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work is performed in schools, libraries, museum and in public community spaces.

WORK SCHEDULE & TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

• Program hours range from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Employees are required to be available and engaged in work-related activities during the core working hours.
• May be required to attend events or meetings outside of normal work hours.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Please submit a cover letter and resume including 3 professional references to Jaee Sumpter, jaee@mocha.org.

For more information, visit our website: www.mocha.org.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $62,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Oakland, CA 94612: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Experience:

• Teaching: 4 years (Required)

Work Location: In person