Returner: Classroom Teacher | SALA (Summer Arts for Learning Academy)

Seasonal Employment at Arts for Learning•Baltimore, MD

10d•$50 - $50

About The Position

Baltimore City Schools’ Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA), operated by Arts for Learning Maryland, offers students an opportunity to imagine, create, and express who they are through the arts. This is an action-packed, full-day, five-week program (Monday - Thursday) that introduces students to a wide variety of art forms —from illustration and spoken word to percussion, drama, and dance— which gives students a chance to work alongside students from across the city and be taught by professional Artists. Students’ work is celebrated through a student showcase on the final day of the program. Arts for Learning Maryland will host ten Academy sites throughout the city, locations TBD. The SALA grade level Classroom Teacher is key to ensuring rigorous and meaningful learning in both literacy and math at SALA sites. Classroom Teachers will be paired with a highly skilled Teaching Artist for the entire program (Monday - Thursday) to provide arts-integrated instruction daily. Together, they will co-plan and co-teach one class of arts-integrated math and one class of arts-integrated literacy to the same students each day. All Teachers are expected to lead a daily morning SQUAD session in partnership with their Artist.

Requirements

A current teaching certification; teachers with special education certifications are also encouraged to apply as a general Classroom Teacher. SALA does not have self-contained classrooms.
A willingness to be flexible in service to our SALA community.
A passion for students: an ability to build meaningful relationships, and a desire to “go above and beyond” to ensure each student’s success.
A strong interest (with experience preferred) in arts integration and co-teaching.
A willingness to use either the school office landline or their personal cell phone (number blocking is acceptable) to contact parents regularly.
An ability to attend and engage in all required training and program dates.
An ability to create inclusive environments where all students’ unique gifts and talents are discovered and cultivated, and where students’ identities (racial, cultural, social, gender, etc.) are acknowledged, affirmed, and reflected around them.
An ability to examine biases and an understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and its impact on policies and practices, especially related to the administration of public education.
A commitment to seeing families as partners in education and communicating with them regularly.
A strong desire to fully integrate into a non-traditional learning environment where flexibility is strongly valued and where new and innovative ideas are not only cultivated but expected from all staff.
Staff working in SALA will need to be able to stand, walk, and be active throughout the entire duration of the program day. They will need to be able to keep up with and supervise students within and outside the classroom, for example, during Fitness and Fun time and field trips. Staff will also need to be able to lift up to 20lbs on occasion when setting up and breaking down classroom and/or preparing for performances and other events. Bending, kneeling, and climbing stairs are also frequently needed during SALA.

Responsibilities

Create a positive culture and climate within the classroom by centering the program’s mission and core values, and addressing any issues within the parameters of site procedures and expectations.
Build relationships with students, staff, and parents and create a positive, supportive community within the classroom and site.
Attend all professional development and planning meetings as instructed by Arts for Learning and SALA Site Directors
Complete or oversee the completion of all required paperwork as assigned by the Site Director including student attendance records, student pre and post surveys or assessments, student observation rubrics, student progress reports, etc.
Engage parents, guardians, and families effectively, including responding to family inquiries in a timely manner, and contacting parents/guardians to provide progress updates, share challenges, etc.
Assist with the preparation and planning of the final student culminating showcase.
Collaborate with and provide support for various partnerships and external stakeholders.
Support fitness & fun at least two times per week in partnership with the P.E. teacher
Submit verbal and written reports as required.
Administer student program evaluations.
Follow and uphold all site health and safety procedures.
Complete other duties as assigned.
Lead a daily 30-minute SQUAD (morning meeting time) that promotes character development and builds one-on-one relationships with students.
Serve as lead Teacher for two daily arts-integrated classes: one math and one literacy.
In partnership with a Teaching Artist, deliver content effectively via the Artist’s art form. Teachers are the grade level common core math & literacy content specialists in the Artist/Teacher pairs, and they will need to be willing to learn about their Teaching Artist’s art form in order to provide appropriate arts-integrated instruction.
Support their Teaching Artist partner and their students in daily Arts Explorations or Majors taught by Teaching Artists in the afternoons.
Support SALAbrations and/or field trips every Thursday.
Provide one-on-one instruction and support to students as needed.
If applicable, provide mentorship and support to your assigned Teaching Assistant to facilitate their growth and development as a future Classroom Teacher.