Lower School Art Teacher

Charleston Collegiate School • Johns Island, SC

8d

About The Position

Charleston Collegiate School (CCS) seeks to build on our strong arts foundation to become a local and national leader in arts education. The Art Lead is a critical driver of this vision, ensuring that our arts program is a "signature" experience that integrates student leadership, Project-Based Learning (PBL), and deep community connection.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Art Education, or a related field.
• Successful track record of teaching and coaching students in an elementary or independent school context.
• Proficiency in a wide variety of artistic media and a strong foundation in art history.
• Experience with Project-Based Learning (PBL) and curriculum mapping/documentation.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate across divisions and engage with the local Charleston arts community.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills; ability to present a professional image as a representative of CCS.
• Proficient in Google Suite and digital tools for documentation and communication.
• An appreciation for diversity in all forms and a high-energy, enthusiastic approach to academic life.

Responsibilities

• Guarantees a Safe, Learning-Filled, and Joyful Experience
• Ensures physical, emotional, and psychological safety within the art studio.
• Promotes a rigorous, real-world, and relationship-based experience for students in grades PreK3–5th, fostering an environment where students feel safe to take creative risks.
• Elevates & Enhances the CCS Arts Brand
• Owns the growth of a robust, dynamic, and differentiated art program.
• Through ongoing review of signature offerings and curricular innovations (including varied media and art history), the Art Lead ensures the program is a competitively viable and unique "product" of the CCS experience.
• Academic Vision & Instructional Leadership
• Develops and documents a developmentally appropriate art curriculum that aligns with CCS Pillars and scaffolds skills across grade levels.
• Collaborates with classroom teachers to integrate art into the PBL curriculum, ensuring the arts are not siloed but are central to interdisciplinary learning.
• Student Experience & Empowerment
• Follows a pedagogy of student leadership, empowering students to find their unique voices.
• Oversees student conduct within the studio, ensuring expectations are clear, consistent, and aligned with core values.
• Community & Relationship Builder
• Acts as a bridge for meaningful community connection.
• Engages with local businesses, collaborates with local artists for mentorship opportunities, and coordinates on-campus shows/art displays.
• C lear, Proactive Communication
• Prioritizes transparency and follow-through with the Leadership Team, colleagues, and families.
• Regularly shares student progress and upcoming projects, and collaborates with the Specials team and Middle/Upper School arts department to showcase student work across the campus.
• Studio Management & Operations
• Maintains a clean, organized, and inspiring art studio that serves as a "showcase" for the program.
• Manages the class budget to maintain and refresh supplies, ensuring the proper care and safety of all equipment.

Benefits

• Charleston Collegiate School is committed to attracting and retaining the highest quality faculty and staff through a competitive compensation plan, retirement benefits and full medical/dental coverage.
• Individual salary is negotiable depending on years of experience and educational background.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time