Upper School Art Teacher - Ceramics

The Principia • Des Peres, MO

10d • $51,000

About The Position

The Ceramics Faculty role is a creative, skilled, and student-centered teaching position within the Upper School Visual Arts Department at Principia School. The teacher leads foundation through advanced ceramics courses, guiding students in hand-building, wheel-throwing, glazing, and sculptural processes within a safe, inclusive, and process-driven studio environment. Through thoughtful instruction and mentorship, the ceramics faculty member fosters technical skill, creative risk-taking, critical thinking, and the development of each student’s artistic voice.

Depending on experience and departmental needs, the ceramics faculty member may also contribute to additional visual arts courses such as Painting, Sculpture, or Integrated Studies, and collaborate on interdisciplinary projects. As a member of Principia’s close-knit, mission-driven community, this role includes participation in curriculum development, student advising, and broader school life while supporting Principia’s commitment to character education, creative exploration, and spiritual growth grounded in Christian Science values.

Requirements

• Student of Christian Science preferred
• Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements as articulated here: https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements
• Master’s degree in Ceramics, Studio Art, or Art Education preferred; bachelor’s degree with significant professional studio experience considered
• Demonstrated expertise in ceramics, including wheel-throwing, hand-building, glazing, kiln operation, and studio management
• Experience teaching high school students in a studio art setting
• Proficiency with learning management systems and digital tools to support instruction and assessment
• Command of a range of artistic media, enabling flexible and responsive use of tools and materials
• Portfolio demonstrating professional practice and student work

Responsibilities

• Teach Ceramics and Art courses for grades 9–12 at foundation through advanced levels, emphasizing creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, visual literacy, craftsperson-ship, and student voice
• Design authentic and transferable learning experiences that connect studio practice to students’ lived experiences, contemporary issues, sustainability, and community
• Evaluate student learning using clear rubrics that emphasize process, habits, and final work, providing constructive feedback that supports student agency
• Support students in portfolio development, exhibitions, and community-based art opportunities
• Demonstrate strong commitment to working with a wide range of students, helping each feel successful and recognize their unlimited potential
• Prepare students to be thoughtful, informed, and active citizens through inquiry, reflection, and artmaking
• Integrate character education naturally into daily classroom and studio instruction
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues, coaches, parents, houseparents, and administrators to support shared curricular, instructional, and student-life goals
• Support mutual curricular and instructional goals with Upper School colleagues through regular communication and collaboration
• Participate as an active member of the Visual Arts Department through weekly meetings, collaborative planning, curriculum development, and program review
• Manage and maintain the ceramics studio and equipment, including kilns, wheels, pug mill, slab roller, tools, and safety procedures
• Oversee clay and glaze systems, including reclaiming and recycling materials using an industry-grade pug mill
• Manage the studio budget and procurement of materials with sustainability and responsible resource use in mind
• Demonstrates a strong interest and commitment to working with a wide range of students, helping them feel successful and recognize their unlimited potential
• Demonstrates commitment to preparing students to be thoughtful, informed, and active citizens
• Recognizes character education as an essential and natural part of daily classroom and ensemble instruction
• Collaborates effectively with colleagues, coaches, parents, houseparents, and administrators to support shared curricular, instructional, and student-life goals
• Supports mutual curricular and instructional goals with Upper School colleagues through collaboration and regular communication
• Participates as a member of a departmental team, including attending at weekly meetings and collaborative planning
• Serves as an advisor to a group of 8-10 Upper School students
• Supports innovative and engaging student recruitment and retention efforts
• Pursues ongoing professional development, applies best educational practices, and contributes to a professional learning community focused on continuous improvement.
• Participates in required professional development on Monday and Wednesday afternoons
• Fulfills all responsibilities expected of a faculty member, including curriculum development, lesson planning, grading and assessment, administrative tasks, meetings, supervision, family communication, and participation in school events as assigned
• Lead and mentor small groups of students as a Crew Leader, including oversight during fall Character Trips and active participation in House activities
• Attends and supports curricular trips, festivals, service-learning performance opportunities, and school activities, including chaperoning social events and travel
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the school’s mission and programmatic needs

Benefits

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation reimbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles.
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level