Art Teacher K-8
Donna Klein Jewish Academy, an independent non-profit school for children grades Kindergarten through grade 12, is a Jewish community day school serving families from a broad spectrum of Jewish backgrounds and religious practices. The school was founded in 1979 and lives its mission: To educate our children and the greater DKJA community to be knowledgeable and responsible citizens of the world, committed to Jewish values and lifelong learning.
The Department of Visual and Performing Arts is seeking a full-time art teacher to teach classes ranging from grades K-8. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 1 year of teaching experience and a Bachelor's or Master's degree. In addition, as a Jewish school, we require a teacher who has knowledge of Judaism, who can incorporate projects that follow the observance of the Jewish holidays, and who is able to teach about Jewish cultural and historical influences in art.
This is an instructional position with responsibility for developing in each student an interest in and the ability for creative expression in visual terms, using skills and techniques of artistic expression consistent with school guidelines.
This candidate will work collaboratively in all facets of the arts program at DKJA. As a member of the Visual and Performing Arts Department, this teacher will assist in planning, preparing, and presenting programs, field trips, events, and festivals for the school, as needed.
Our ideal candidate will empower and guide students to enjoy, appreciate, and include art-making in his/her daily life.
To apply for this position please email your resume to:
Specific Requirements
- Develops age-appropriate instructional strategies to achieve the art curriculum goals.
- Discovers and develops talents of students in the field of art.
- Encourages students to express their own personalities and thoughts through the creative process.
- Teaches knowledge and skills in 2D and 3D art, including but not limited to drawing, painting, sculpture, printing making and art history.
- Provides instruction by which students develop aesthetic concepts and appreciation along with the ability to make qualitative judgments about art.
- Set and maintain acceptable standards of classroom behavior to establish an orderly learning environment, adding seating plans when necessary.
- Knows and can apply elements of art and principles of design, implemented in different ways throughout the grades.
- Provides individual and small-group instruction to adapt the curriculum to the needs of students with varying intellectual and artistic abilities, and to accommodate a variety of instructional activities.
- Instructs students in proper care and use of tools and equipment.
- Must be highly innovative and creative in approach and prioritize process over product.
- Collaborates with faculty across disciplines to build meaningful integrated curricular connections.
- Keeps the classroom organized including common areas, storage areas, and controlled use of materials, equipment, and tools to prevent loss or abuse, and to minimize the time required for distribution and collection.
- Evaluates each student’s performance and growth in knowledge and aesthetic understanding, and prepares progress reports
- Works within an allotted budget to select and requisition books, instructional materials, tools, and instructional aids, and maintain required inventory records.
- Plans and presents art displays and exhibitions designed to exhibit students’ work for the school and the community.
- Maintains professional competence through in-service education activities provided by the school and/or in self-selected professional growth activities.
- Communicates with parents and school counselors on student progress.
- Works with the art dept. head on curriculum and other developmental programs, as needed including lesson plans.
- Performs any other duties as may be assigned by the administration. The art teacher is a member of the lower and middle school faculty and may be called upon for extra duties such as carpooling, advisory, and lunchroom monitoring.
- Will lead the National Junior Art Honor Society chapter for middle school.
- Understands a variety of “master” techniques and is able to compare/contrast and teach contemporary theory and practice.
- Encourage students to express their own personalities and find their own voice through the creative process.
- Connect every lesson plan with an artist and a period of art history.
- Prepare a lesson plan, slide show, and wall card for every project.
- Offer field trips and community outreach projects to expose students to the wider creative community and encourage participation.
- Must work as a positive, collaborative member of the Arts Department.
Starting Salary: $47,000. To $50,000. Based on experience.