Part-Time Art Teacher Job Description
Sophia Academy is the only independent middle school in Rhode Island that provides a gender specific, holistic middle school education focusing on the intellectual and emotional growth of girls in grades 5-8 who are from low-income families. Founder Sr. Mary Reilly’s vision remains Sophia’s goal: to provide a rigorous, relevant, empowering education, preparing our students to be successful in high school and beyond, helping them to lead their lives as confident, compassionate women.
A close-knit team of faculty draws connections to our 60 students’ lives through humanities (social studies and language arts), math, and science. Ninety-five percent of Sophia graduates complete high school in four years and most continue on to postsecondary education. The school is accredited by the Association of Independent Schools of New England (AISNE) and is nonsectarian.
Sophia’s strong social justice ethos has attracted the attention of such inspiring women as #MeToo cofounder Tarana Burke and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafsai, and its dedicated and talented faculty are recognized nationally and state-wide for their excellence.
Mission:
Sophia Academy engages girls from low-income families on a joyful quest for self-discovery and opportunity through a middle school education grounded in social justice.
Vision:
An equitable world where girls and women are seeking fulfillment, realizing their dreams, and inspiring others.
Part-time art teacher job summary:
Visual arts education at Sophia Academy is a spatial art form that satisfies the human need to respond to life experiences through images, structures and tactile works. Using a hands-on approach, Sophia Academy students will gain comprehensive design skills, while becoming cognizant of the role art plays in the world, with a heightened focus on women’s contributions and historical significance.
Part-time art faculty teaches grades 5-8 on a weekly basis for 6-8 hours per week.
Major areas of responsibility include the following:
- Create a positive and organized classroom atmosphere that encourages students to ask questions and share ideas, provides equal opportunities for all students to be heard, promotes and inspires productive learning habits, and welcomes students to have ownership of their learning and learning spaces
- Differentiate instruction to adapt the curriculum to the needs of students with varying abilities and cultural backgrounds
- Connect students to art in a relevant, comprehensive and meaningful way so that students will:
- understand, select and apply media, techniques and processes.
- understand and apply elements and organizational principles of art.
- consider, select and apply a range of subject matter, symbols and ideas.
- reflect upon, describe, analyze, interpret and evaluate their own and other’s work.
- make connections between the visual arts, other disciplines and daily life.
- Evaluate students’ work on a regular basis using a variety of methods including but not limited to portfolio collection, rubrics and state standards, formal and informal assessment measures
- Curriculum will incorporate carefully developed and integrated components including:
- application of problem solving skills.
- comprehension and application of the creative process.
- development and practice of creative thinking skills.
- development of verbal and non-verbal communication skills.
- application of technical skills in practical production.
- practice in the understanding of basic symbol systems and abstract concepts.
- Incorporate the concepts of gender-specific programming
- Support the 8th grade high school application process (i.e. portfolio creation and writing student recommendations as need)
- Understand the fundamental developmental stages in the social, emotional, and academic lives of middle school students
- Participate in overall curriculum development and serve on faculty committees
- Communicate with parents and provide opportunities for them to participate in the education of their daughters
- Provide substitute coverage for classes as needed
- Commit to continuously improving teaching practice through goal setting, professional development, working with mentors, and collaborating with colleagues
- Attend weekly faculty meetings
- Attend school events/activities outside of the school day and supervise as needed
- Other duties as assigned
Desired Qualifications:
- Belief in and support for the mission, core values, and guiding principles of Sophia Academy
- B.F.A. required
- Familiarity with RI Department of Education Art Standards, grades 5-8
- Two or more years of classroom experience teaching art in a middle school setting; demonstrated commitment to middle school education, urban education, and girls’ education
- Enthusiasm to teach art
- Strong instructional and classroom management skills
- Eager to work in a team environment
- Ability to work independently as a curricular leader, as well as collaboratively with faculty peers
- Initiative, creativity, and willingness to advise extracurricular activities and seek community-based opportunities to enrich the curriculum
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work effectively with a wide range of people in a diverse community
- Strong organizational and effective time-management skills
- Experience in independent schools preferred
- Clearances required
- Bilingual (English and Spanish) is a plus
To apply, send cover letter, resume, and references to Marie Myers, Head of School, at and Melissa Moniz, Assistant Head of School, at
Sophia Academy is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability, veteran’s status, genetic information, and any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.
Job Type: Part-time
Pay: From $2,500.00 per month
Expected hours: 6 – 8 per week
Grade school specialties:
- 5th grade
- 6th grade
- 7th grade
- 8th grade
- Visual & Performing Arts
Schedule:
Work setting:
Ability to Relocate:
- Providence, RI 02907: Relocate before starting work (Required)
Work Location: In person