2022–2023 AFTER SCHOOL ARTS FOR LEARNING ACADEMY (ASALA) TEACHING ARTIST

About Arts for Learning Maryland

Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is devoted to enriching the lives and education of Maryland’s youth through educational and culturally diverse arts programs. Through Arts for Learning, professional teaching artists from all disciplines partner with educators, schools, and school districts to provide—on average—over 300,000 hours of learning in, through, and about the arts to more than 185,000 Maryland students annually.

Arts for Learning is a mission-driven organization that values community, innovation, and passion. The staff, board, and teaching artists have a shared commitment to advance equity in the field of education by working tirelessly to generate opportunities for students to imagine, create, and realize their full potential through the arts.

About Arts for Learning After School

Baltimore City Schools’ Arts for Learning After School program, operated by Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland), offers students an opportunity to imagine, create, and express who they are through the arts. This is an action-packed, four-day-a-week, three-hour-per-day program that introduces students to a wide variety of art forms—from illustration and spoken word to percussion, drama, and dance—and gives students a chance to work alongside other students from across the city and be taught by professional artists. Daily literacy and math classes are co-planned by a teacher and professional teaching artist, allowing students to experience reading, writing, and math like never before… through the arts! Arts for Learning will host five program sites throughout the City. Each site will host up to 120 students and teachers and artists will work with groups of up to 20 students.

Mission, Core Values, and Anti-racist Practices:

The mission of Arts for Learning After School is to provide students with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend time learning from the best teachers and teaching artists our state has to offer. Through a dynamic, creative, and supportive environment, students will explore math and literacy in a unique arts-integrated environment that allows them to develop socially and emotionally, expands their personal creative process, and introduces them to many different art forms taught by professional artists.

We...

• believe unwaveringly that ALL students can achieve high standards in and through the arts;
• provide opportunities for students to develop powerfully articulate voices through art forms and honor their creative processes along the way;
• create safe, brave, inclusive learning environments for students to grow, make mistakes, and contribute to the community;
• collaborate and reflect by learning from and with each other at every step of the process, cultivating positive relationships between all ages;
• encourage the development of critical thinking, problem solving, inquiry, imagination, and creativity, and provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate knowledge and mastery;
• learn about, honor, and leverage the cultural knowledge, experiences, and frames of reference of our students and community to make learning more relevant and effective;
• ensure that our students are known, loved, supported, celebrated, and valued;
• create inclusive environments where all students’ unique gifts and talents are discovered and cultivated, and where students’ identities (racial, cultural, social, gender, etc.) are reflected all around them and matter through acknowledgement and affirmation;
• examine biases and understand the concepts of institutional and structural racism and its impact on policies and practices, especially related to the administration of public education;
• have a passion for students, an ability to build meaningful relationships, and a desire to “go above and beyond” to create homeplaces where Black joy is cultivated and thrives; and
• commit to seeing families as partners in education and communicating with them regularly.

Job Description:

The After School Arts for Learning Academy (ASALA) teaching artist position is a part-time exempt position reporting to the ASALA site director. Teaching artists are paired with a grade-level teacher for the entire program. These pairs are responsible for delivering engaging, meaningful, and joyful instruction both in and through the arts. Teaching artists are required to co-plan with their teacher partner for a 35-minute block of arts-integrated literacy or a 35-minute block of arts-integrated math each day. Artist/teacher pairs are expected to co-plan each lesson together. Teaching artists will also teach a class in their art form each program day for 35 minutes. Teaching artists are also required to lead a SQUAD session that focuses on Social and Emotional Learning and Community Building and monitor recess if needed.

Responsibilities Include:

• Serve as teaching artist for daily 35-minute, arts-integrated classes; Teaching artists are the arts content specialist in the artist/teacher pairs.
• Co-plan all arts-integrated literacy and math lessons with a partner teacher.
• Follow and uphold all COVID health and safety procedures and protocols aimed at ensuring a safe environment for students and staff.
• Provide one-on-one instruction and support to students as needed.
• Lead a daily 15-minute SQUAD time (small homeroom group) and snack that promotes character development and builds one on one relationships with students.
• Create a positive culture and climate within the classroom by centering the program’s mission and core values and addressing any issues (including disciplinary) within the parameters of site procedures and expectations.
• Build relationships with students, staff, families of diverse backgrounds and create a positive, supportive community within the classroom and site.
• In partnership with the teacher, deliver content effectively connecting to the Arts for Learning Maryland Arts for Learning After School literacy and Eureka math curricula.
• Attend all staff and grade band meetings as instructed by the site director.
• Lead a daily 35-minute arts exploration for grade bands between PreK-8. These classes are not co-taught with the teacher partner and are fully the responsibility of the artist to teach their art form. Teaching artists will rotate through grade bands and will be expected to work with a wide range of students.
• 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, etc.
• In partnership with the teacher, complete a weekly unit plan and daily lesson plans for all classes. All plans will be saved in the pair’s Common Curriculum planbooks.
• 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. when appropriate.
• Assist with the preparation and planning of the final student culminating showcase.
• Collect photos and samples of student work and assist site admin with the creation of the ASALA yearbook.
• Collaborate with and provide support for various partners and external stakeholders.
• Submit verbal and written reports as required.
• Act as a positive role model for students.

Qualifications:

The person in this position plays a key role in the organization and requires a passion for arts education, excellent organization, collaborative planning within and across departments, and leadership ability. Qualifications include:

• Expertise in an art form.
• A commitment to our program by reporting to the site regularly to ensure that staff and students are well supported.
• 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 passion for students, and an ability to build meaningful relationships.
• A commitment to seeing families as partners in education and communicating with them regularly.
• A strong interest (with experience preferred) in arts-integration and collaborative planning and reflection.
• 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.
• A willingness to use either the school office landline or their personal cell phone (number blocking is acceptable) to contact parents and guardians as needed.
• A willingness to be flexible in service to our ASALA community.
• An ability to confidently co-teach in a classroom with up to 20 students.
• An ability to attend and engage in all required training and program dates.

Required Dates, Times, and Working Hours:

In order to be considered for employment, staff must be able to commit to attending all training and program days listed below.

Professional Development and Training Dates:

All staff are required to attend Professional Development (PD) on January 17, 18, 19, and 23, from 4-7 PM. PD will be held in person at a host school.

Program Dates and Details (subject to change based on-site):

• The program will begin for students on January 30, 2023 and run through June 8, 2023
• The program will run for 65 days.
• The program will operate Monday-Thursday from 2:30-6:45 PM (program times could alter depending on-site).
• All staff will be required to be on-site January 24, 25, 26, and 27 (without students) to prepare for the start of the program.
• Teaching artist hours are Monday-Thursday from 2:30-6:45 PM (times subject to change based on-site, but 3.5 hours per day is the requirement) and arrive 15 minutes prior to the program start time.
• One 30-minute staff meeting per week.
• Two hours of planning time per week.

Compensation:

The Arts for Learning After School teaching artist position is a part-time exempt position and is not eligible for health benefits or overtime.

Teaching artists will be compensated at $51.00 per hour for all training/PD dates and program hours.

To Apply:

For consideration, please apply on our website, https://artsforlearningmd.org/. Please do not send applications that include headshots or photos of yourself. No phone calls or recruiters, please. All employees will be subject to a federal and state background check in accordance with state and federal law.

Arts for Learning Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultivating a diverse workforce and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, veteran status, and disability. All qualified applications will be given equal opportunity.