** FOR SCHOOL YEAR 2012-2013**
Reports to: Co-Headmasters
Job Description: Vocational Design and Visual Communications Teacher
The Boston Arts Academy, a public high school for the visual and performing arts, is starting its 15th year in September 2012 with 440 students in Grades 9-12. It is a joint project of the Professional Arts Consortium, Inc., (comprising the Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural Center, the Boston Conservatory, Emerson College Massachusetts College of Arts, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts) and the Boston Public Schools. The Boston Arts Academy is charged with being a laboratory and a beacon for artistic and academic innovation. The Boston Arts Academy prepares a diverse community of aspiring artist-scholars to be successful in their college or professional careers and to be engaged members of a democratic society.
This innovative school features a college preparatory curriculum supporting integrated and interdisciplinary teaching and learning among arts and academic disciplines. Students explore the arts in both traditional and new media forms.
The Academy’s program is enriched by the involvement of the six members of the Professional Arts Consortium. Both the program and the student body at the Academy reflects the culture, ethnic and linguistic diversity of Boston.
The Academy is a Pilot School and a member of the Boston Pilot Schools Network, a group of Boston Public Schools that, by union contract, have been granted increased autonomy and flexibility to be laboratories of educational innovation. This includes the right to extend the school day and year for both faculty and students.
Teachers at the Academy undertake a number of special responsibilities. The Academy offers academic classes as well as classes in the visual and performing arts. Often classes integrate artistic and academic subjects. Faculty members work together to develop curriculum in all areas. The school day for students
has been scheduled to run from approximately 7:55 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 7:55 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Fridays. There is a weekly faculty meeting on Fridays that ends at 3:30.
The school year for students will be similar to the Boston Public Schools, but the actual school calendar may differ in terms of professional days for teachers and other aspects. All students will be members of an Advisory Group and most faculty will serve as Advisors. (Advisory is a small group of students who come together periodically to provide academic, social and emotional support to all students.) Many teachers also teach a grade-level writing course to students.
Students are assessed through a variety of measures: Traditional tests, performances, exhibitions, and portfolios. More comprehensive material about the approach to teaching and learning is available upon request, as well as on the website.
Responsibilities:
1. Teach visual art classes in different media including, but not limited to, Adobe
suite programs including web design and animation, drawing, painting, 3D media,
and printed media.
2. Help design, implement and teach design curriculum 1,2,3,4
3. Design and implement student assessment
4. Lead Vocational Design and Visual Communications certification track
5. Teach figure drawing
6. Oversee departmental technology and equipment
7. Implement and oversee department and student blogs
8. Lead and implement exhibition of student work in and out of school building
9. Lead archivist for department
10. Lead department in design/technology vision
11. Identify and facilitate student design competitions
12. Participate in the creation of an integrated interdisciplinary arts-infused
curriculum including producing exhibitions.
13. Lead an advisory group of 8-12 students, providing advice, support and
evaluation for assigned students.
14. Teach OR co-teach a grade-level writing seminar.
15. Attend weekly visual arts team meetings and period work sessions as scheduled.
16. Along with other core visual arts faculty, participate in strategic planning and
department management. Areas include but are not limited to assessment,
recruitment and outreach, implementing technology, student case management,
and exhibition/competition/partnership participation.
17. Communicate regularly with parents/caregivers about student progress.
18. Arrange and attend evening meetings with families of students in Advisory
Group (and other students as appropriate) as least twice a year, and be generally
accessible to families.
19. Accept flexible assignments, such as team and interdisciplinary teaching, working
with different age groups and ability levels, etc.
20. Work with university, college and community collaborators.
21. Perform general administrative tasks to teaching and advising.
22. Work for two days after the end of school year in June reviewing and evaluating
year and completing activities.
23. Participate in one annual retreat which could fall on a weekend.
24. Work an extended day of eight hours, with occasional additional time as required
for student performance and presentation activities.
25. Take part in curriculum workshops, tentatively scheduled for the week of August
27, 2012.
Qualifications:
Required:
1. Possession of (or eligibility to receive) a Massachusetts preliminary license
in Visual Art-5-12. For more information on teacher licensure, call the
Massachusetts Department of Education at 781-338-6600.
2. Minimum three years experience in the field of design ( can include recent
cooperative teaching experience, or two years with a Master’s degree).
3. Bachelors Degree (copy of transcript required).
4. Commitment to the arts as an important element in a complete education.
5. Commitment to cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity as an element in a
complete education.
6. Experience and/or willingness to be trained in integrated or theme-based
curriculum and performance, or portfolio-based assessment.
7. Commitment to and demonstrated ability to differentiate instruction in the
classroom.
8. Ability to take on responsibilities and prioritize quickly.
9. Flexible working hours.
10. Ability to work within a complex bureaucracy.
11. Excellent communication skills.
12. Meets/will meet all state and federal guidelines in order to be fully licensed
and “Highly Qualified” according to NCLB.
13. Current authorization to work in the United States - Candidates must have such
authorization by their first day of employment.
Preferred:
Three years teaching experience, preferably in an urban high school setting.
Voc ed certified in Graphic Design
Masters Degree or equivalent thereof.
Ability and/or certification to teach in multiple subject areas, such as graphic
design or costume design.
5. Experience or an interest in interdisciplinary work.
6. Fluency in languages in addition to English.
7. Experience as an artist.
8. Interest or experience in more than one discipline.
9. Experience working with local cultural institutions.
10. Experience with new technology relating to arts and education.
11. Experience working in a heterogeneous classroom.
12. Experience with portfolio assessment.
Terms: BTU, Group I
To apply, please contact Boston Arts Academy: http://www.edline.net/pages/Boston_Arts_Academy/About/Contact_Us
