Lower School Visual Art Teacher

Detroit Country Day School - Bloomfield Hills, MI

Full-time - Entry Level

Bloomfield Hills, MI

Educational Services

About the position

Detroit Country Day School is seeking a passionate and dedicated Lower School Visual Art Teacher to join our team starting in August 2024. This position involves teaching Visual Art to students in Junior Kindergarten through 3rd Grade. The ideal candidate will possess a strong affection for young learners, an understanding of their developmental needs, and the energy to engage with them effectively. The role requires collaboration with fellow educators, administration, and parents to create a supportive and enriching learning environment. As a Lower School Visual Art Teacher, you will be responsible for planning and implementing motivating art lessons that reflect both the curriculum and the interests and abilities of your students. You will present new concepts in an engaging manner to stimulate interest and creativity among your students. In addition, you will instruct students on the proper care and use of art tools and equipment, ensuring a safe and productive classroom environment. Your responsibilities will also include creating various classroom activities that foster student-centered learning, identifying clear teaching objectives, and maintaining a system for monitoring and assessing student progress. You will provide constructive feedback to help students improve their skills and communicate regularly with parents regarding their children's academic, social, and emotional development. Furthermore, you will contribute to the development and coordination of the Visual Arts curriculum and participate in professional development activities to maintain your teaching competence. The position encourages participation in after-school art clubs and the planning of art displays and exhibitions to showcase students' work to the school and the community. As part of our commitment to equality, you will promote fairness and dignity in all interactions and recognize the importance of health and safety in the school environment. Candidates with coaching experience or a willingness to coach are preferred, as athletic coaching and extracurricular activities are encouraged at our school.

Responsibilities

• Plan and implement motivating lessons in art that reflect knowledge of curriculum and students' interests and abilities.
• Present new concepts in an engaging manner to stimulate interest in the topic.
• Instruct students in proper care and use of tools and equipment.
• Create and manage a caring, supportive, purposeful, and stimulating environment conducive to children's learning.
• Create various classroom activities designed to foster student-centered learning.
• Identify clear teaching objectives and learning outcomes with appropriate challenges and high expectations.
• Organize and manage groups or individual pupils, ensuring differentiation of learning needs, reflecting all abilities.
• Plan opportunities to develop the social, emotional, and cultural aspects of pupils' learning.
• Maintain a regular system of monitoring, assessment, record-keeping, and reporting of children's progress.
• Provide feedback to students on their work to help them improve their skills.
• Communicate and consult with parents over all aspects of their children's education - academic, social, and emotional.
• Contribute to the development and coordination of the department curriculum.
• Maintain professional competence through in-service education activities provided by the school and/or in self-selected professional growth activities.
• Participate in curriculum and other developmental programs, such as after school art clubs.
• Plan and present art displays and exhibitions designed to exhibit students' work for the school and the community.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by administration.
• Promote equality as an integral part of the role and treat everyone with fairness and dignity.
• Recognize health and safety is a responsibility of every employee, take responsible care of self and others and comply with the School's Health and Safety policies and all school-specific procedures and rules.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree required in Art Education; Master of Fine Arts (MFA) or Master of Arts (MA) degree preferred.
• Teaching experience in Junior Kindergarten to 3rd Grade.
• Proficient and enthusiastic user of technology.
• Professional collegiality and enthusiasm for young people required.

Nice-to-haves

• Teaching certificate is not necessary but favorably considered.
• Preference to candidates with coaching experience or expressed willingness to coach.

Benefits

• Professional development opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative work environment
• Engagement in extracurricular activities such as after school art clubs