Dot and Line Art Studio, currently in its fifth year of operations, is located in the vibrant Beverly Rd. commerce district of Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh, PA. As a unique and growing community art and learning center, we promote an inquiry-based approach to art-making that is playful, values process over product, and differentiates learning opportunities for individual developmental needs within our unique high quality brand of innovative arts centric curriculum.
Our studio is a welcoming, non-discriminatory, and innovative safe space for people of all abilities and identities, interacting with hundreds of families, children, teens, and adults throughout the Pittsburgh region annually. We host a wide array of innovative daytime, afterschool, evening, and weekend classes, off-site residencies, workshops, summer camps, and events that promote collaborative and innovative learning through the lens of multidisciplinary art-making with relevant art historical context.
Part-Time with Mentorship Track / Early Childhood & Elementary Art Educator
Position Overview:
We are seeking an aspiring or growing art educator to join our team for our daytime Pre-K and elementary programming. This role is uniquely structured as a mentored professional development track with future growth, beginning with mentorship training towards the opportunity to take leadership of a core program area. Designed for long-term success, this position spends an initial period of time in a fully supported, paid training and co-teaching phase. You will work side-by-side with our experienced educators, studio assistants, and the Studio Owners to master teaching, curriculum writing, classroom management, student-led inquiry, and materials curation. You will also learn how to facilitate sensory exploration, navigate early childhood artistic developmental milestones, and hold space for child-led play. This structure offers a rich opportunity to build a strong foundation in process-art pedagogy before taking on independent lead teaching responsibilities.
Location: Dot and Line Art Studio | Mt. Lebanon, Pittsburgh, PA (In-Person: 311A Beverly Road, 15216)
Schedule: Wednesdays, 12PM -3PM, Thursdays 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM | Saturdays 9:30AM-1PM, Occasional Weekend Workshops (TBA) (Approximately 13 hrs /wk with opportunity for additional hours TBA).
Competitive compensation : will grow as the educator progresses from training and co-teaching into independent leadership of this program area and assumes additional responsibilities. At Dot and Line Art Studio, we believe that excellent art educators deserve to be compensated as professionals - even when their career path is intentionally part time. Our goal is to build sustainable professional roles that support art educators with competitive compensation, employer-supported retirement contributions, creative growth, mentorship, paid planning time, professional development opportunities, predictable schedules, and meaningful creative leadership while contributing to purposeful work shaping a growing arts community. .
Core Responsibilities:
- Co-Teaching & Collaboration: Actively shadow, assist, and co-teach our daytime Studio Sprouts, Saturday morning classes, and occasional weekend family workshops.
- Pedagogical Growth: Receive hands-on mentoring in facilitating student-led choices, managing sensory materials, and communicating effectively with parents. Participate in regular professional development check-ins to discuss instructional strategies.
- Studio Curation: Learn the art of "the environment as the third teacher" by helping conceptualize and set up specialized spaces and materials for our Early Childhood programming.
- Studio Upkeep & Logistics: Learn behind-the-scenes studio operations, including regular cleaning, organizing, and maintaining an inspiring, safe, and organized workspace.
- Collaborative Planning: Attend curriculum and studio planning meetings to learn how seasonal blocks are structured and materials budgeted.
Phase 2: The Lead Phase (between 6-12 months)
- Instructional Leadership: Step into leading designated daytime programs, Saturday classes, and special studio events such as family and community workshops.
- Curriculum Development: Transition into independently writing and developing engaging, process-based curricula aligned with our studio philosophy.
- Administrative Accountability: Managing the day to day aspects of our early childhood programming, working with our Elementary Educators, writing and implementing curriculum, collaborative lesson planning with Studio Owners, and direct communication with families.
Qualifications & Requirements:
Our studio is a tightly knit team of dedicated, multitalented artist-educators with years of collective experience who find deep purpose in the work we do together. The ideal candidate will possess:
Art Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Art Education, Fine Arts, Early Childhood Education, or a related field (or equivalent combination of education and hands-on teaching experience).
- 2+ years of classroom or equivalent experience with a strong desire to work with Pre-K and elementary-aged children.
- Must possess a dynamic classroom presence that naturally engages, inspires, and connects with students.
- Brings warmth, patience, and a genuine sense of humor to the studio each day
- Proven ability to craft effective, structured lesson plans.
- Knowledge of a wide range of art-making materials and their combinatory, developmentally appropriate applications—especially with toddlers and young children.
- Deep alignment with an inquiry-based, process-over-product philosophy.
Professionalism & Operations:
- Exceptional punctuality, reliability, and a highly professional demeanor.
- Reliable transportation and up-to-date PA / FBI Clearances (with a clear background check).
- Must demonstrate strong scheduling and time management skills—meeting all Studio planning deadlines, navigating shared calendars seamlessly, and reliably logging hours via our timekeeping app
- An exceptionally positive work ethic and a commitment to maintaining a respectful, safe environment at all times.
Growth Mindset:
- An eagerness to receive and reciprocate constructive feedback to learn, grow, and implement new ideas as a supportive team.
- A strong desire to develop as an art educator and innovative thinker who contributes to the long-term growth of our studio.
- Physical Requirements:
- Ability to safely lift, move, and carry studio supplies or materials weighing up to 25 lbs.
- Ability to move comfortably throughout the studio space and position oneself at child level (e.g., sitting, kneeling, or squatting) to interact with young children (note: Play Studio student furniture is 1/2 scale).
- Ability to remain active and engaged on your feet for extended periods during classes and events.
To Apply:
Please send a resume, a cover letter explaining your philosophy on children's art education, and 3 professional references to [email protected] with the subject line: "Early Childhood & Elementary Art Educator Position."
Pay: $25.00 - $40.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
