SUMMER ARTS FOR LEARNING ACADEMY (SALA)
TEACHING ARTIST
Reports to: Site Director, Summer Arts for Learning Academy
About the Summer Arts for Learning Academy:
Baltimore City Schools’ Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA), operated by Arts for Learning Maryland, offers students an opportunity to imagine, create, and express who they are through the arts. This is an action-packed, full-day, five-week program (Monday - Thursday) that introduces students to a wide variety of art forms —from illustration and spoken word to percussion, drama, and dance— which gives students a chance to work alongside students from across the city and be taught by professional Artists. Students’ work is celebrated through a student showcase on the final day of the program. Arts for Learning Maryland will host ten Academy sites throughout the city, locations TBD.
Mission and Core Values:
The mission of Arts for Learning Maryland’s Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) is to provide students with an opportunity to spend summer 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, introduces them to different art forms taught by professional Artists, and allows them to experience math and literacy content from a different lens.
We...
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believe unwaveringly that ALL students can achieve high standards in and through the arts.
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provide opportunities for students to develop powerfully articulate voices through art forms and honor their creative processes along the way.
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create safe, brave learning environments for students to grow, make mistakes, and contribute to the community.
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collaborate and reflect by learning from and with each other at every step of the process, cultivating positive relationships between all ages.
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encourage the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, inquiry, imagination, and creativity, and provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate knowledge and mastery.
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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.
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ensure that our students are known, loved, supported, celebrated, and valued.
SALA Teaching Artist
Job Description
The Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) Teaching Artist is the heart and soul of the Academy. Teaching Artists are paired with a grade level Classroom Teacher for the entire program (Monday - Thursday). These pairs are responsible for delivering engaging, meaningful, and joyful arts-integrated instruction both in and through the arts daily. Teacher/Artist pairs will co-plan and co-teach one class of arts-integrated math and one class of arts-integrated literacy to the same students each day. In addition, all Teaching Artists are expected to lead a SQUAD session each morning, in partnership with their Classroom Teacher.
Ideal Teaching Artists Have:
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Demonstrable expertise in an art form, and ability to present artistic samples.
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Experience working collaboratively and adopting/developing a co-teaching model with academic Teachers.
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An ability to attend and engage in all required training and program dates.
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A willingness to be flexible in service to our SALA community.
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A willingness to use either the school office landline or their personal cell phone (number blocking is acceptable) to contact parents as needed.
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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.
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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.
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A passion for students: an ability to build meaningful relationships and a desire to “go above and beyond” to ensure each student’s success.
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A commitment to seeing families as partners in education and communicating with them regularly.
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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.
Please note, staff working in SALA will need to be able to stand, walk, and be active throughout the entire duration of the program day. They will need to be able to keep up with and supervise students within and outside the classroom, for example during Fitness and Fun time and field trips. Staff will also need to be able to lift up to 20lbs on occasion when setting up and breaking down classroom and/or preparing for performances and other events. Bending, kneeling, and climbing stairs are also frequently needed during SALA.
Job Responsibilities:
The SALA Teaching Artist is part of the Instructional Team. All members of the Instructional Team have a responsibility to:
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Create a positive culture and climate within the classroom by centering the program’s mission and core values, and addressing any issues within the parameters of site procedures and expectations.
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Create and submit a Majors & Explorations curriculum plan including supply requests by May 9, 2025 (Returning Artists) or June 6, 2025 (New Artists).
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Build relationships with students, staff, and parents and create a positive, supportive community within the classroom and site.
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Attend all professional development and planning meetings as instructed as instructed by Arts for Learning and SALA Site Directors
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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, student observation rubrics, student progress reports, etc.
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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.
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Assist with the preparation and planning of the final student culminating showcase.
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Collaborate with and provide support for various partnerships and external stakeholders.
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Support fitness & fun at least two times per week in partnership with the P.E. teacher
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Submit verbal and written reports as required.
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Administer student program evaluations
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Follow and uphold all site health and safety procedures
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Complete other duties as assigned
Teaching Artists have the following specific responsibilities:
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Lead a daily 30-minute SQUAD (small homeroom group) that promotes character development and builds one-on-one relationships with students.
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In partnership with Teachers, deliver content effectively using the Arts for Learning Literacy and Math curricula. Teaching Artists are the common core arts standard specialists in the Artist/Teacher pairs.
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Serve as lead Teaching Artist for two daily arts-integrated classes: one math and one literacy.
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Provide one-on-one instruction and support to students as needed
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Plan and Lead a daily Arts Major or Arts Exploration class. These classes are not co-taught or co-planned with the Classroom Teacher partner and are fully the responsibility of the Artist to teach their art form.
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Support SALAbrations and/or field trips every Thursday.
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If applicable, provide mentorship and support to your assigned Artist Assistant to facilitate their growth and development as a future Teaching Artist.
SALA Teaching Artists must be able to commit to attending program and training days, including PD week shortly before program launch, and spring PD dates that will occur March-June. Specific dates and deadlines will be provided in a timely manner and all training is paid.
SALA Program Dates: For all Baltimore sites, the program will run Monday through Thursday for a 5 week period of time. Program hours for students are 8:30 am (Breakfast) to 3:00 pm.
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Teaching Artist time commitment: 7 hours a day (8.30am - 3.30pm). Please, note the option of being a Partial Day teaching artist is no longer available.
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Weekly Meetings and Planning Time: One 30-minute staff meeting per week (days/times TBD by Site Directors); Planning time (vertical and co-planning): 2 hours a week (more information on this during Spring PD). These hours are required and paid.
Compensation:
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The SALA Teaching Artist position is a temporary, non-exempt position and is not eligible for employee benefits. This position is eligible for time-off in the form of Sick & Safe leave.
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Teaching Artists will be paid an hourly rate of $50
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ALL positions will be paid at the hourly rate of $25 for all professional development sessions and training.
Time Off:
Grant and special-funded staff, hired for short-term assignments, internships, and as temporary project-based staff, are not eligible to accrue PTO, however, Sick and Safe leave is available to these employees. Sick and Safe Leave is accrued at a rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked and begins accruing on day one of employment. Employees may use the leave in increments of 1 hour or greater. Employees will be paid at their current regular rate for each accrued Sick and Safe Leave hour used.
Employees who have questions about Sick and Safe Leave, including (i) their eligibility for Sick and Safe Leave; (ii) when Sick and Safe Leave may be used; and (iii) the amount of available Sick and Safe Leave should promptly contact the People Operations Department ([email protected])
To Apply:
For consideration, apply online at www.artsforlearningmd.org/programs/summer-arts-academy/work-with-us/
Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of 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.
