Portland Children’s Museum
Position: Studio-to-School Teaching Artist
Job Status: 32 hours/week (September-June 2015; renewable for August-June 2016) with occasional events on evenings and weekends.
Reports to: Administrator, Museum Center for Learning
Salary: $32,000 (.8 school year contract)
Mission
The Portland Children’s Museum Center for Learning strengthens educational opportunities through provoking fresh ideas concerning environments where curiosity, creativity, and the wonder of learning thrive.
Job Purpose
The Museum Center for Learning guides the professional development of educators seeking to expand their practices, especially regarding the intersection of social-constructivist theory, inquiry-based learning, and the role of the arts in developing thinking. This position, funded through a multi-year grant awarded by Oregon Community Foundation, explores the role of the arts as languages for learning through collaboration with teachers and children at Woodlawn School, a K-8 Portland Public School.
This position serves as a:
Teaching artist. The partnership involves collaboration with a cohort K-8 teachers and students. This position will work directly with these teachers to integrate large inquiry questions and art materials as a language of learning into their curriculum. Incorporated into that time will be significant experiences at Opal School for the teaching artist to deepen their own understanding and professional capacity regarding the arts as languages for learning.
Project lead. This position will also oversee and manage the partnership as a whole. The position will provide strategic vision for the success of the project. The position will also act as the liaison for communication between Portland Children’s Museum, Woodlawn School, and Oregon Community Foundation. Studio-to-School projects across Oregon interact as a professional learning community. The project lead will attend statewide project meetings and represent project partners in ongoing conversations.
Member of the Museum Center for Learning team. The Center anticipates that capacity will grow across the organization through the addition of this position.
Job Results
As Teaching Artist (80%)
• In conversation with teachers, develop and provide inquiry-based experiences using studio materials.
• Maintain productive relationships with teachers and administrative staff at Woodlawn School.
• Maintain materials inventory.
• Collaborate with Center for Learning Administrator to provide thoughtful professional development workshops for involved teachers.
• Actively document classroom experiences by collecting students’ ideas through words and images and sharing that documentation with classroom teachers and Center for Learning staff.
• Assist teachers in creating a classroom environment supportive of curiosity and creativity.
As Project Lead (20%)
• Maintain clear communication and good relationships with team.
• Manage funds by building strategies for grant funding and earned revenue; monitor income, track and authorize program expenses, and recommend budget allocations for outreach program.
• Actively evaluate all programs in accordance with grant standards. Manage and provide necessary information for grant tracking and reporting.
• Communicate clearly with funders, representing the opinions and ideas of all team members.
• Attend all convenings and trainings; participate fully in required funder trainings and meetings
• Participate fully in Museum Center for Learning professional development programs.
• Through conversation and publication, provide public reflection on the Studio-to-School work.
• Actively engage in dialogue with Portland Children’s Museum, Woodlawn School, and Studio-to-School colleagues around their observations and interpretations.
• Contribute to the leadership and overall effectiveness of the Studio-to-School Program and the Museum Center for Learning by preparing for meetings, actively participating in discussions, practicing professional communication, and supporting the department’s decision-making process.
Job Qualifications
· Bachelor’s Degree required; Master's Degree preferred.
· Demonstrated commitment to Museum's mission, vision and values
· Minimum of three years of experience working directly with children and colleagues with diverse backgrounds and abilities
· Expertise in the use of the visual arts and social constructivist teaching practices
· Demonstrated success at communicating effectively
· Demonstrated ability to work both independently and cooperatively within a team, including some project management experience
· Excellent communicator
· Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills
· Ability to meet deadlines with attention to detail
· Ability and willingness to comply with all aspects and issues outlined in the Portland Children’s Museum Employee Manual
· Current driver’s license, auto insurance, clean driving record, and use of personal vehicle for travel to off-site outreach and programming efforts (mileage will be reimbursed).
· Ability to pass criminal background check as administered by Portland Children’s Museum and by Portland Public Schools
To apply send a resume with cover letter to . Please add Studio-to-School Teaching Artist to the subject line. No phone calls please.