Career Center

The Buckley School is a dynamic, nurturing learning community committed to equity and inclusion, and as such, seeks to hire talented employees with diverse backgrounds.

The Buckley School, Los Angeles’ oldest K-12 coeducational learning institution, has an opening for a Department Chair, Visual Arts. Department Chairs work collaboratively with each other, faculty, division heads, and their supervisors to design both discipline-specific and transdisciplinary curriculum, and implement instructional practices aligned with the school’s mission, commitment to DEI, Portrait of a Graduate and Strategic Plan. This position is responsible for teaching various sections of middle/upper school Art. Typical classes include Ceramics, Photography and Metal.  Utilizing evolving research in neuroscience, education, and global futurism, department chairs monitor trends, developments, and best practices in educational theory and practice, support and evaluate faculty, lead departmental professional development, and model master teaching. These positions are exempt from overtime. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Curriculum Development and Evaluation:
  • Collaborate with the Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning to create, implement and continuously revise discipline-specific and transdisciplinary courses that meet the school’s aspirations identified in the mission, Portrait of a Graduate, strategic plan, commitment to DEI and Commitment and which utilize leading edge technology and media
• Work in partnership with the division heads to ensure vertical alignment K-12
• Promote summer school classes, if relevant, to internal and external students and ensure congruence with school year coursework
• Assist the upper school administration with the UC accreditation process for new courses, and, if relevant, the AP approval and audit process annually
• Develop yearly in-person student art shows/exhibits for parents, alumni, members of the community, etc.
• In collaboration with the communications department, curate online gallery of student artwork
• Display student work throughout the school to promote the appreciation and value of art in the community
• Oversee student art interns responsible for archiving student work, helping to maintain studio spaces and support in-person shows

• Department Leadership:
• Join with the Assistant Head of School, Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning, and division heads in creating, organizing, and evaluating a range of professional development experiences for the entire faculty, departments and individuals
• Collaborate with other department chairs to lead department to discuss innovations in the field, to review and revise curriculum and instructional practice, and to assess departmental programs, etc.
• Lead departmental meetings to review administrative policies, discuss current department issues, etc.  Oversee the business of the department. 
• Work with the Assistant Head of School and each department member to set annual department member goals, assessing strengths and areas of growth 
• Possess expertise in discipline-specific and transdisciplinary content and instructional practice to serve as the department’s master teacher 
• Coach, mentor, and evaluate the department’s teachers both formally and informally to ensure the use of best practices, to provide support and feedback 
• Assist the Assistant Head of School, Director of Innovative Teaching & Learning, and division heads with recruiting, interviewing, hiring and retaining candidates who advance the school’s mission, Portrait of a Graduate, strategic plan, and commitment to DEI
• Assist Director of Summer School with summer faculty hiring, if relevant 
• Review all prose reports within the department 
• Oversee development and evaluation of final semester projects and assessments
• Review grade distribution in the department and among the department’s teachers 
• Meet with other department chairs and senior administrators to develop academic transdisciplinary opportunities and ensure coordination between departments and divisions

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES

• Scheduling:
• In conjunction with the Assistant Head of School and division heads, determine student placement and faculty allocations
• Review carefully student work as a means to evaluate department strengths
• Represent the Department at Calendar Meetings as appropriate
• Department Leadership:
• Submit minutes of department meetings to department chairs and senior admin
• Assure that department class lists are verified
• Meet regularly with the Assistant Head of School, division heads, Director of Innovative Teaching and Learning, and deans
• Attend and participate in admissions, enrollment management, faculty/staff recruiting events, and some parent/guardian and alumni gatherings to promote the school internally and externally
• Other:
• Respond to communication from parents/guardians within one business day
• Serve as an advisor, provide lunch supervision, host office hours, chaperone field trips and outdoor ed, participate in committees, and other duties, as assigned.

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

• Possess the minimum of a Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university, graduate degree preferred
• Minimum of three (3) years teaching experience

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

• Models the highest standards of professionalism and creates warm, uplifting and trusting working relationships marked by humor, optimism, humility, empathy, excellent emotional intelligence, extraordinary interpersonal skills, and collaboration
• Demonstrates great individual integrity, initiative, self-awareness, commitment to personal and professional growth, and the ability to receive and apply feedback
• Possesses passion for education in an independent school environment conveyed by a solid understanding of educational practice philosophy grounded in DEIJ
• Relishes the joys and challenges of working with K-12 students and faculty and possess a deep understanding of human development, including a particularly strong understanding of the intellectual, social, emotional, and physical development of children, early-adolescents, adolescents, and adults
• Demonstrates adaptability, dependability, good judgment, strong social skills, impressive communication skills in writing and speaking, and the abilities to read, assess, imagine, evaluate, calculate, & make wise decisions
• Significant experience managing change and implementing program
• Models a growth mindset and continuous learning
• Possesses and utilizes leadership skills and knowledge of models of adult learning to motivate, educate and excite faculty
• Possesses the ability to create 2-D and 3-D art using a variety of media including but not limited to: photography, both digital and film, ceramics, metal work, glass, woodwork, print-making, painting and drawing
• Demonstrates strong and timely communication skills in person, in writing, by phone and through other electronic means (such as Zoom)
• Thinks and acts strategically and creatively
• Outstanding project management skills including ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and follow through in a timely manner

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should send their resume to gsacon@buckley.org.

 ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The Buckley School, a K-12 college preparatory school with 830 students, is one of the most respected independent schools in the Los Angeles area.  Buckley is known for its unique educational philosophy, the 4-Fold Plan of Education, which marries a whole-child approach with elements of structure, as well as for its warm, intimate educational environment. 

The school’s curriculum balances academics, the arts, physical development and moral education. Its creative, personalized approach to education emphasizes high academic standards for all students, and includes traditional touches that develop the character and discipline that unlock students’ potential.