The School at Columbia University is an independent K-8 school founded in 2003 with the goal of providing an excellent education to a diverse student body. Our intentional school culture embraces shared beliefs across disciplines and grades, which underlie important values expressed through everyday behaviors and visible symbols throughout our community.

We dedicate ourselves to fostering in our students personal resourcefulness and integrity, a sense of social responsibility, and a lifelong appreciation of learning through an innovative, socially and emotionally supportive, and academically challenging program. We adhere to a common code of civility among all constituents. We tailor our instruction so that the needs of the individual students are met. A committed faculty and administration strive to create a school that will stand as a model for what K-8 education can be, and serve as a genuine and enduring partnership between Columbia University and its neighbors.

Responsibilities:

• Teach classes of approximately 20 students within an integrated, inquiry-based curriculum
• Increase students' skill sets and visual literacy while fostering an appreciation for the role of the arts across disciplines
  
• Collaboratively design and teach elective courses for middle school visual arts students
• Develop and implement developmentally appropriate, culturally responsive, and standards-aligned visual arts instruction for Grades K–8
• Work to ensure academic and artistic excellence by knowing students well and adapting curriculum to meet their needs
• Collaborate closely with classroom teachers and specialists to integrate art into interdisciplinary units and school-wide themes
• Contribute to the ongoing development and alignment of a K–8 visual arts curriculum scope and sequence
• Keep careful anecdotal and assessment records, and use them to write accurate, comprehensive student reports
• Maintain an organized, safe, and inspiring art studio; manage inventory and ordering of art materials and supplies
• Curate and install student art exhibitions and displays throughout the year to celebrate student learning and artistic growth
• Use a range of assessment tools, including rubrics, portfolios, and student self-reflection, to evaluate student progress and inform instruction
• Collaborate with the Grade 8 Musical Team on set design and production elements for the annual Grade 8 Musical
• Serve as an advisor to a small group of middle school students, supporting their academic and social-emotional development
• Participate actively in grade-level teams, weekly team meetings, and ongoing planning and reflection
  
• Chaperone overnight and/or extended grade-level trips, as applicable, in support of the teaching team, student experience, and the academic and advisory program
• Engage in ongoing professional development and reflective practice to remain current with trends in art education and K–8 instruction
• Fulfill all duties, responsibilities, and commitments as outlined in the school’s Guidebook and the organization’s code of conduct
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• B.A., B.F.A., or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university
• At least two years of full-time teaching experience in K–8 public, parochial or independent schools beyond student teaching
• Demonstrated knowledge of child development and experience with progressive, student-centered teaching practices
• Experience integrating visual arts into interdisciplinary or project-based learning contexts
• Strong classroom management skills and a commitment to creating a welcoming classroom environment
• Ability to differentiate instruction and adapt curriculum to meet diverse learning needs
• Comfort using and integrating educational technology to support creative and instructional goals
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in Art Education or a related field
• Knowledge of Spanish
• Experience with exhibition planning, student portfolio assessment, and progressive evaluation models

About The School at Columbia University

The School at Columbia University is an independent K-8 school founded in 2003 with the goal of providing an excellent education to a diverse student body. Our intentional school culture embraces shared beliefs across disciplines and grades, which underlie important values expressed through everyday behaviors and visible symbols throughout our community: Collaboration: Encouraging creative problem-solving in dynamic groups where outcomes are not always predictable, but ultimately greater than any individual perspective could envision. Community: Promoting inclusivity, facilitating open communication, and providing clear expectations to all members of the community to ensure a healthy, productive environment, inside and outside the school. Diversity: Reveling in an environment of myriad learning experiences that address important aspects of diversity, including identity development, anti-bias skills, and the idea that difference is better. Innovation: Taking thoughtful risks grounded in current research, putting new technologies to work in classrooms, and always seeking new approaches to learning to provide a meaningful 21st-century education to all students.

Connections working at The School at Columbia University