The Philadelphia School (TPS) is seeking a full-time Art Teacher. We are a Preschool to Grade 8 progressive, independent school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with an enrollment of approximately 420 students. Since our founding in 1972, The Philadelphia School has grown in size, complexity, and diversity. This growth has been rooted firmly in the progressive values with which our founders began: immersive learning, responsive pedagogy, and meaningful engagement with the world. 

The Philadelphia School seeks educators who possess a deep interest in progressive pedagogy, social justice, and place-based learning and who demonstrate a commitment to personal and professional growth. We hire experienced educators who have excellent classroom management and communication skills, as well as a flexible approach to teaming. All our teachers build respectful and supportive relationships with their students, develop strong home/school partnerships with parents and caregivers, participate in schoolwide initiatives, and work closely with their supervisor to develop their craft. Our teachers have strong interpersonal and communication skills. They are grounded in the practices of progressive education with a demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity and social justice as well as environmental education. All of our teachers bring a rich range of interests and expertise to their work. 

Position Summary:

The Art Teacher is a passionate and creative full-time position to inspire and nurture a love of art in students from preschool through Grade 8. This role involves designing and delivering a dynamic, developmentally appropriate art curriculum that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression consistent with the School’s guidelines. 

The role will integrate diverse artistic traditions and techniques, collaborate with faculty to support interdisciplinary learning, and cultivate an inclusive and welcoming environment that celebrates each student’s unique voice. The Art Teacher will also play a vital role in showcasing student artwork and contributing to the school’s vibrant cultural and community events.

Position Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with other Art Teachers, classroom teachers, the Learning Resource team, and other specialists to meet the needs of diverse learners.
• Build respectful and nurturing relationships with students to create a positive and inclusive learning environment.
• Partner with classroom teachers to develop an engaging thematic curriculum and interdisciplinary project that integrate Art and Culture.
• Deliver innovative and thoughtfully designed lessons, grounded in progressive education and constructivist practice, that engage and challenge students and inspire their artistic confidence.
• Design assessments to measure students’ understanding of art skills.
• Develop strong home-school partnerships and communicate with families clearly and frequently and with cultural competence.
• Integrate technology to enhance instruction and student engagement.
• Foster a classroom atmosphere that supports respect and inclusion.
• Engage in a range of activities for school-sponsored and individually-sought professional development with curiosity and a commitment to continued growth, including a periodic process of growth-oriented feedback and evaluation.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in a related field of study preferred 
• Teacher certification preferred
• At least two years of lead teaching experience, preferably in an independent school environment
• An orientation to progressive philosophy and teaching methods
• An ability and commitment to create a warm, nurturing, and supportive classroom for young children
• Solid understanding of child development, including the social, emotional, and intellectual domains
• Foundational, broad knowledge of drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpting, digital media, etc.
• Capacity to organize, store, distribute, and clean up a wide variety of art media efficiently
• Understanding of major art movements, historical artists, and visual culture
• Understanding of how to craft sequential, engaging artistic projects that allow for creative self-expression
• Strong writing, editing, and communication skills both at the student and faculty levels
• Demonstrated commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging as integral to the curriculum and community experience
• Demonstrated proficiency with integrating technology
• Passion for instilling in children a lifelong love of learning

Faculty are encouraged to partner with the Auxiliary Programming team to deliver up to two weeks of summer camp instruction, as well as extra-curricular club facilitation throughout the academic year. Participation in auxiliary programming supports the educational mission and helps sustain resources that benefit the entire TPS community. We value the unique expertise our teachers bring to these programs, and additional compensation is generally provided in recognition of this additional commitment.

The pay range for this position is $57,000 - $78,000 depending on education and applicable experience.

Application Information:

Qualified candidates should apply via our website. For full consideration, please provide a cover letter tailored specifically to your interest in and alignment with our school program, resume, and contact information with three professional references.

The Philadelphia School welcomes and celebrates diversity in our student body and in our faculty and is committed to providing an education for all of our children that instills in them a respect, understanding and appreciation for the many races, cultures, religions, family structures, and ethnicities that make up our complex and diverse world.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Philadelphia School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Philadelphia School provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

We comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws to ensure fair treatment of all applicants and employees. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact our Human Resources department at humanresourcesoffice@tpschool.org.  

About The Philadelphia School

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