Position Overview

The Ellis School, the only pre-kindergarten to grade 12 independent all-girls day school in Pittsburgh, PA, is seeking an Upper School Studio Arts instructor beginning in August 2026. Responsibilities will include teaching Upper School 2D studio arts electives, including AP 2D Art and Design, and Middle School elective studio courses. Other duties, including—but not limited to—advising, proctoring study halls, chaperoning, and committee work, are integral to the role of Upper School faculty members.  Under the supervision of the Chair of the Visual Arts Department, this position directly advances The Ellis School’s mission by fostering creativity, confidence, and intellectual risk-taking in students during a formative stage of their development.

Key Responsibilities

• Teach Upper School studio arts courses, including 2D, Portfolio, and AP Art & Design

• Teach and support courses within the Upper School’s newly established Arts Academy, which launches in Fall 2026

• Teach Middle School elective courses, including Introduction to Watercolor and Found Object Sculpture

• Design and deliver engaging instruction across drawing, painting, printmaking, design, and a variety of materials and media

• Integrate Adobe Creative Suite and other digital tools to enhance studio learning

• Apply flexible, innovative pedagogical approaches to support adolescent learners and prepare students for success in AP Art & Design

• Foster a studio culture that promotes creativity, risk-taking, critical thinking, and artistic voice

• Maintain a well-organized studio classroom and manage the ordering and upkeep of materials and supplies

• Collaborate with colleagues within the Visual Arts Department and across divisions

• Communicate effectively with students, families, and colleagues

• Contribute to a positive, inclusive school community rooted in Ellis’s mission and values, demonstrating integrity, flexibility, and a collaborative, student-centered approach

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art, Art Education, or a related field required

• Demonstrated ability to apply diverse and flexible pedagogical approaches

• Proven ability to work collaboratively within a department and school community

• Commitment to innovative teaching practices and the thoughtful integration of technology

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Commitment to the education and advancement of girls and to fostering an inclusive school community

Preferred

• Advanced degree in Studio Art, Art Education, or a related field 

• Practicing artist with demonstrated strength in multiple media

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and digital design tools

• Familiarity with AP 2D Art & Design curriculum and portfolio process 

• Experience teaching drawing, painting, printmaking, and design concepts

About The Ellis School

The Ellis School is Pittsburgh’s leading age 3 to grade 12 private school dedicated to the education of girls. The Ellis School provides an unmatched, girl-centered, interdisciplinary education in the heart of Pittsburgh's East End. An academically rigorous, urban, college-preparatory school, Ellis serves a diverse student population from a broad range of socio-economic circumstances. At The Ellis School girls take risks, work collaboratively, ask questions, and pursue their dreams. For more information, visit www.TheEllisSchool.org.

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