Website Town School for Boys
Town School for Boys
Lower School Art Head Teacher (K – 4th grades, Full Time)
Since 1939, San Francisco’s Town School for Boys has had a rich history as a school specializing in teaching boys. The school is also known for the Town School New Teacher Institute and its commitment to training teachers new to their craft. The school’s goals include teaching boys to be good citizens, to enjoy their childhood, to develop a positive sense of self, to give back to their greater community, and to develop academic and intellectual skills which will serve them well through their lifetimes. The school prizes its growing diversity of background, religion, and race, as well as the diversity of interests which is so noteworthy in its student and alumni bodies. Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding, Town School has been committed to providing the best possible education for boys and is recognized as one of California’s leading independent elementary schools.
Position Description:
Town School for Boys seeks a full time Lower School Art Head Teacher for grades K- 4 beginning in the 2022 – 23 school year. This position also involves mentoring and training a full time Resident Teacher who is part of Town’s New Teacher Institute and works in grades K-6. This includes regular communication about the progress of the Resident Teacher with the Director of Teacher Development and Strategic Initiatives. The Lower School Art Head Teacher works collaboratively to mentor the Resident Teacher and shares the art studio with the Upper School Art Head Teacher.
We seek an inspired teacher to create a program that uses art as a platform for storytelling and personal expression, as well as instills a lifelong appreciation for art. We hope to find a candidate with a vision for a Visual Arts program for the 21st century and with the ability to design, implement, and assess a sequential art program. The ideal teacher loves this age group, has a strong foundation in visual arts including experience in ceramics and 3-dimensional art. In the past, the school has celebrated a school-wide Arts Festival with displays of student work from across the grades throughout the school building.
Art is taught in all grade levels from K-8 and emphasizes the driving question, “What does it mean to be an artist?” The school includes The Dolby Family Center for Performing Arts, a state-of-the-art performing arts facility, and is in the process of building out a performing arts program across grades K-8. We are particularly interested in art teachers who are enthusiastic about incorporating San Francisco and the broader Bay Area’s artistic resources and cultural institutions into the classroom experience.
Qualifications:
We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described below.
Candidates should have a strong background and experience in exposing students to the joy and appreciation of art through a variety of mediums which include painting, drawing, and clay. This individual will create a supportive and positive climate that develops in each student the skills, attitudes, and knowledge to advance his artistic ability using current methodology, curricula, and materials.
- Bachelor of Arts degree, preferably in Art, Art Education or related field
- Masters in Art or Art Education preferred
- A vision for a Visual Arts program in the 21st century, with the ability to design, implement, and assess a sequential art program
- Experience in a broad range of materials and techniques
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to a classroom community respecting the diverse needs of all children through implementation of art knowledge gained from a global perspective and diverse cultural practices
- Ability to collaboratively partner with teachers to integrate and connect art across the academic program
- Ability to use technology for communication and classroom purposes
- In-depth knowledge and continued interest in current art education research, best practices and professional growth
- Strong work ethic, sense of humor, and a kind spirit
- Familiarity with the National Visual Arts Standards, and the National Core Arts Education Standards
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of two years of teaching and experience working with early elementary-age students. Candidates should demonstrate passion for working with elementary school students and be knowledgeable about the various developmental stages of growth. The candidate should have a strong background in the area of social and emotional learning which is as important as the academic curriculum at Town. The position involves collaborating closely with our entire Arts department (art, music, and theater teachers), K-4 grade level colleagues, teachers across other departments and grades, the Director of Teaching, Learning and Innovation, and the Lower School Head. Collaboration with the librarians and educational technologists is also expected. Good communication skills are essential.
Instructional approaches and course content should be differentiated to suit a range of learning levels and styles and reflect a diversity of perspectives and backgrounds. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to developing and implementing innovative approaches to learning, such as using project-based learning, inquiry, and teaching for understanding/understanding by design. Cultural competency is an expectation of this candidate and includes integration of diversity and global awareness into the curriculum. Faculty should frequently communicate with colleagues and with parents about student progress. Faculty are expected to take an active role in the school by contributing to committees, chaperoning field trips, and attending student performances and athletic events.
COVID Procedures:
When schools were forced to close their physical doors in the spring of 2020, Town quickly and successfully pivoted to online learning, supported by thorough planning and a nimble team of faculty, administration and Board members. In the fall of 2020, Town was the second school in the city of San Francisco to be granted permission to reopen, taking exceptional caution to protect the safety of faculty and students. Since October 2020, we have welcomed all grades in the building five days a week. The 2021-2022 school year is held in person, with our mask and social distancing protocols in place and following all SF Department of Health Guidelines. All adult employees of Town School for Boys are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Town School for Boys Mission:
At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.
Philosophy:
As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world.
Core Values:
Respect: We respect ourselves and others.
- We treat others the way they want to be treated.
- We practice good listening, compassion and empathy.
Curiosity: We are curious.
- We ask questions, think critically and solve problems.
- We seek opportunities to reach our highest potential.
Belonging: We all belong.
- We embrace and celebrate each of our unique stories and experiences.
- We seek to ensure that every member of our community feels an equal sense of inclusion.
Integrity: We act with integrity.
- We have the courage to do the right thing even when nobody else is watching.
- We always try our best and when we fail, we try again.
Joy: We are joyful.
- We make space for play, fun and laughter.
- We know joy can be found in hard work, risk-taking and perseverance.
Statement of Teaching Philosophy:
Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish.
We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another.
Statement on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity:
Diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School.
A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses they matter as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.
Non-Discrimination Policy:
Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.
Salary and benefits are commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with like NAIS schools.
Application for this position can be found at https://town-school-for-boys.hiringthing.com/
