Job Title: TAI Master Teaching Artist in the Visual Arts Dates: Spring 2016-Spring 2017
About the Teaching Artist Institute (TAI):
The Teaching Artist Institute (TAI) is a comprehensive professional development program for teaching artists that build artists’ capacity to contribute to student learning in and through the arts.
The program trains teaching artists in the use and understanding of the state curriculum and the Common Core Standards, as well as arts integration strategies to assist the artist in engaging teachers and students. Topics such as classroom management strategies, designing, writing, and teaching artist-in-residence lessons, and educator needs are covered, as well as opportunities for field testing and feedback.
This comprehensive training program for professional artists is a partnership between Young Audiences, the Arts Education in Maryland Schools Alliance (AEMS), and the Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC).
Responsibilities:
Work with the TAI staff and advisory board to plan and teach the Teaching Artist Institute (TAI), a program that provides the skills and knowledge needed for teaching artists to develop an artist in residency that is aligned with the Maryland State (Fine Arts) Curriculum and/or Common Core Curriculum.
Participate fully in all dates of TAI, which includes a three day Retreat, a Writing Day, a Presentation Day and an Evaluation Day plus three planning meetings and a reflection/evaluation meeting for TAI staff. (Payment for 10 days x $300/day = $3000 plus mileage)
Oversee a cohort of 4 to 6 teaching artists specializing in visual arts throughout the retreat and the follow up days. This involves:
- Modeling a highly effective visual arts lesson or lessons from a residency you have developed;
- Facilitating a debrief with participants to reflect on the key elements of the model lesson, effective components of it, creative processes evident, and key takeaways;
- Facilitating additional workshops to support teaching artists on their journey, as determined by the TAI staff and the advisory board during planning;
- Facilitating and supporting teaching artists in the process of developing and implementing an arts residency;
- Providing one-on-one coaching and feedback to teaching artists on line and in person;
- Mentoring teaching artists and their teacher partners to help build the relationships and ensure that the residency is artist-led, while still honoring the needs of the teachers/students/school;
- Reviewing and providing feedback for each cohort member’s written plans.
- Observing and providing feedback to teaching artists as they field test lessons in a classroom (up to 6 observations at various locations);
- Meeting with each teaching artist after the observation to debrief and provide feedback;
- Completing and submitting a feedback form for each cohort member for the TAI staff;
- Maintaining strong and consistent communication with the teaching artists throughout this process;
- Providing assessments and recommendations regarding graduation for each member of your cohort.
Qualifications:
The ideal candidate should:
- be a highly qualified teaching artist with at least 5 years of experience providing artist in residence programs in schools;
- have successfully completed TAI 1 and TAI 2 or equivalent training;
- have excellent facilitation, reflection, and communication skills;
- have experience providing thorough and supportive feedback;
- have curriculum writing experience;
- have an understanding of school, teacher, and student needs and how to address them through the arts;
- have experience working in a collaborative and dynamic team;
- have prior experience leading professional development.
Experience in arts integration a plus.
