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    Education

    VSA Mass. COOL Schools Program Seeks Teaching Artists

    Deadline to Apply is August 15, 2016

    Posted Monday July 18 2016 at 10:06 pm.
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    COOL Schools Logo

    VSA MA COOL Schools Program
    VSA Massachusetts promotes the involvement of people of all abilities in the cultural life our communities by developing arts-integrated programs in our schools, sponsoring exhibitions and performances by artists of all abilities, and helping families and communities understand and celebrate the transformative power of the arts.  The Creative Outlook on Learning (COOL Schools) program is our flagship education program that embodies this mission.

    This collaborative model leverages the wealth of arts resources of teaching artists (TAs) with the curriculum expertise of classroom teachers in order to create an arts-integrated learning experience that supports students of all abilities as they experience content, skills, or concepts from the unique perspective found through the arts.  Students may include those with learning, emotional/behavioral, physical, or developmental disabilities and/or those with English language barriers.  While each program is designed specifically to meet the needs of the students involved, all COOL programs focus on the following four main goals, which are articulated during the planning meeting:

  • Students will increase artistic skills in a particular art form
  • Students will deepen understanding of a given academic subject area
  • Students will increase social or non-cognitive skills
  • Teachers will heighten their proficiency with arts integration
  • COOL Teaching Artist Job Description
    COOL Teaching Artists are passionate artists and educators with deep expertise in their art form and in integrating their art form with academic curriculum.  VSA MA COOL Schools seeks various teaching artists to create arts-integrated programs with teachers for the upcoming 2016-2017 school year in K-12 classrooms across Boston Public Schools.  Visual artists and musicians are strongly encouraged to apply.

    COOL Schools residencies vary in length from 10-36 weeks, with TAs providing instruction once per week.  Classes take place during the school day alongside classroom teachers and last from 45-60 minutes.  Depending on the number of COOL classrooms at a school, the TA may work with two to four classrooms in a day.  Teaching Artists are term employees and receive competitive rates, including paid training and planning.

    Job Responsibilities:

  • Design and teach inclusive arts-integrated curriculum specific to assets and needs of classroom
  • Collaborate with partner teacher(s) in planning for sessions and implementing curriculum
  • Submit documentation of student progress to internally shared online resource site
  • Complete all program planning and evaluation documents with partner teachers
  • Participate actively in COOL Schools learning community by attending mandatory training meetings
  • Submit payment and reimbursement vouchers on time
  • Requirements:

  • Demonstrated expertise in art form along with a strong ongoing arts practice
  • Minimum of two years experience teaching school-aged children in a public school setting
  • Educatorโ€™s mindset and disposition that values documentation, assessing student learning and commitment to ongoing professional development
  • Experience working with students with disabilities and English Language Learners
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills to work with school partners and COOL staff
  • Availability to participate in other VSA Massachusetts community events
  • To apply:
    Deadline to apply is August 15, 2016.  Please send a resume and cover letter providing more information on your artistic and professional experience, a sample lesson plan/curriculum and examples of student work to education@vsamass.org.  Qualified candidates will be contacted for recommendations and an interview before being invited to lead a demo lesson and offered a position.

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