Art Department Chair & Upper School Art Teacher

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Louise S. McGehee School seeks an experienced arts educator to serve as chair of the Visual Arts Department for the 2024-2025 school year (beginning August 1, 2024). Department Chairs at McGehee are vital school leaders who oversee, manage, and inspire the faculty within their departments. Department Chairs are part of an innovative leadership team (Academic Advisory Council, AAC) who support a diversity of thought, recognize great ideas that promote academic excellence, and creatively develop pathways for the implementation of these ideas while motivating colleagues to bring these ideas to fruition. Qualified applicants will have multiple years of teaching experience in an independent School Arts program and a demonstrated ability to form meaningful relationships with colleagues and students. Prior arts curriculum development and programmatic leadership experience are strongly desired, including providing growth-oriented feedback and coaching to teachers.
The successful candidate will be able to align their own vision broadly with that of the McGehee Visual Arts program which is committed to student agency, voice, and ownership of the students' creative process, while also fostering development of strong technical skills in students. Above all, the successful applicant will demonstrate an alignment with the school's mission: "The Louise S. McGehee School provides each girl with the foundation to realize her individual potential through a rigorous academic education guided by honor, service, and leadership. In this dynamic, inclusive community, students develop lifelong learning skills through the use of critical and ethical thinking."
Key Responsibilities and Essential Functions:

• Abides by McGehee's Employee Handbook
• Teaches four classes per semester
• Attends and assists in the coordination of arts events
• Communicates regularly with the Head of Upper School
• Works collaboratively with members of the Art Department
• Oversees Arts Curriculum and Instruction
  • Promotes a vision for the department as a leader in the discipline
  • Produces an annual operating and advancement plan for the department including program development and professional development plan consistent with the School's priorities
  • Leads the department in planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based curriculum and instructional practices
  • Ensures timely and accurate reporting on student growth through regular reporting practices (gradebooks, comments, report cards, etc)
  • Partners with fellow Department Chairs and the Academic Advisory Council in the development of a robust and dynamic whole-child learning environment that includes a focus on skill development
• Promotes Professional Learning
  • Posses a vision for the department, facilitates curriculum development, and infuses professional learning into daily leadership practice
  • Promotes professional development and personal growth of all department members
    • Facilitates professional goal-setting with members of the department
    • Conducts frequent classroom observations with instructional coaching for teacher improvement
    • Facilitates student feedback survey process for teacher improvement
  • Serves as a primary resource for teachers engaged in the formal professional improvement process
  • Promotes collegiality, collaboration, and teamwork within the department
• Tends to Departmental Business
  • Leads regularly scheduled departmental meetings and participates actively in faculty, grade-level, Department Chair, and Academic Advisory Council meetings
  • Ensures continuity in the execution of school policies within the department
  • Represents the department by bringing matters forward from the department Academic Advisory Council and the division head
  • Assists in the hiring process and onboarding of new faculty members
  • Plans and manages departmental budgets consistent with the mission and goals of the School; coordinates textbook and supply orders.
  • Troubleshoots problems involving individuals, students, teachers, and parents with support from administration.
  • Works with administration to plan for faculty absence

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in arts and/or arts education; Master's Degree preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of teaching experience in a classroom setting
• Prior arts programmatic development and leadership experience strongly preferred
• Well-developed interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with all constituents in a school environment, including students, co-workers, parents, alumnae, volunteers, and the public
• Advanced understanding and ability to use computers and technology including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, basic office equipment
• A positive team mentality with excellent problem-solving, multi-tasking, and organization skills
• Professional and efficient in their ability to work independently while also able to effectively collaborate with internal teams and external partners
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously with differing deadlines
• A high degree of accuracy and superior attention to detail
• Must successfully complete background screening and verification

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Visual Arts, Graphic Design, or Art Education; Master's degree is preferred.
• Have at least five years of classroom teaching experience, ideally in an all-girls or independent school setting.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand for extended periods of time;
• Physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds to shoulder height and 50 pounds to waist height; and to bend, to stoop,to reach, to sit on the floor, to climb stairs, to walk and to reach overhead.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

If you have questions, please email careers@mcgeheeschool.com.
EEO Statement
Louise S. McGehee School is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce.
McGehee does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, gender or gender identity, age, sexual orientation, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.