Director Of Education & Curriculum Development

The application window for this position has an anticipated end date of03/11/2024.

Company Overview

The Denver Center for the Performing Arts (DCPA) is one of the largest non-profit theatre organizations in the nation, presenting Broadway tours and producing theatre, cabaret, musicals, and innovative, immersive experiences. Through these experiences and alongside our robust Education program, we engage hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.

The DCPA’s workforce includes more than 300 employed team members in non-union and union positions (in partnership with seven unions). In addition, we employ hundreds of artists and contractors annually. We have a strong volunteer program which includes more than 300 volunteers.

Our Mission: “We engage and inspire through the transformative power of live theatre.”

Culture Statement

For more than 40 years, creativity and community have been the foundation of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts’ success. As a leading cultural organization in the Rocky Mountain West, we are actively participating in a cultural evolution of belonging and anti-racism. Our commitment to reflect the diversity and priorities of our community — in our workplace, audience and programming — has never been more present.

We believe that the theater can transform us — and be transformed by us. We invite you to be part of our Team.

Job purpose:

The Director of Education and Curriculum Development works with the Education and Community Engagement team, Teaching Artists, Program Managers and other department Directors to develop and deliver high quality theatre education for children, teen and adult students, teachers, schools, school administration, corporations, theatre professionals and DCPA theatre artists. The position designs, implements, manages, assesses, and maintains Education Department curriculum in close collaboration with the Executive Director of Education and Community Engagement. This position includes Curriculum Development and teaching programming for all ages.

Duties and responsibilities

• Teach and facilitate master level theatre curriculum within child, teen, adult, professional development, and in school arts integration programming: Dramatic Learning, Theatre for Young Audiences, Community Engagement, special assignments/projects. Teaching across all programming lines of the class offerings of the department is a main function of this position to ensure the highest quality of all class deliverables.

• Create and implement sustainable high-quality curriculum for all the diverse programs within the Education & Community Engagement Department, on and off site.

• Develop new curriculum for the breadth of DCPA Education offerings and teaching responsibilities.
• Lead, design, and direct assessment for the Education & Community Engagement Department deliverables including rubric development, creation of assessment models to track learning and student transformation, and development of course imbedded assessment to reflect the impact of programming and curriculum. Assessment requires both qualitative and quantitative methods including classroom observations. The position serves as the primary resource for the Education and Community Engagement department staff/faculty in lesson plan content, design and implementation including assessment with deep knowledge of current best-practices in education, educational theatre, community programming.

• Serve as the central resource for Education faculty in designing and implementing theatre arts-integrated curriculum that supports Colorado State Standards for in-school programming.
• Lead Development Team partnership on grant and fundraising narratives and reporting. Write grant narratives as needed.

• Track, culminate, aggregate, and archive programmatic engagement, assessment, and data.
• Oversee Saturday child/teen classes including supervision of curriculum creation, schedule and onsite faculty support and parent/care giver communication.
• Operate as member of principal team to guide classroom management and student behavioral success plans for classroom engagement for Saturday classes and summer.
• Train, develop, cultivate part time teaching artist faculty. Build strong community with full and part-time faculty to support and bolster the mission of the DCPA.
• Collaborate with teaching artists, public school teachers, and administrators to develop arts integrated curriculum; collaborate with corporate and/or cultural organizations to develop theatre integrated curriculum

• Serves in partnership with the Executive Director, as a representative of the department both within the organization and as a community liaison. This role is a critical member of the Education and Community Engagement leadership team and organizational partner in institutional and cross-departmental work.

• Support the Director of Business Operations to facilitate budgetary considerations as pertaining to Child/Teen on site class programming

• Direct Saturday and summer Child/Teen classes to support part time and Core Team Teaching Artists – support student needs, be available for parent and family questions.

Qualifications

• M.A. or M.F.A, degree in theatre, theatre education, education, or similar or equal professional experience.
• 8 - 10 years drama/theatre teaching experience required, including demonstrating proficiency in developing and teaching arts-integrated curriculum, articulating and teaching the breath of the theatre experience and the craft of acting including improvisation, scene study, play analysis, directing
• Experience in a diversity of classrooms, programs, and ages.

• Personal and professional commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and the requisite skillfulness to support student and faculty growth in this area and to facilitate critical conversations in the design of more inclusive curriculum and programs.

• Possess highly collaborative and organizational skills. Assessment proficiency required.
• Well versed in working and collaborating with schools, teachers, school districts and community partners
• Working knowledge and proficiency of Microsoft Office products.
• Excellent speaking and communication skills
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Expert knowledge and experience as a teaching artist – all ages
• Expert knowledge and experience in teaching and modeling arts integration strategies
• Expert knowledge of arts in education Curriculum Development’s collaborative process and outcome delivery with stake holders: educators, administrators, community members, arts organization staff, and funders
• Extensive knowledge in working with standards, assessments, and evaluation.
• Exemplary writing and presentation skills
• Exemplary classroom management and lesson facilitation – all ages

Supervisor responsibilities

• Manage, supervise, schedule, train part-time teaching artists and faculty to deliver programming needs including Curriculum Development, activation, and on-site classes.

Working conditions

Must be able to accommodate a highly varying schedule including Saturdays through fall, winter, spring and various evenings. Must be available to work nights and weekends. Must be able to travel throughout Denver and the major metro area. This position operates in a professional office environment using standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers. Onsite presence necessary for this position

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Physical requirements

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but in some classroom settings can be loud.

Benefits

Full time positions include the following benefits:

Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability, Flexible Spending Accounts, Life Insurance and Pet Insurance

401k Plan with employer contributions

Time off benefits including personal days, sick days, vacation days and 10 paid holidays.

Work from home options are available.

In order to provide high quality, culturally competent care to our patrons, students, guests and team members, it is of highest importance that our hiring practices reflect our values by offering an environment that celebrates diversity and embraces inclusion. All of our team members – regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, language, abilities/disabilities, socioeconomic status, geographic region, or other defining characteristics – should feel welcome and valued.