JOB TITLE: Summer Camp Teaching Artist
REPORTS TO: Education Director
PAY: $17.34-$26.00/hr dependent on experience for teaching; Multnomah County minimum wage for prep and meetings; seasonal, non-exempt
OVERVIEW:
Northwest Children’s Theater and School (NWCT) seeks experienced and energetic teaching artists from diverse backgrounds to lead in-person summer camps. Applicants should have practical experience teaching creative drama, musical theater, devised theater, and/or choreography to youth ages 4-15 in camps, classrooms, theater schools, or after-school settings.
Lead Teaching Artists:
3+ years practical experience teaching theater to youth.
Demonstrated experience teaching creative drama; musical theater; and directing youth.
Strong grasp of a variety of classroom behavior techniques, implementing proactive group management.
Experience mentoring teens or leadership roles with peers.
Assistant Teaching Artists:
1-3 years of experience working with youth.
Developing classroom management skills.
Emerging lesson plan development with most experience as a co-teacher or implementing existing curriculum.
SCHEDULE:
Monday-Friday
June 17-Aug 23, 2024
Training will take place between June 3-14
Full-Day: 8:30am-4:30pm
Half-Day AM: 8:30am-1:00pm
Half-Day PM: 12:00-4:30pm
Candidates must be available for 5 consecutive weeks of summer camp. Minor scheduling conflicts may be permitted.
This position requires travel to locations in SE Portland, NE Portland, downtown Portland, and/or Beaverton. Teaching Artists will be stationed at one location per week
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
-Lead creative drama (Explore) camps:
+Develop and implement thoughtful and flexible content for 10-20 students ages 4-9 based on the theme of camp.
+Work with a co-teacher to develop creative adventures and imaginative world-building to immerse students in the world of camp.
+Develop content for an informal final demo on the last day of camp.
-Lead play/musical (Performance) camps:
+Co-direct students (ages 8-11 or 10-14) in musical theater performances.
+Hold informal auditions, conceptualize and block production, teach music and basic choreography, and run rehearsals with approximately 12-18 students.
-Lead skill-specific (Specialty) camps:
+Teach classes for 10-20 students (ages 10-14) in a variety of theater skills: Musical theater, stage combat, improv, comedy styles, etc.
+Develop content for an informal final demo on the last day of camp.
-Inspire youth to create, play, develop confidence, and build a sense of community through theater.
-Address the learning needs of diverse student populations.
-Instill in children a love of theater, an excitement for performance, and a willingness to collaborate.
-Implement classroom management strategies to establish a welcoming learning environment where students feel a sense of agency and belonging.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
-Experience working with young people in camp, classroom, theater school, or after-school settings.
-Experience in theater performance (acting, musical theater, choreography, directing, etc) and/or creative drama (devising, creative play, imaginative world-building, theater games, etc).
-Willingness to adapt to NWCT teaching techniques and approaches.
-Ability to anticipate solutions to problems and exercise good judgment in emergency situations.
-Flexibility to change approach or teaching methods to best fit the situation.
-Understanding of the developmental needs of youth.
-Works well in a team environment with minimal supervision.
-Background checks required.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
-First Aid and CPR certification.
-English/Spanish bilingual.
DESIRABLE PERSONAL VALUES:
-Passion for youth arts education and an understanding of the transformative role the performing arts can play in youths’ lives.
-Dedication to empowering students to share their voice and perspectives.
-Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.
-Engages in active listening and is sensitive to the needs of others.
-Works with a deep sense of play and celebrates joy within the process and product.
-Flexible, fun, responsible, patient, creative, and self-motivated.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS:
-Able to lift 30 pounds. (Reasonable accommodations will be made for persons with disabilities.)
-Must be flexible working in a fast-paced, nonprofit environment.
-Willing to use personal equipment such as a cell phone when working remotely.
-Reliable transportation or comfort navigating public transit to travel to locations in the Portland metro area.
Deadline March 22, 2024. Submit a cover letter and resume to educationhiring@nwcts.org. Submit documents in PDF format only.
