Job Description
Job Description
Salary : 80,000
Summary :
The SFJAZZ Lead Teaching Artist collaborates in the creation of curricula, develops and leads middle and high school residencies, facilitates professional development workshops for teaching artists, and develops content for in-school, extracurricular and other SFJAZZ Education programs. The Lead Teaching Artist is also responsible for supporting Teaching Artists with curriculum and classroom facilitation, leading Professional Development workshops with classroom teachers and school administrators, regularly observing and evaluating on-call Teaching Artists, cultivating site partnerships, and engaging the organization across departments to execute program goals. This Lead Teaching Artist position will be primarily responsible for stewardship of the Jazz In Session programwhich provides support to middle and high school jazz band programswith other duties as assigned.
Responsibilities :
Programming & Curriculum Development
- Collaborate with SFJAZZ staff and classroom / band room teachers within our partner schools to support a standards-based
curriculum in jazz music performance and literacy. Curriculum development will embody the pedagogical philosophy of SFJAZZ in amplifying and celebrating jazz music in all its forms.
Conduct regular reviews and audits of curricular plans, pedagogical methodology, teaching tools etc., using the most recent trends and research on relevant practices and diversity initiatives to ensure all students are celebrated and included.Design and gather curriculum guides, instructional materials, lesson plans,assessments tools and other learning resources that support students of all levels and backgrounds.
Provide instruction for Jazz In Session residencies as needed throughout the school year.Develop and modify curricula designed to help students explore and immerse themselves in jazz music study, appreciation and performance.Lead regular check-ins with classroom teachers and school administrators and respond to changing requests from program sites.Review / edit lesson plan archive on an ongoing basis.Teaching Artist Support
Support on-call Teaching Artists with curriculum and content development for in-school, extracurricular and other programs as requiredLead pre-residency meetings with school site staff and on-call Teaching Artists to establish expectations and outline goals for the residencySupport on-call TAs with classroom management strategies and solutionsProblem-solve any school site or Teaching Artist issues, including placement, program quality and delivery, under the guidance of the School Programs teamCollaborate on maintaining and updating on-call Teaching Artist expectationsParticipate in on-call Teaching Artist hiring and onboarding process, including interviews and assessing candidate teaching demonstrationsFacilitate annual Teaching Artist orientation, including creating and updating documents, policies, procedures, etc.Conduct regular in-class observations / assessments of TAs classroom management skills, ability to meet learning objectives, and conduct follow-up debriefs with Teaching ArtistsParticipate in on-call TA performance review processes including classroom observations, evaluations andprogress reports
Attend school site meetings throughout the year, mandatory professional development sessions, and department meetings as scheduled by SFJAZZ Education staffFacilitate professional development sessions on best curriculum-building and teaching practices, particularly on how to integrate the history and evolution of jazz and Black American music into age-appropriate contentStewardship of School Partnerships
Cultivate school site partnerships and engage the organization across departments to execute program goalMaintain timely communication with SFJAZZ Education staff and program sites via email, phone, and in personWork collaboratively with the School Programs team to align partner needs with programsConduct classroom visits for possible partner schoolsAssess and determine SFJAZZ School Programs alignment with potential school site partnersQualifications :
Minimum four (4) years experience developing residency-length music education curricula and teaching creative content to middle and high school students from a variety of backgroundsDirect experience supporting educators through mentorship, coaching, and leading professional development workshopsExcellent written and oral communication skills, and collaborative work ethicMinimum of five (5) years professional experience as a jazz music educator and performerExtensive knowledge and understanding of African Diaspora, jazz history and repertoire, and performance practiceKnowledge of age-appropriate teaching methods and best practices in the context of music educationExperience with collaboratively overseeing a team of on-call Teaching ArtistsExperience in jazz composition and arranging techniquesMust pass fingerprinting and TB test before hireBilingual in Spanish is desirableExperience with culturally responsive, trauma-informed or healing-centered teaching practices is desirableSFJAZZ School Programs
From field trips to our unique SFJAZZ Center Auditorium, to hands-on learning in their very own classrooms and mentorship with jazz professionals, SFJAZZ School Programs give students access to the living history of jazz music. SFJAZZ supports SFUSD and OUSD public and charter schools through interactive, in-person residencies developed in partnership with classroom / band room teachers, and extends our reach beyond the Bay Area. All programs are offered free of charge.
Working Conditions :
SFJAZZ has a flexible work policy. This position is required to be on-site in the office or at school sites
a minimum of 3 days / week, combined with assigned in-school teaching hours. SFJAZZ produces events and performances all times of the day / week. Evenings / weekends may be required.
Additionally, you will have the benefit of 8 weeks off, with 2 weeks in the wintertime and 6 weeks off in the summertime. Specifically, you will be off work the last week of December and the first week of January for the winter break, and the second week of June to the third week of July for the summer break. This position primarily works within the School District system; your schedule will closely reflect the monthly schedule of teachers in that system, with the winter and summer weeks off.
