Position:           Extended Term Substitute, Drama Theater Arts Teacher (0.5 FTE/17.5 Hours per Week)

                        Available September 2024 through no later than February 2025

                        Visual & Performing Arts Department/Amigos School/Vassal Lane Upper School

About Amigos School:

The Amigos School is committed to a strong tradition of excellence in a dual language education of English and Spanish. La Escuela Amigos está dedicada a una sólida tradición de excelencia en la educación bilingüe del inglés y el español.

About Vassal Lane Upper School:

The Vassal Lane Upper School is a place where everyone belongs. We envision our students as scholars and believe in the power of perseverance. We become better together.

All students, teachers, families, and administrators are active members of the VLUS community, engaging in their own learning and development. We are committed to collaboration and creating environments in which all students learn at high levels. We are mindful of societal inequities and work to challenge injustice. We strive to promote inquiry, reflection, critical thinking, creative expression, resilience, civic engagement, and lifelong learning.

The Opportunity:

Escuela Amigos and Vassal Lane Upper School, in partnership with the Visual and Performing Arts Department, seeks a confident, creative, social-justice oriented, and compassionate Extended Term Substitute Theater Arts teacher to lead and enhance the vision for the theater program. The Theater Arts Teacher will teach grades 6-8 theater/drama classes and report both to the Principals and the Director of the Visual and Performing Arts Department (VPA).  This position is divided between Amigos School and Vassal Lane Upper School.

Key Responsibilities:

• Teach theater/drama classes to grades 6-8
• Provide a comprehensive overview of culturally responsive theater art education
• Direct one after-school play a year, and small showcases for arts nights
• Promote effective and efficient creative and work habits
• Evaluate student work, develop peer feedback through a variety of assessment methods
• Supervise and mentor students in dramatic and technical theater
• Implement a rigorous and balanced standards-based art curriculum
• Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners
• Demonstrate flexibility and compassion, while maintaining high expectations for student achievement
• Demonstrate strong classroom management skills
• Employ instructional methods that motivate students
• Collaborate with school faculty to develop interdisciplinary curriculum and work with challenging students
• Contribute to departmental and school wide curriculum projects and other initiatives
• Steward the careful use of supplies, equipment, and teaching resources
• Other duties as assigned

Your Skill Set:

As the incoming ETS Theater Arts Teacher, you will possess many, though perhaps not all, of the following characteristics and qualifications:

• 3+ years’ experience leading theater/drama instruction in an urban, multicultural setting in 6-8.
• Culturally responsive educator with a strong sense for social justice and equity.
• High degree of comfort working with colleagues to build and refine engaging, standards based learning experiences that are responsive to the needs and interests of the communities you serve.
• Collaborative disposition, eager to partner with classroom teachers, VPA staff, and other team members in the district on behalf of our students and families.
• Excellent classroom management skills and use appropriate authentic assessment strategies to monitor student progress.
• Ability to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners and adjust practice to meet the needs of all students.
• Strong organizational skills, setting up structures that allow you to manage your own work effectively and position colleagues for success. 
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university required.
• Massachusetts Licensure for Theater preferred. 

How to Join Our Team:

Please upload a resume and thoughtful cover letter, outlining how your skills, experience, and commitment to equity in education meet the qualifications of the position as well as stating how you heard about this opportunity.

At the Cambridge Public Schools, we are committed to cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, acknowledging that a team reflecting diversity of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status allows us to serve our communities better. To that end, we welcome and encourage applicants to bring their authentic selves when considering employment opportunities within our school district.