ESY New: Classroom Teacher | SALA (Summer Arts for Learning Academy)

SUMMER ARTS FOR LEARNING ACADEMY (SALA)

ESY CLASSROOM TEACHER      

Reports to: ESY Site Lead

Classification: Temporary, Non-Exempt

The SALA ESY Classroom Teacher Job Description:

ESY Classroom Teachers are paired with a Teaching Artist and Paraeducator for the entire program (Monday - Thursday). These pairs are responsible for delivering engaging, meaningful, and joyful artist-integrated instruction both in and through the arts daily. This teacher will assist in meeting a student’s needs which result from their different abilities. Their main goal is to enable all students to be involved in and thrive in the entirety of our program. A SALA ESY classroom teacher will plan, develop, implement, and monitor individualized education programs. They will provide appropriate specialized

educational instruction and work closely with related service staff to ensure continuity of services for meeting the specific needs of students with disabilities participation in the Extended School Year (ESY) Program for students in grades pre k-8. They will also manage student behavior, assess and evaluate student achievement, and modify instructional activities as required to meet the individual needs of students. Extended School Year (ESY) & SALA.

About the Summer Arts for Learning Academy:

Baltimore City Schools’ Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA), operated by Arts for Learning Maryland, offers students an opportunity to imagine, create, and express who they are through the arts. This is an action-packed, full-day, five-week program (Monday - Thursday) that introduces students to a wide variety of art forms —from illustration and spoken word to percussion, drama, and dance— which gives students a chance to work alongside students from across the city and be taught by professional Artists. Students’ work is celebrated through a student showcase on the final day of the program. Arts for Learning Maryland will host ten Academy sites throughout the city, locations TBD. 

Mission and Core Values:

The mission of Arts for Learning Maryland’s Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) is to provide students with an opportunity to spend summer learning from the best Teachers and Teaching Artists our state has to offer. Through a dynamic, creative, and supportive environment, students will explore math and literacy in a unique arts-integrated environment that allows them to develop socially and emotionally, expands their personal creative process, introduces them to different art forms taught by professional Artists, and allows them to experience math and literacy content from a different lens.

We...

• believe unwaveringly that ALL students can achieve high standards in and through the arts.
• provide opportunities for students to develop powerfully articulate voices through art forms and honor their creative processes along the way.
• create safe, brave learning environments for students to grow, make mistakes, and contribute to the community.
• collaborate and reflect by learning from and with each other at every step of the process, cultivating positive relationships between all ages.
• encourage the development of critical thinking, problem solving, inquiry, imagination, and creativity, and provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate knowledge and mastery.
• learn about, honor, and leverage the cultural knowledge, experiences, and frames of reference of our students and community to make learning more relevant and effective.
• ensure that our students are known, loved, supported, celebrated, and valued.

Essential functions:  

• provide direct instructional services to students with disabilities based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• experience working with students with behavioral, cognitive, intellectual, social, and emotional disabilities.
• assesses individual students with disabilities for the purpose of preparing and implementing individual education programs.
• will participate in professional development prior to the start of the ESY Program and meet regularly with site-based and district office ESY Lead.
• develop, adapt, modify, and individualize educational materials, resources, techniques, methods, and strategies to meet the needs of students with disabilities. 
• maintains appropriate records and documents for students participating in ESY Program. 
• establish and maintain effective discipline and management procedures for students. 
• evaluate the academic and social progress of students participating in the ESY Program. 
• collaborate with parents of students participating in the ESY Program to ensure ongoing communication and instructional support. 
• assign work to and oversee aides and parent and student volunteers, if applicable. 
• participate in-service training, staff development activities and staff meetings as required or assigned. 
• perform and promote all activities in compliance with equal employment and non-discrimination policies; follows federal laws, state laws, school board policies and the professional standards. 
  
  

ESY Classroom Teachers Have:

• Bachelor’s degree in education. Degree must be from an accredited college or institution.
• Valid standard professional teaching certificate in Special Education; Dual certification in content area preferred
• Two years of successful teaching experience in City Schools
• Excellent oral and written communication and human relation skills 
• Satisfactory or Proficient evaluation rating for the 2024-2025 School Year 
• A willingness to be flexible in service to our ESY SALA  community. 
• A passion for students: an ability to build meaningful relationships, and a desire to “go above and beyond” to ensure each student’s success.
• A strong interest (with experience preferred) in arts integration and co-teaching.
• A willingness to use either the school office landline or their personal cell phone (number blocking is acceptable) to contact parents regularly.
• A commitment to seeing families as partners in education and communicating with them regularly.
• An ability to attend and engage in all required training and program dates.
• An ability to create inclusive environments where all students’ unique gifts and talents are discovered and cultivated, and where students’ identities (racial, cultural, social, gender, etc.) are acknowledged, affirmed, and reflected around them. 
• An ability to examine biases and an understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and its impact on policies and practices, especially related to the administration of public education.
• A strong desire to fully integrate into a non-traditional learning environment where flexibility is strongly valued and where new and innovative ideas are not only cultivated but expected from all staff.
• Excellent time management and organization skills.
• Proficient in the use of technical computer applications, including Google Platforms, Microsoft Office and Excel. 

Please note, staff working in SALA will need to be able to stand, walk, and be active throughout the entire duration of the program day. They will need to be able to keep up with and supervise students within and outside the classroom, for example, during Fitness and Fun time and field trips. Staff will also need to be able to lift up to 20lbs on occasion when setting up and breaking down classroom and/or preparing for performances and other events. Bending, kneeling, and climbing stairs are also frequently needed during SALA. 

Required Dates, Times, and Working Hours:

SALA ESY Classroom Teachers must be able to commit to attending  program and training days, including PD week shortly before program launch, and spring PD dates that will occur March-June. Specific dates and deadlines will be provided in a timely manner and all training is paid.

• SALA ESY Program Dates: For all Baltimore sites, the program will run Monday through Thursday for a 5 week period of time. Program hours for students are 8:00 am (Breakfast) to 2:00 pm. 
• • ESY Classroom Teachers time commitment: 7.5 hours a day (7.30am - 3.00pm).
• Weekly Meetings and Planning Time: One 30-minute staff meeting per week (days/times TBD by Site Directors); Planning time (vertical and co-planning): 2 hours a week (more information on this during Spring PD). These hours are required and paid.

Compensation:

• The SALA Classroom Teacher position is a temporary non-exempt position and is not eligible for health benefits. However, you are eligible for Sick and Safe Leave
• Classroom Teachers will be paid an hourly rate of $50
• ALL positions will be paid at the hourly rate of $25 for all professional development sessions and training. 
  
  

Time Off:

Grant and special-funded staff, hired for short-term assignments, internships, and as temporary project-based staff, are not eligible to accrue PTO, however Sick and Safe leave is available to these employees. Sick and Safe Leave is accrued at a rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked and begins accruing on day one of employment. Employees may use the leave in increments of 1 hour or greater. Employees will be paid at their current regular rate for each accrued Sick and Safe Leave hour used.

Employees who have questions about Sick and Safe Leave, including (i) their eligibility for Sick and Safe Leave; (ii) when Sick and Safe Leave may be used; and (iii) the amount of available Sick and Safe Leave should promptly contact the People Operations Department (pops@artsforlearningmd.org)

Job Responsibilities:

• The SALA ESY Classroom Teacher is part of the Instructional Team. All members of the Instructional Team have a responsibility to:
• Create a positive culture and climate within the classroom by centering the program’s mission and core values, and addressing any issues within the parameters of site procedures and expectations.
• Provides direct instructional services to students with disabilities based on their Individualized Education Program (IEP).
• Assesses individual students with disabilities for the purpose of preparing and implementing individual education programs.
• Teachers will participate in professional development prior to the start of the ESY Program and meet regularly with site based and district office ESY Lead.
• Develops, adapts, modifies and individualizes educational materials, resources, techniques, methods, and strategies to meet the needs of students with disabilities.
• Maintains appropriate records and documents for students participating in ESY Program.
• Establishes and maintains effective discipline and management procedures for students.
• Evaluates the academic and social progress of students participating in the ESY Program.
• Collaborates with parents of students participating in the ESY Program to ensure ongoing communication and instructional support.
• Participates in in-service training, staff development activities and staff meetings as required or assigned.
• Build relationships with students, staff, and parents and create a positive, supportive community within the classroom and site.
• Attend all professional development and planning meetings as instructed by Arts for Learning and SALA Site Directors
• Complete or oversee the completion of all required paperwork as assigned by the Site Director including student attendance records, student pre and post surveys or assessments, student observation rubrics, student progress reports, etc.
• Assist with the preparation and planning of the final student culminating showcase.
• Collaborate with and provide support for various partnerships and external stakeholders.
• Support fitness & fun at least two times per week in partnership with the P.E. teacher
• Submit verbal and written reports as required.
• Administer student program evaluations.
• Follow and uphold all site health and safety procedures.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

Classroom Teachers have the following specific responsibilities:

• Lead a daily 30-minute SQUAD (morning meeting time) that promotes character development and builds one-on-one relationships with students.
• In partnership with a Teaching Artist, deliver content effectively via the Artist’s art form. Teachers are the grade level common core math & literacy content specialists in the Artist/Teacher pairs, and they will need to be willing to learn about their Teaching Artist’s art form in order to provide appropriate arts-integrated instruction.
• Support their Teaching Artist partner and their students in daily Arts Explorations.
• Support SALAbrations every Thursday.
• Provide one-on-one instruction and support to students as needed.

To apply:

For consideration, apply online at: www.artsforlearningmd.org/programs/summer-arts-academy/work-with-us/ 

Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultivating a diverse workforce and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, veteran status, and disability. All qualified applications will be given equal opportunity.