About This Position
Through commissions, grants, and education programs, we encourage photographers, artists, students and other creative people to examine the push and pull of daily routines and the assumptions around them.
Our wrkxfmly high school photography assignment supports students in making photographs and writing captions that explore the interplay of work and family in their lives. We pair Teaching Artists with high school photography programs and offer students the opportunity to learn from photographers, photojournalists, and artists using photography as an important medium for their work. Teaching Artists provide mentorship in the form of support and feedback on the work students create, helping them in finding ways to push their work further.
About You
You are energetic, empathetic, and passionate about art education and working with young people to help them hone their creative skills. The idea of visiting schools to work with students interested in exploring challenging themes through photography inspires and excites you. You are flexible and adaptable and enjoy working in collaboration with educators. Presenting and discussing the theme of work and family using a multi-disciplinary approach and elevating student perspectives and experiences about the topic intrigues and interests you. You enjoy giving constructive criticism to students, supporting their creative process and growth and can draw on your professional practice and experience to help guide them. You are organized and responsive and follow through with tasks at hand and scheduling. You communicate clearly and consistently and are able to express summary findings of key challenges and successes associated with the wrkxfmly assignment.
Your Key Responsibilities
Working with the Working Assumptions staff remotely by email, video conference, and phone to gain a full understanding of project themes, goals, and assignment expectations and becoming very familiar with the curriculum.
Supporting the wrkxfmly assignment in high school classrooms either in your local area or remotely.
Acting as point person for teachers and students and representing the project with enthusiasm, sensitivity, and open-mindedness.
Confidently expressing the intention and design of the program.
Coordinating meeting times and establishing timelines.
Communicating details about expectations for completion.
Helping teachers and students sign up for and use the web application and facilitate other logistical requirements of the program, including scheduling class visits and ensuring use agreements and release forms are well understood and photographs are submitted for review.
Working closely with participating teachers and students, visiting each classroom three times to present the program and provide critique and logistical assistance.
Delivering the program’s goals and content clearly and comfortably, making use of materials developed by the organization.
Promoting Working Assumptions’ mission and vision while respectfully recognizing the needs and/or limitations of varied school demographics.
Approaching the project with empathy and an appreciation of the diverse experiences and situations of young people and all issues tied to work and family.
Recognizing concerns and items for attention that merit the attention of the Director of Education, bringing those to their attention in a timely manner.
Your Background
You are comfortable working with teachers and high school students and have experience in photography education, preferably with teens.
You are an experienced photographer, either as a documentary photographer, a photojournalist, a commercial photographer, or artist that uses photography as part of their practice.
You have strong communication skills, both oral and written, and are able to present complex concepts clearly and provide criticism in a supportive manner.
Key Considerations
This position requires a flexible schedule during regular school hours, from fall through summer. The program requires approximately 10 – 15 hours per school and teaching artists have between 4 – 10 schools on average. Time requirements will vary by week, with more time required at start-up and during weeks with class visits. Classes are roughly 1 to 2 hours long, depending on the school. Class sizes vary widely, from approximately 8 to 36 students, and individual teachers vary in their preferences and work styles. You must be flexible and adaptable to fit the needs of the teacher and established classroom culture.
Compensation
$75/hour (non-exempt) with the expectation and understanding that you will be visiting participating schools in your area. Compensation includes administrative class prep time.
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Apply Now
Send a cover letter and résumé to careers@workingassumptions.org with the subject line “Teaching Artist Application.”