Environmental Arts Instructor (Nonprofit After School Program)

Job Description

Job Description

Environmental Arts Instructor (Nonprofit After School Program) 2026-27

Title: Legacy Project Teaching Artist

Schedule: 12 -16 hrs/wk

Type: Part-Time Contract; Spans OUSD Academic & Summer Calendar

Hourly Pay Rate: $28-$32

Grade Level: 8-12

Location: Oakland, CA (in person)

Attitudinal Healing Connection, Inc. dba as The Center for ArtEsteem (ArtEsteem) promotes a culture of unity and creativity, merging the arts with social justice to manifest a better society. Every member of the ArtEsteem community is driven by our mission:

ArtEsteem empowers individuals to be self-aware and inspired through art, creativity, and education, making positive choices to break the cycle of violence for themselves and their communities.

ArtEsteem seeks to hire a Teaching Artist—a practicing artist and teacher—with a passion for art, educating and building healthy, safe communities. An excellent candidate loves working collaboratively, is trained and experienced to teach in-person, is familiar with best practices in classroom settings and classroom management, and is committed to racial, economic, and environmental justice. This position has the ability to grow into a full-time Lead Teaching position.

They must be able and willing to work with students to develop creativity, community engagement, social emotional learning, and ecological sensibilities while engaging in art activities embedded with cultural and arts integration subject relevance.

The qualities that ArtEsteem is looking for in a Teaching Artist are: Integrity, sensitivity, courage and vision; leadership capacity; collaborator, organizer, adaptability, strategist and communicator.

The Legacy Project, ArtEsteem’s in-house after school leadership cohort, supports youth in developing powerful, educated voices for social and environmental justice in their communities. Students are able to work side by side with experienced artists, environmentalists, and activists, all who support them in their journeys as young visionaries. Throughout the year, they delve into their communities and cultures and the history of the land we occupy, create art, and take field trips with the goal of creating a deeper connection with the land and one another.

Requirements:

• DOJ Live Scan background check, tuberculosis screening, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, Mandated Reporter trainings, additional training required by the agency to maintain client contract compliance and student well being.
• 2+ years of experience working with elementary, middle, and/or high school students.
• Background in sustainability and environmental justice.
• Ability to teach students visual art fundamentals, color theory, painting, drawing and/or sculpture skills.
• Knowledge of Common Core and Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) standards.
• Ability to create and teach lesson plans using ArtEsteem templates.
• Have strong classroom management skills.
• Well organized, able to balance multiple priorities, and able to meet deadlines.
• Passion for working with students of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively with the Artistic Development Manager, Community Partners, and ArtEsteem staff on curriculum and program development.

The Legacy Project Teaching Artist will be responsible for the following:

• Represent ArtEsteem in each class and event by wearing a logo'd shirt, apron, or other ArtEsteem Gear.
• Creatively integrate literacy into unit and lesson plans using middle and high school language arts, math, and science standards where applicable.
• Create curricula that utilizes the Principles of Attitudinal Healing and include tools, practices, and exercises to promote mental and physical health and wellness, environmentalism, social justice, community building, and play.
• Provide ArtEsteem with all the requisite documentation it needs for operations, curriculum, assessment, and reporting, including but not limited to enrollment and attendance forms, unit and lesson plans, classroom reflections, and timesheets according to Employee Handbook guidelines.
• Create and maintain trackable documentation and tools that support student learning, development, performance, and social emotional growth.
• Support the coordination of Parent Engagement events, fieldtrips, and earning experiences.
• Execute annual exhibition guidelines and support annual exhibition installation and preparation.
• Engage a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 20 students per class.
• Develop and implement structured and advanced arts education that culminates in skill-based learning and a robust body of work for the student portfolio.
• Develop and implement structured and advanced environmental education that empowers students through awareness, leadership, and advocacy.
• Engage, manage, and support students, creating a positive environment.
• Utilize positivity, wisdom, and personally empowered classroom management skills and best practices.
• Communicate with Associate Director and Artistic Development Manager as needed, informing both of extreme incidents or difficulties if and when they arise.
• Provide students with individualized support whenever needed and possible.
• Communicate with parents/guardians about behavior issues, attendance, or for any other reason according to your judgment, or as instructed by Associate Director and Artistic Development Manager.
• Attend Curriculum Development meetings for the Legacy Project with the Artistic Development Manager to ensure the cross collaboration between art and the environmental studies, leadership, and advocacy curriculum and program development.
• As a member of the ArtEsteem Teaching Artist Team, your responsibilities are to attend and contribute creatively and collaboratively in all team meetings, showcases, and workshops.

To apply, please prepare and submit the following materials:

• Resume
• Artist Portfolio
• Cover Letter
• Three References

Company Description

The Center for ArtEsteem (Shorthand: ArtEsteem | DBA of Attitudinal Healing Connection, Inc.) is an arts organization serving communities across the Bay Area from our homebase in West Oakland. Our mission is to empower individuals to be self-aware and inspired through art, creativity, and education, making positive choices to break the cycle of violence for themselves and their communities.

The core of our work, the ArtEsteem program, has inspired students since 1995 through the integration of arts into classroom academic coursework. The program has served over 75 historically underinvested schools and their communities, directly and indirectly reaching over 100,000 children, youth, and families in Oakland and the greater Bay Area.

In addition to arts programming for children and youth, ArtEsteem provides: professional development and training for educators in art curricula to help teachers develop visually engaging and hands-on methods that improve student involvement, comprehension, and critical thinking; murals created in collaboration with schools and businesses to beautify local communities; community arts engagement through the ArtEsteem ArtMobile, one-of-a-kind custom built steel & wood mobile trailer constructed for the sole purpose of enhancing school site and community events with unique art activities for all ages.

Company Description

The Center for ArtEsteem (Shorthand: ArtEsteem | DBA of Attitudinal Healing Connection, Inc.) is an arts organization serving communities across the Bay Area from our homebase in West Oakland. Our mission is to empower individuals to be self-aware and inspired through art, creativity, and education, making positive choices to break the cycle of violence for themselves and their communities.\r\n\r\nThe core of our work, the ArtEsteem program, has inspired students since 1995 through the integration of arts into classroom academic coursework. The program has served over 75 historically underinvested schools and their communities, directly and indirectly reaching over 100,000 children, youth, and families in Oakland and the greater Bay Area.\r\n\r\nIn addition to arts programming for children and youth, ArtEsteem provides: professional development and training for educators in art curricula to help teachers develop visually engaging and hands-on methods that improve student involvement, comprehension, and critical thinking; murals created in collaboration with schools and businesses to beautify local communities; community arts engagement through the ArtEsteem ArtMobile, one-of-a-kind custom built steel & wood mobile trailer constructed for the sole purpose of enhancing school site and community events with unique art activities for all ages.