Director of Visual and Performing Arts

PK-12 Arts Department Chair

The Blake School seeks to hire a PK-12 Arts Department Chair. The ideal candidate has experience teaching at each division and can share a passion for best practice pedagogy in arts education in the fields of visual arts, instrumental and vocal music, as well as theater arts, and debate. Experience supporting arts education through the lenses of global and intercultural competence is deeply important.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Collaborate with department members to articulate the shared vision consistent with Blake's mission, to oversee the mapping and alignment of the arts curriculum PK-12, and to assess the overall curricular and co-curricular program; lead PK-12 and divisional department meetings.
• Promote professional development for all who teach Arts so that each teacher can effectively implement a wide range of best-practice instructional and assessment strategies.
• Serve on the All-School Academic Council, divisional committees and work with other department chairs and division directors to coordinate and integrate, as appropriate, course content and offerings; coordinate scheduling, registration and resource ordering.
• Audit the department's curriculum for and assist in the integration of multicultural perspectives, differentiated instruction, technology and media literacy, and service learning, where appropriate.
• Coordinate calendar of visual and performing arts performances and shows
• Communicate with parents and the wider community about the department's philosophy, vision, offerings, measures of success and challenges through presentations, the website and print publications.
• Be present in each campus each week, attending divisional meetings and performing arts events and gallery openings.
• Oversee artist-in-residence programs and the work of the Technical Theatre Director of the MacMillan Performing Arts Center.
• Teach the equivalent of half-time.
• Oversee department budgets
• Develop and manage short- and long-range maintenance and replacement plans for instruments and equipment.

Faculty Support and Evaluation

• Build community and collegiality by being a reliable presence at department events outside of the school day (e.g., concerts, theater performances, debate tournaments)
• Envision and support professional development for arts faculty so each teacher can effectively implement a wide range of best-practice instructional and assessment strategies
• Collaborate closely with administrators on hiring, retaining, coaching, and evaluating department faculty. Oversee the hiring of arts contractors (e.g., sectional music assistants, musical choreographers, debate coaches, judges)

Partnerships

• Serve as liaison to Twin Cities Arts organizations (including Walker Arts Center, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, MCAD, Young Audiences, etc.).
• Collaborate with the Advancement Office to oversee arts gift accounts

Required Qualifications:

• Undergraduate degree in visual or performing arts
• Substantial professional experience in arts leadership or arts education
• Effective organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of and commitment to learning about arts programming in the fields of visual arts, instrumental and vocal music, theater arts, and debate
• Demonstrated ability to coach and evaluate personnel

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong preference for advanced degree or work toward an advanced degree in a relevant field

Disclaimer:

The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job nor are they intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job. The duties and responsibilities in this job description may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.