Substitute Elementary Performing Arts Teacher

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 53 schools serving more than 20,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

Camden Prep currently manages four schools serving students in grade K through 10 (growing to grade 12). We believe in strong authentic relationships between teachers and students, supported by effective school systems and an engaging instructional model that enables students to flourish academically and personally. Camden Prep is consistently the highest performing of all district or Renaissance schools in Camden, NJ. 

Job Description

Uncommon Elementary Performing Arts Teachers foster a love for learning in every student. Our Performing Arts program is culturally-responsive, fast-paced, and fun—with plenty of acting, dancing, and singing in every lesson. Teachers cultivate communication skills and build student self-confidence by sharing their expertise in musical theater. We have built a community that encourages respect and hard work and celebrates our students’ academic and nonacademic achievements.  Our performance based program goal is to train students to express their authentic unique selves with confidence.

Responsibilities

1. Teaching:

• You'll create an environment where students feel empowered to express themselves through song, dance, and drama.
• You'll teach enunciation, projection, acting, singing, and movement through our culturally relevant performance based program.
• You'll collaborate with fellow performing arts teachers to further develop a network-wide curriculum. 
• You'll teach Uncommon Schools performing arts curriculum which involves music, acting and movement.
• You'll design, direct and produce multiple school productions annually.

2. Producing:

• You'll direct annual productions that enhance and reflect school culture.
• You'll create or order costumes, production sets, and props when needed.
• You'll craft production elements such as lights, sound, and set. 

3. School Culture: 

• You’ll build positive relationships with students to ensure they feel seen, loved, and heard.
• You’ll partner with students’ families to ensure appropriate resources are available to support their children’s learning needs.
• You'll engage in practice-based professional development, mentorship, and coaching sessions. 
• You’ll support morning arrival, lunch duty, student assemblies, class transitions, and after-school dismissal. 
• You’ll support weekly morning circles and community meetings to celebrate student accomplishments and increase school spirit.
• You'll partner with your grade level team to develop academic goals and practice instructional strategies.

Qualifications

• A commitment to the mission of Uncommon Schools and investment in our vision for being an anti-racist organization
• A demonstrated commitment to supporting students’ social emotional and academic development
• An enthusiasm for working with families in the best interest of students 
• A self-directed learner who solicits and implements feedback to improve outcomes and achieve objectives
• A passion for musical theatre (singing, acting, and dancing) and an ability to provide individual and small group instruction
• Required Experience:
  • A minimum of 2 years of combined experience as a performer, producer, playwright, director, and/or technical support.
  • Prior to the start of employment, you must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. Teacher certification is not a prerequisite for consideration at Uncommon Schools in the state of NJ, but you do need to meet NJ state certification eligibility requirements (a final undergraduate or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 for graduates on or after 9/1/16, or 2.75 if you graduated prior to 9/1/16). All instructional staff are required to become certified in the state of New Jersey within a reasonable period after beginning employment.

Additional Information

Our people are what makes us Uncommon.  We believe our compensation philosophy and benefits should re