Co-Executive directors Jason Duchin and Tim Lord founded DreamYard in 1994. Over the past quarter century, DreamYard has worked with more than 100 public schools and over 100,000 young people and families.DreamYard has developed a robust educational community in the Bronx – from its in-school partnerships and launch of the DreamYard Preparatory High School to its Out of School Programs at the DreamYard Art Center in the Morrisania neighborhood of the Bronx. Our role is to nurture, resource, encourage, inspire, and sometimes simply remind our community members of the power and endless possibilities that they hold. We do so by encouraging personal stories, acknowledging and working to change oppressive conditions, and fortifying each individual’s personal power to transform.

The Position

DreamYard’s Teaching Artists are a powerful force in moving our educational system towards racial equity. DreamYard Teaching Artists are highly skilled artists and educators, committed to creating equitable learning spaces through collaborative teaching practices and social justice pedagogy. They report directly to the Program Director and are supported by DreamYard Department Heads and Program Coordinators. They work closely with classroom teachers, school administrators, and teaching artists to positively impact school communities. 

In after school programs, Teaching Artists lead two 90-minute session per class, per week from September/October through May/June (depending on residency length and start date.) In school programs involve one 90-minute or 45 minute session per class, per week plus weekly planning sessions with the classroom teacher from September through May, to teach the fundamentals of the art form as well as integrate with other curricular areas.

Qualifications

• Expertise in an arts discipline exhibited through an educational degree and/or professional accomplishment (published writing, exhibited artwork, performance experience etc.).

• Minimum two years full-time (or the equivalent, e.g. 4 years part time) teaching an arts discipline in a school and/or community-based setting. Teaching experience in NYC public schools preferred.

• Bachelor's degree and/or Masters degree in arts discipline or related area.

• Department of Education fingerprinting (PETS) will be required (cost partially covered by DreamYard).

Responsibilities

Instruction:

• Teaching in-school and/or after schools not to exceed 18 weekly hours of direct instruction and 9 hours of weekly planning meetings withoom teachers;

• Providing instruction in the arts (development of skills in arts disciplines consistent with NYC Blueprint) and through the arts (the achievement of academic goals as outlined in a school’s curriculum) by:

• Teaching and planning for 2-8 in-schools per week and/or possibly as many as 4 after schools per week;

• Developing long term project-based unit designs in collaboration with classroom teachers;

• Assessing student learning based on learning goals and objectives;

• Organizing at least 2 sharings of student work with teaching partners and TA colleagues at the school.

• Working in close collaboration with classroom teacher partners to:

• Plan lessons and projects during one in person 45-minute planning session  per week (and via email and phone as well, when necessary);

• Share skills with the teacher to build capacity for arts instruction at the school;

• Co-teach lessons in which both TA and teacher partner have clear roles and responsibilities for generating student learning;

• Coordinate at least one trip to a NYC cultural institution and/or one guest artist per class with a connection to learning in the classroom.

*A note: After schools are typically not co-taught with classroom teachers but are designed in collaboration with the school administration.

In addition to teaching and planning obligations, DreamYard Teaching Artists are expected to contribute to the life of the DreamYard community and the development of the larger arts education field by:

Documentation:

• Complete Curriculum maps and student rosters and document all project plans using DreamYard templates and planning tools;

• Collecting portfolios of student work for each class through photos, videos, and class artifacts.

Professional Development:

• Participating in DreamYard’s annual Teaching Artist retreat; Participating in a total of 40 hours of DreamYard TA professional development;

• Actively pursuing individualized professional development through coaching;

• Actively contributing to the professional development of the TA staff by sharing expertise and knowledge both formally and informally (e.g. leading a department meeting).
  
  

Celebrating DreamYard Students’ Accomplishment:

• Collaborating with community, school and/or DreamYard staff on identifying and preparing student work for public events including but not limited to: school and regional arts festivals, annual DreamYard showcases (DreamFest ) and DreamYard fundraising events. TAs are expected to participate in one or more of these events a year.

Supporting DreamYard’s external communication:

• Collaborate when necessary with Development and Administrative staff on gathering information necessary to communicate DreamYard’s work to funders and the larger arts and education communities
  
  

Competencies

The ideal DreamYard TA is:

• Creative. Brings innovation, passion and past experience to create a vibrant learning community.

• Collaborative. Flexible and open to ideas and knowledge; proactive, direct and a sensitive communicator.

• Mission-driven. Aligned with DY’s mission for youth development and school and community reform.

• Reflective. Holds high expectations for her or his students’ achievement and is thoughtful about the process in which they get there; Holds high expectations for self as instructor, is thoughtful about his or her effectiveness as an educator, and is committed to ongoing improvement.

• Professional. Punctual to all DreamYard commitments. Completes tasks within the time allotted and pro-actively communicates challenges that may impact accomplishing duties. Abides by DreamYard and school norms (e.g. dress code).

COVID19 Protocol:

Please note that proof of vaccinations will be required as a DreamYard COVID 19 health and safety protocol.

To Apply

Please submit (1) a resume, (2) a cover letter providing more in-depth information on your

academic and professional experience, and (3) contact information for at least three academic or professional references by October 15, 2021 to the link below:

https://app.trinethire.com/companies/32874-dreamyard-project-inc/jobs/47760-entrepreneurship-and-gaming-graphic-design-teaching-artist

About DreamYard

DreamYard offers competitive salaries, an excellent benefits package, and generous paid time off. The salary for this position is commensurate with experience and with similar positions citywide.

DreamYard is committed to the principles of arts education, educational reform and social justice, and fashions its programs to specifically address the needs of urban communities that are typically underrepresented because of race, sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Accordingly, we welcome and encourage applications from a diverse range of individuals. Bronx-based and Spanish-speaking applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. DreamYard Project, Inc. employs without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any or other attributes not related to superior performance.