[Continued from home page]      PAW’s Artists-in-Schools and Artists-in-Communities programs reach thousands of youth in public schools, transitional housing facilities, and community centers each year.  Teaching artists in these programs engage students in Creative Writing, Theatre Arts, all kind of Creative Movement/Modern Dance and All Kinds, Music.

Between 35 and 30 TAs are employed during peak season in the summer. The Workshop is always looking for new hires, and recruits heavily between the end of July through October.

Right now, PAW especially needs artists that want to teach during the summer, artists who can bring theatre to another level in the classroom by engaging students in critical thinking and creative expression while learning the basic tenets of theatre. They are also seeking highly skilled hip hop dance artists who feel comfortable teaching to a wide range of populations.

Because the Workshop partners with a diverse set of school sites and community programs, they look for teaching artists who can teach in a range of classroom settings and learning backgrounds from special education, English as a Second Language, to incarcerated youth. Artists who are willing to travel to different parts of the Bay Area are in high demand. 

“We train new teaching artists in a methodology that focuses on the creative process and develops critical thinking skills, Trickey says. “If you are an artist constantly striving to expand your teaching skill set while making profound and lasting changes in your students’ lives, then we would love to hear from you!”

PAW provides extensive, paid training and support for its teaching artists.  A Workshop teaching artist will work in a classroom or after-school program in residence once or twice a week for a minimum of 10 weeks (maximum of 30 weeks)

In partnership with site staff, artists set learning goals for their students that go beyond technical training in a particular art form to developing students’ critical thinking and creative problem solving skills.

Residencies that occur during the school day are part of PAW’s Artists-in-Schoolsprogram. Residencies that occur out of school time or in nontraditional school settings such as juvenile hall are part of their Artists-in-Communities program.

 “Our teaching artists are the key to our program quality,” says Trickey. “We work hard to train and support them – both in and out of the classroom. All teaching artist candidates, regardless of experience, must undergo an audition and interview process before hiring. And all our new teaching artists, regardless of experience, must undergo an 8-week, paid internship with an Artist Mentor.”  [See VIDEO Below]

This internship process introduces artists to the Workshop’s Cycle of Artistic Inquiry, to reflective practice, and to the Workshop’s Youth Outcomes. Both in the classroom and in one-on-one meetings after teaching, interning artists of all levels receive the support and attention they need in order to grow as artists and as teachers. 

PAW artists meet in small artist learning circles on a monthly basis, co-facilitated by Program staff and Artist Mentors. In these meetings, artists discuss issues in the field and the complexities of teaching their work as teaching artists.  “We believe that teaching artists who are excited about learning will in turn ignite the young minds of their students.”

 A decade of independent research on the Workshop’s methodology has found that students score higher on standardized math and language arts tests, improve their critical thinking skills, and are more engaged in school.

Another striking finding is that special education students feel more confident learning with their general education peers. 

The Workshop is located at Third and Cesar Chavez/Army in the Bayview Hunter’s Point
neighborhood, near Dogpatch and the MUNI T line. 

Cal Shakes, where students immerse themselves in the power of Shakespeare's plays

Cal Shakes operates 4 summer conservatories for students and places teaching artists in year-round school residencies and after school programs throughout the year.

Cool Fact:  Students attending Cal Shakes matinees often say they thought Shakespeare would be dull and boring, but they really found it exciting and surprisingly funny.  Most say that they would like to see another Shakespeare play.

Artistic Director:  Jon Moscone.             Managing Director:   Susie Falk.     

Director of Artistic Learning:  Trish Tillman Artistic Learning Admin Mgr:  Jenna Stitch

Working roster of TAs:  50 at peak (during summer)    Accepts email applications all year, esp Aug and Jan.

California Shakespeare Theater’s Summer Shakespeare Conservatory grows from the same passion for artistic exploration that guides the company’s Main Stage productions. Conservatory students are asked to set aside limits and be courageous and open to surprise as they immerse themselves in the power of Shakespeare’s plays.

“We aim to create a sense of
home” – in the group ensemble of a class, a production, and within one’s own self.  Every student, no matter the age, socioeconomic level or cultural background, is searching for a place of confidence and security in their own being and where they fit into the world, and time after time we succeed in providing that place for students. Added to this is a strong emphasis on the professional discipline of theater and the ability to not only discover oneself, but also develop deep empathy for others - for a character in a story or for the person right next to you.”

Interested teaching artists should check the website first to get a sense of the scope of Cal Shakes programs and to see if their experience, background and values might be a good fit.  Cal Shakes rarely lists job opportunities on its website, but they accept applicants at any time of year – January and August are definitely the best times to apply. Job inquiries should be sent to Jenna Stitch at jstich@calshakes.org Include resumes (both theatrical and teaching experience) and a letter stating interests and abilities. Include other information that will support your application such as links to your website or other relevant media. 

(See "Interesting Facts" on TAO's home page)

During the camp season (June - August), Galileo has about 85 art instructors on its roster.  Their hiring season begins in mid-December, and continues on a rolling basis until the end of May. Galileo looks for teaching artists in the following disciplines: Cartooning, Digital Photography, Digital Filmmaking, Fashion Design, Painting, San Francisco Art, Greek Art, Renaissance Art, and more. In their hiring, Galileo especially looks for a commitment to educational programming for children.   (See video below.)   Other qualities they seek in their teaching artists include:

•                Flexibility to meet changing work needs and demands

•                Ability to work collaboratively on a high-functioning team

•                Openness to feedback and desire to grow professionally

•                Ability to handle multiple tasks efficiently and accurately

•                Strong organization skills and attention to detail

•                Ability to communicate clearly, maturely and compassionately with parents

•                Ability to maintain an excellent work ethic, a high level of energy and exceptional enthusiasm all day, every day, for up to 8 weeks

As for experience, they prefer:

•                College graduates

•                Experience with the grade level you will be teaching

•                Experience working with kids or in a camp setting a plus

According to Recruiting Outreach Manager Shauna Graham, lead instructors are pivotal to the summer experience of Galileo campers, providing instruction and inspiration, fostering the type of learning environment that allows kids to explore and develop vision, courage, collaboration, determination, and reflection. “We provide an outstanding curriculum and all materials, and this gives our teaching artists the freedom to tailor their classroom's look and feel, and to focus on bringing learning to life.”

One of Galileo’s 31 camps, Camp Galileo Burlingame, was featured in a local newspaper over the summer that highlighted the learning style of their camps.  Check it out. 

Perhaps this is the best testimonial: over 97% of Galileo summer staff said they would recommend working at Galileo.

For more information, check their website. And interested TAs can reach them to learn more about job opportunities, process and protocols by calling 510-595-7293 x2

Galileo Learning , 1021 Third Street Oakland, Ca 94607

For 40 years-plus, Youth in Arts has offered arts education programs to schools in the North Bay. As a VSA site, it is the only provider for Special Day Classrooms in the North Bay.  A recent article in the Mill Valley Herald put the spotlight on Arts Unites Us, a Youth in Arts program success that brought together special ed students and advanced theater students from Tam High to create a one-act play (some participants pictured below).

Read about it here. http://youthinarts.org/blog/integration-inspiration-performance

 “We want to challenge assumptions about what individuals of differing abilities can accomplish,” said Youth in Arts Executive Director Miko Lee. “Our goal is to create a unique and meaningful arts learning opportunity for all the kids.”

And they do, with a staff of 10 teaching artists and some 60 TAs on their roster. Youth in Arts is always on the lookout for good Teaching Artists in music, theatre, dance, visual arts and new media. At "peak" time there are about 40+ rooster artists working in long term residencies and assemblies. Every August YiA reviews new artists to add to the roster.  

“Right now," says Miko, “we are interested in new media artists (digital storytelling, game design, video, animation) so please apply if you are fluent in one of those art forms.”

She also looks for strong classroom management experience, and for TAs excited to be part of and to help create Arts Learning Communities that use multiple senses to work with students of all abilities.

As a Teaching Artists Hiring Organization with TAO, Youth in Arts encourage bilingual artists, artists of color and artists with disabilities. Under a contract from the Kennedy Center VSA (formerly Very Special Arts, now Vision Strength Accessibility), they actively seek young artists with disabilities whom YiA will train and provide stipends for.

Youth in Arts has in school, after school and community programs. They also have a children's art gallery, studio and store located in a downtown San Rafael space, and offers several professional development workshops for their teaching artists over the course of the year including sessions on Classroom Management, Differentiated Instruction, Artist Teacher Collaboration and Arts Integration. 

Interested TAs can learn about job opportunities, and the YiA process and protocols by studying their website and blog.  Says Miko, “if you feel our philosophy fits yours, then apply here,” www.youthinarts.org/becomeanartist.

MORE Vital Statistics:

Miko Lee Executive Director   mlee@youthinarts.org

Nydia Gonzalez, Director VSA and Artist Training  ngonzalez@youthinarts.org 

Youth in Arts *    917 C Street      *      San Rafael, CA 94901

415 457-4878 X 17

www.youthinarts.org

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