Teaching Artist

Summary Description:

WFIS is looking for a teaching artist whose work is influenced by the natural sciences and can teach about the connections between art and science. Applicant should have two years’ experience working with adolescents in a teaching role. Successful teaching artists demonstrate exceptional flexibility and organizational skills to work cooperatively and operate independently to communicate with many partners.

Description:

The Wagner Free Institute of Science (WFIS) is a National Landmark, natural history museum and educational institution that fosters science literacy through free programs. Founded in 1855, the Wagner serves 36,000+ people each year through its museum, library and extensive educational programs. The Wagner seeks a local teaching artist to teach visual arts curriculum with middle school students during the 2024-25 school year.  SNAP: Science, Nature and Art in Philadelphia is an in-school day outreach program for students located in the Institute’s North Philadelphia community.  Based in connections between art making and science concepts, SNAP is a uniquely engaging outreach program.

During the upcoming academic year, WFIS will work with five schools to implement SNAP programming from October through May. SNAP sessions are taught to grades 6th-8th. Each class will receive six hours of in-class instruction to complete a science inspired art project and two field trips. The applicant will be the one of two teaching artists for the program, working with Institute educators and the other teaching artist to teach planned curriculum, deliver arts-based lessons, and guide the students in creating a culminating project. We encourage individuals from racially marginalized communities to apply because we believe having a staff that reflects the community we serve is critical to our ability to be culturally responsive.  

WFIS is looking for a teaching artist whose work is influenced by the natural sciences and can teach about the connections between art and science. Applicant should have two years’ experience working with adolescents in a teaching role. Successful teaching artists demonstrate exceptional flexibility and organizational skills to work cooperatively and operate independently to communicate with many partners.

Responsibilities:

• Teach 8-12 classes of SNAP program (~4 lessons/wk)
• Manage scheduling, communications and logistics of programming between school partners and museum staff
• Manage material preparation and inventory throughout program
• Participate in program evaluation and feedback with museum staff
• Travel to each school with materials

Desired Qualifications (not all are required):

• Minimum two years art teaching experience required, teaching K-8 students in a school setting preferred
• Art practice that connects to natural science greatly valued
• Bachelor’s degree in art or equivalent experience that demonstrates skills/ability to meet the responsibilities
• Experience, connection and/or work within the community where is Wagner is located greatly valued
• Science literacy that will highlight overlap of science and art concepts and skills
• Detail-oriented with excellent organizational and communication skills
• Interpersonal skills that foster a collaborative working environment
• Criminal background checks required
• Personal transportation strongly recommended

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to manage physical demands of an elementary school classroom and navigate school buildings and Wagner’s historic site which include up to two flights of stairs.