Middle School Visual Arts Teacher
Northwest Academy is seeking a Middle School Visual Art teacher for the 2025-26 school year and beyond.
About Northwest Academy:
Northwest Academy is a progressive, independent middle and high school located in downtown Portland. We offer our community of learners a student-centered experience rich with rigor, creativity, and a problem-solving and proficiency-based approach to learning. We value an inclusive, caring culture that supports and challenges students appropriately, is guided by their developmental needs and challenges, and grows students into their burgeoning independence and individuality.
Benefits And Advantages Of Becoming An Educator With Our Community:
Northwest Academy encourages and supports our educators in having a meaningful work and life balance. Teachers enjoy a low student:teacher ratio, have approximately 4 out of 9 classes for prep time scheduled per week, and take part in an inclusive and collaborative community of colleagues, staff, and administrators. Teachers receive a modest budget at the start of each year to purchase classroom supplies and are supported with pursuing professional development opportunities throughout the year.
Employees receive several different medical plans to choose from, a dental and vision plan, identity theft protection, a non-matching 403b retirement option is available immediately upon hire along with a 3% matching 403b account after working 1200 hours. Northwest Academy also offers opportunities for Creative Production Grants to support individual artistic endeavors and a 6-week Sabbatical.
Position Details:
Our Visual Arts Program emphasizes process, creative self-expression, collaboration, and cognitive and emotional development through the arts. The ideal candidate will have experience teaching middle school art and demonstrate a deep understanding of the developmental needs of young adolescents. Candidates should be proficient in a range of media, including observational drawing, painting, design, printmaking, and sculpture, and be able to design engaging, developmentally appropriate lessons that foster craftsmanship and creativity. As part of a student-centered, proficiency-based curriculum, the teacher will encourage personal expression and help students connect their academic and artistic pursuits. Finalists will be asked to submit a personal portfolio and examples of student work, highlighting skills in drawing and painting.
FTE: .75
Position Title: Middle School Visual Art
Department: Visual Art
Reports To: Middle School Dean of Studies
Responsibilities:
- Teach classes as assigned, providing effective and professional classroom instruction, assessment, and management
- Design and implement curriculum and instruction consistent with the mission, values, and standards established with the department’s program
- Collaborate with colleagues on curriculum development and on enhancing instructional practices and strategies
- Establish effective communications and relationships with students and families
- Help to maintain school policies, regulations, and expectations
- Develop and maintain professional, collaborative, and collegial relationships with faculty and staff, as well as with community partners to the benefit of students and classes
- Support the work of the Head of School and administrative/leadership team
- Exhibit a growth mindset about teaching practices and work toward professional goals and development
- Participate in required non-classroom activities, including Back to School Night(s), parent/student conferences, overnight retreats, faculty and department meetings, field trips, and special activity and performance events
- Provide effective supervision of students to promote a safe and healthy environment and school experience
- Timely and professional completion of required reports and forms
- Represent the school at community or public events.
- Fulfill other responsibilities as assigned respective to faculty member’s courses or academic department
Qualifications:
- Earned Bachelor’s Degree, or higher, from a regionally accredited institution of higher education—equivalent educational experiences in fine arts also will be considered;
- Expertise in the subject area(s) to be taught;
- Teaching experience in a studio-based middle and/or high school setting;
- Excellent verbal, written, and digital communication skills; ability to effectively communicate and work as a team with administrators, faculty, staff, parents, and students;
- Proficiency with computers, Google Drive, and word processing, database, electronic grading software, and other classroom technologies;
- The ability to create an effective learning environment and interact effectively with people from different cultures and experiences; ability to lead and work with cross-cultural environments;
- An awareness about difference and how it can expand teaching practices and student success; and
- An ability to learn from and build on varying cultural and community norms of students and their families.
Physical Demands:
Physical requirements are consistent with light physical duties required of teachers generally. The school is spread out across five buildings, covering multiple blocks in downtown Portland, so teachers may have to move between buildings during five-minute passing periods or attend meetings around campus. The school does not provide parking for staff members, so metered street or lot parking may be needed.
Interested candidates can find instructions for applying for this position on the Careers at Northwest Academy and reply to Careers@nwacademy.org.
Northwest Academy is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to welcoming and celebrating a diverse student and faculty population. We believe every employee has the right to work in an environment free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. It is the policy of the school that employment decisions for all applicants and employees will be made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, disability, or other characteristics protected under local, state, or federal law. No employee will be retaliated against for raising concerns under this policy. We seek each employee’s contribution and assistance in helping us maintain equal employment opportunity.
Salary
$36,050 - 63,846 Annually
Location
Portland, Oregon
Opportunity Region
Local
Commitment
fulltime
Contact Email
careers@nwacademy.org