We know that diverse teams make the strongest teams, and we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.

 

EMPLOYMENT TERM: Seasonal school year 2023-2024, Part Time, Hourly

 

COMPENSATION: $18 per hour, 15-20 hours per week

 

DATES: Aug 10, 2023 -May 26, 2024

 

SCHEDULE: Primarily between the hours of 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday thru Friday. Teaching schedule will be set at the beginning of the year and will serve the same classrooms each month.

 

OVERVIEW:

What if Puppets seeks a highly-qualified emerging professional in the field of Theater for Young Audiences for a 10 month Teaching Artist Fellowship.  The “Teaching Artist Fellow” will work alongside a team of experienced, innovative, theater, puppetry, and teaching artists to facilitate social-emotional learning through story drama residencies in the greater Kansas City Metro. The fellow’s primary role will be to serve as a lead facilitator for Early Childhood Centers (3-5 year olds). A background in puppetry is not required. Teaching artists will receive training from our Director of Puppetry Arts in basic puppetry skills and will be mentored by our Director of Education on classroom management and arts based strategies.

 

DUTIES:

Facilitate up to 20, 30 minute story drama residencies for PreK classrooms (3-5 year olds)

Observe and assist other education staff with PreK-2nd grade programs

Nurture relationships and communicate with teachers, principals, and site administrator

Assist in the research and writing of resource guides to support productions and education programs

Serve as an understudy for  “In the Workshop”, an interactive puppet performance/workshop as needed

Identify teaching and administrative goals, and engage in regular reflection with Education team

Attend MPT staff meetings, education meetings, and professional development workshops

Other duties as assigned that support the health of the organization and education department

​

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

2+ years as a teaching artist or arts education classroom teacher through academic or practical experience

1+ years of  working with 3-5 year olds in an educational, camp, or afterschool setting

Access to reliable transportation as this role drives to schools within 30 minutes of city center

 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience in Conscious Discipline or similar classroom management theories

Experience with Neurodivergent Students or willingness to learn

 

BENEFITS:

Simple IRA - we match up to 3% of employee contribution

0.55 per mile - Mileage reimbursement between locations after first 5 miles

Administrative work can be done on a flexible schedule. 

Part time employees are not not holiday pay or paid vacation day eligible, but schedules can be arranged to accomodate as needed.

 

LOCATION:

Kansas City Metro Area

 

REPORTS TO:

Director of Education

 

HOW TO APPLY:

Email cover letter,  resume, and sample lesson plan to alex@whatifpuppets.org by May 29, 2023. Interview will be held by zoom or in person in May.

​