Head of School and Teacher Programs [Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, Bentonville, AR]

Description

Position Summary

The Head of School and Teacher Programs is a leadership position responsible for overseeing the design, development, and supervision of all K-12 school and teacher programs in the museum, off-site, and online. They shape the philosophy of the department in collaboration with managers and educators.  The School and Teacher Programs department encompasses offerings for students, teachers, and homeschoolers through the School Visits Program, Teacher Professional Development, School Partnership Program, and Online Learning. This role requires an outgoing, passionate, professional art museum educator who can simultaneously balance the department’s operational needs and strategic vision.

School Visits Program

The Head of this department is responsible for overseeing the management of the daily School Visits operation, including the training and evaluation of a large group of Museum Educators. The School Visits program is facilitated by a large group of full-time and part-time staff and the daily operations are supervised by an Assistant Manager. The School Visits program is made possible by a significant endowment, and is an area of great importance to the Museum’s mission, aiming to serve 50,000 students in 2016.

Teacher Professional Development

K-12 teachers and pre-service teachers throughout the area can participate in onsite professional development during the school year and intensive sessions offered over the summer. This program provides state approved professional development hours and offers teachers strategies to integrate the arts and Crystal Bridges collection into their teaching practice.

School Partnership Program

In an effort to create systemic change within a school, Crystal Bridges is developing a model school partnership program that takes place over several years and utilizes teaching artists from throughout the region. The program aims to shape school culture and impact teachers, students, and the community at large through school wide professional development, in-classroom residencies, student showcases, and visits to Crystal Bridges. The implementation and daily operations are supervised by an Assistant Manager. The program will partner with four schools in 2016-17 and grow throughout the region annually.

Online Learning Program

Crystal Bridges has also developed for-credit courses for high school students. These courses are taught by Crystal Bridges trained classroom teachers. In 2016, the program will scale to reach classrooms throughout the state and in following years, throughout the nation. This person will work closely with the Director of Education and Research in Learning and outside expertise to scale online learning over the years, maintain the program, and support teachers in offering this course.

Strategic Planning

The Head of School and Teacher Programs will also work closely with the Director of Education and Research in Learning to develop new and experimental programs that advance Crystal Bridges impact on the Pre-K through College audiences as well as advance the field’s understanding of of art museum based programs.

Administration

The Head of School and Teacher Programs administrative duties are comprehensive and include overseeing daily operations and a large team of full-time and part-time staff positions. They are responsible for the creation and responsible allocation of the department’s budget, staff professional development and assessment, and all other business operations of the department. The Head of School and Teacher Programs is also responsible for the distribution of all endowment funds and sponsorships that support school and teacher programs.

The ideal candidate is an ambitious, vibrant, approachable person with professional non-profit management experience as well as teaching experience. They serve as a mentor to their team. They should enjoy working with students of all ages, have outstanding presentation skills and gallery teaming, and possess the leadership and management experience needed to supervise and lead a department. They must be comfortable working with donors, patrons, and local officials on fund-raising, policy reform, and educational initiatives. The Head of School and Teacher Programs should be a skilled orator and networker, a passionate educator, and an arts advocate. A clear commitment to the field of museum education is also important in this position. They will be seen as a community leader and a trusted liaison between schools, teachers, and our Museum.

The Head of School and Teacher Programs serves as a member of the Museum’s leadership team, and works in collaboration with other directors, managers, administrators, staff, and volunteers. S/he reports directly to the Director of Education and Research in Learning, and has 3-5 direct reports.

Principal Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Guide the strategic planning and long term goals of the School and Teacher Programs department
• Oversee the development, management, and delivery of all offerings for school audiences, including school tours based on state standards, teacher resource materials, educator professional development, open houses, special events, homeschool programs and resources, and multi-year school wide partnerships
• Oversee the development and delivery of a growing number of community group offerings, including tours, workshops and special events
• Act as a liaison between the Museum and area schools, as well as between the Museum and area community groups
• Work with area partners and peer arts institutions in developing initiatives for school and community programs
• Work with regional, state, and national education officials in ongoing education reform initiatives, pre-service teacher programs, and curriculum development
• Develop and deliver front end, formative, and summative evaluations of programs on a continual basis
• Manage the complex daily operations of the school and community programs department
• Recruit, train and supervise staff, interns, and volunteers
• Manage all resources including budgets and allocations, supplies, and spaces
• Cultivate and manage endowments, grants, and financial sponsorships as directed
• Create reports and analysis on a monthly, quarterly, and yearly basis
• Represent the Museum when needed (regionally and nationally) and make appropriate contributions to the field

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training, and Traits:

• Masters degree in art education, art history, architecture, museum studies, studio art or equivalent experience required
• Valid Arkansas teaching certificate preferred
• Demonstrated experience in managing school programs for a museum or equivalent non-profit arts organization
• Experienced in using strategies for different learning styles
• Highest ethics as they relate to all aspects of museum practices and confidentiality

Work Experience:

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in museum education management required, preferably in working with teachers, students, and community groups, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 4 years’ experience managing staff and volunteers
• Minimum 4 years’ experience delivering tours and programs in a museum setting

Licenses and Certifications:

• Valid driver’s license required
• Arkansas teacher’s certificate recommended

Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated skill in creating age appropriate learning materials
• Understanding of art museum pedagogy and theory such as Visual Thinking Strategies, dialogical models, visible thinking and free-choice learning
• Understanding of distance and online learning including instructional design
• Knowledgeable about the visual arts, and their connections to academic areas including history, language arts, and science
• Exceptional management and leadership skills with staff and volunteers
• Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office
• Ability to use or willingness to learn specialized museum software, including Blackbaud products, Samaritan volunteer software, TMS Museum Registration software, EMS event management software, and various web applications
• Strong organizational skills along with an ability to multi-task and think critically
• Ability to creatively and effectively problem-solve
• Experienced and natural public presenter, with outstanding people skills
• Demonstrated outstanding oral and written communication skills
• Willingness and ability to travel for program development and presentation
• Ability and willingness to work weekends and evenings, as required
• Patience and a good sense of humor are most appreciated

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands:  Regularly, while performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to travel independently regionally and in communities served. In the work environment described below, position requires  working at a desk and utilizing a computer and a telephone, good eye/hand coordination, bending and stretching, standing and sitting in the ability to move around galleries,  the  classrooms, and throughout the museum, including travel  on the outdoor trails.. Visual acuity to review written materials is required for this job.
• Work environment:  Work will be performed in an office environment, museum galleries, art studios, outdoors on the trails, and in communities served. Some evening and weekend hours are required. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time. The noise level in the Museum work environment is usually low to moderate.

Compensation

Crystal Bridges offers a competitive compensation package.

Application

To be considered for candidacy for this position, apply at crystalbridges.org.

No phone calls please.

The successful candidate will be required to pass a routine background and consumer credit check and drug screen.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER