Teaching Artist - School Programs & Residencies

POSITION SUMMARY

Children's Theatre Company seeks engaging, adaptable Teaching Artists with consistent daytime availability to lead school-based workshops, residencies, and other Education & Engagement programming.

Teaching Artists facilitate meaningful, age-appropriate theatre experiences in schools, community settings, and at CTC. Through creative drama, storytelling, improvisation, movement, and collaborative theatre activities, Teaching Artists help students build confidence, creativity, communication skills, and connections to the performing arts.

This position requires strong classroom facilitation skills, flexibility, and the ability to work independently while representing CTC in educational and community settings.

Teaching Artists are responsible for developing and implementing lesson plans consistent with CTC's educational philosophy and pedagogical practices. All Teaching Artists must follow CTC's child protection policies and procedures and create safe, inclusive, and accessible learning environments for all participants.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Teaching & Curriculum

- Lead theatre workshops, school residencies, classroom visits, and other educational programming during daytime hours.

- Develop and implement age-appropriate lesson plans using creative drama, improvisation, storytelling, movement, and theatre-based learning.

- Adapt instructional content to meet the goals, age groups, and learning needs of participating students and partner organizations.

- Facilitate activities that encourage creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication, and self-expression.

- Work with classroom teachers and school staff to support student engagement and connect theatre activities to educational goals when appropriate.

- Adjust instruction and facilitation strategies to accommodate varying classroom sizes, schedules, and learning environments.

Collaboration & Program Support

- Collaborate with Education & Engagement staff to plan and deliver high-quality school and community programming.

- Represent CTC professionally while working in schools and partner organizations.

- Communicate effectively with classroom teachers, co-teachers and teaching assistants, school administrators, students, and CTC staff.

- Arrive prepared with necessary lesson plans, teaching materials, and an understanding of the program's objectives.

- Participate in collecting and reporting student attendance numbers, program evaluations, and data collection as needed.

- Participate in planning meetings, training, and professional development as required.

- Support additional CTC classes, workshops, camps, or events based on program needs and availability.

Safety, Equity & Inclusion

- Follow all CTC child protection policies, safety procedures, and student supervision expectations.

- Create welcoming and inclusive learning environments that recognize and respect students' identities, cultures, backgrounds, and abilities.

- Use age-appropriate classroom management and positive student engagement strategies.

- Collaborate with CTC staff in furthering the organization's commitment to anti-racist and anti-bias practices and Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

- Support CTC's ACT One commitments and its goal of creating equitable access to theatre education.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Strong understanding of theatre education, creative drama, and/or arts-integrated teaching practices.

- Ability to independently facilitate engaging workshops and lessons for students of varying ages and abilities.

- Strong classroom management and group facilitation skills.

- Excellent communication, organization, and relationship-building skills.

- Ability to adapt lesson plans and activities to different classroom environments and student needs.

- Ability to collaborate with classroom teachers, school administrators, community partners, and fellow Teaching Artists.

- Commitment to accessible, equitable, and culturally responsive arts education.

- Ability to represent CTC professionally in a variety of educational settings.

Experience

- Experience teaching, facilitating, or leading theatre-based activities with children and/or youth.

- Demonstrated ability to create engaging and developmentally appropriate lesson plans.

- Experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and with varied learning needs.

- Experience managing groups of students in classroom, workshop, or rehearsal settings.

- Experience working both independently and collaboratively in educational or community-based environments.

Preferred Qualifications

- Experience teaching in K–12 school settings, childcare settings, or facilitating school-based arts residencies.

- Experience developing curriculum or integrating theatre into academic subjects.

- Experience working with classroom teachers, school districts, or community organizations.

- Background in theatre, education, creative drama, storytelling, improvisation, or related fields.

- Experience adapting instruction for students with disabilities or other access needs.

CERTIFICATES & LICENSES

CPR/AED/First Aid certification required as determined by CTC; training will be provided for candidates who do not already possess certification.

OTHER QUALITIES

- Commitment to CTC's mission, vision, and educational values.

- Commitment to ethical conduct, confidentiality, and professional accountability.

- Dedication to equitable arts education and positive youth development.

- Enthusiasm for bringing theatre education into schools and community settings.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & SCHEDULE

Work takes place primarily in K–12 schools, community partner locations, and CTC classrooms and studios.

Flexible weekday daytime availability is required, with assignments scheduled according to school and program needs.

Teaching Artists will be asked to travel to participating schools and partner locations around the Twin Cities metro area and may be asked to transport classroom materials to and from CTC and partner sites. Additional evenings, weekends, or summer teaching opportunities may be offered depending on availability and program needs.

COMPENSATION

$40 per teaching hour. $25 an hour for prep and meetings; Mileage reimbursement is available upon request.