Summer Arts for Learning Academy | Job Opportunities
2024 Job Opportunities
Teaching Artists
The Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) Teaching Artist is the heart and soul of the Academy. Teaching Artists are paired with a grade level Classroom Teacher for the entire six weeks of the program (Monday - Thursday). These pairs are responsible for delivering engaging, meaningful, and joyful arts-integrated instruction both in and through the arts daily. Teacher/Artist pairs will co-plan and co-teach one class of arts-integrated math and one class of arts-integrated literacy to the same students each day. In addition, all Teaching Artists are expected to lead a SQUAD session each morning in partnership with their Classroom Teacher.
Classroom Teachers
The SALA grade level Classroom Teacher is key to ensuring rigorous and meaningful learning in both literacy and math at SALA sites. Classroom Teachers will be paired with a highly skilled Teaching Artist for the entire six week program (Monday - Thursday) to provide arts-integrated instruction daily. Together, they will co-plan and co-teach one class of arts-integrated math and one class of arts-integrated literacy to the same students each day. All Teachers are expected to lead a daily morning SQUAD session in partnership with their Artist.
Site Directors
The Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) Site Director is our most important ambassador and outward-facing role, and they work in partnership with other Site Directors as well as the SALA HQ team to promote and support the overall vision and mission of the program.
There are two Site Directors per site. Together, SALA Site Directors are responsible for all aspects of the program and its operations and provide leadership, mentorship, and oversight of all aspects of the Summer Academy site, which includes but is not limited to overseeing student achievement, daily attendance, climate and culture, scheduling, building and staff supervision, emergency procedures, and partnership connections.
Student Support Specialists
The Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) Student Support Specialist works side by side with the Student Support Director, the Arts Integration Coach, and the Lead Special Educator to create and foster a positive, safe, and productive learning environment for all students and staff at their site. The Student Support Specialist is key in developing the Student Support Plan for the site in partnership with the Student Support Director, who will effectively oversee these plans throughout the Summer.
The position requires the staff member to facilitate one-on-one and group conflict-resolution sessions and provide in-classroom support when needed. The Student Support Specialist is also required to provide supervision to students while not in classroom settings (e.g., lunchtime, Fitness and Fun, field trips, etc.
Arts Integration Coaches
The SALA Arts Integration Coach is the key to ensuring rigorous and meaningful learning in both literacy and math at SALA sites. They are considered the “arts integration specialists” in the building, and they are the first point of contact for content, collaborative planning, co-teaching, arts integration, lesson plans (how to write them, how to submit them, what we are looking for), building classroom community, and reconducting observations (in partnership with the rest of the Site Admin Team).
Arts Integration Coaches will be placed at every SALA site to support staff in planning and co-teaching, as well as to encourage them to reflect on their work, for which a coaching attitude and a desire to build mentoring relationships is essential.
Office Managers
The Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) Office Manager is an essential member of the SALA staff and is responsible for ensuring the smooth operation of all administrative aspects of the site. The Office Manager is often the first person staff, parents, students, and/or visitors to the Academy will meet or see during the day, making a welcoming and friendly demeanor vital to the role.
Office Managers are required to ensure that the site office is staffed at all times, that site data is organized and entered into the appropriate databases in a timely manner, and that site supplies are inventoried and accessible to all staff throughout the program.
General Education and ESOL Paraeducators
The SALA Gen. Ed. and ESOL Paraeducator is key to ensuring all students receive the support necessary to thrive in a unique and creative learning environment. Paras are required to work hand in hand with SALA staff to support all students within the Summer Arts for Learning Academy, no matter their learning preferences or backgrounds.
All Paras are expected to provide support both through one-on-one interactions with students and through full classroom support. Paras are responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to students and will support Special Educators in meeting IEP goals for specific students, but are expected to support all students with special needs regardless of IEP status. ESOL Paras will work closely with ESOL Teachers and the ESOL Director to ensure ELLs feel supported and are able to make the most of their time in SALA.
Lead Special Educators
The SALA Lead Special Educator is key to ensuring rigorous and meaningful learning in both literacy and math at SALA sites is possible for all students. Lead Special Educators will provide push in and pull out support and services to students with IEPs and 504 Plans and are responsible for both providing reasonable accommodations and carrying out IEP goals for specific students. In addition to serving specific students with IEPs, Lead Special Educators are expected to support all students with special needs regardless of IEP status and are required to provide coaching, support, and strategies to Teachers, Teaching Artists, Paraeducators, and One-to-Ones in meeting the needs of all students.
Additionally, Lead Special Educators will manage the team of Gen. Ed. and ESOL Paraeducators, as well as one-to-ones at their site, to ensure that they are in the best position to meet the needs of all students.
One-to-One Support
The SALA One-to-One Support is a specially trained Paraprofessional who assists in meeting a student’s needs which result from their different abilities. Their main goal is to enable all students to be involved in and thrive in the entirety of our program. A one-to-one aide can provide support to a student in many ways. Schools typically assign a one-to-one aide for purposes such as community building, instructional support, assisting with activities of daily living, and/or fostering and developing a student’s social skills. For example, an aide might help a student with using the bathroom, mobility issues, specialized communication, or staying on task. We believe educators are able to build stronger relationships with students when they are able to give them the personalized attention they need. Plus, one-on-one learning allows students time to process away from the class; for example, students can take their time and ask questions without being interrupted by classmates.
Social Workers
The SALA Social Worker role is a key component of the success of the Academy. Social Workers will have the opportunity to support our PreK-6th grade students, working in partnership with a variety of instructional (Teachers, Teaching Artists, Apprentices) and support (Paraeducators, One-to-One Support Specialists, Lead Special Educators, ESOL professionals) staff on site.
SALA will hire 2 Social Workers for the summer, who will split the 8 sites in Baltimore City with the objective of providing another layer of support to site-specific staff. Social Workers will also work with the Site Admin Team on SALAbrations throughout the program.
IEP Chair
The SALA IEP Chair ensures that SALA receives IEPs for all students that currently have them, as well as 504 plans, if applicable. As students begin enrolling for SALA (in February), the IEP Chair reviews those student applications and profiles and determines whether SALA will be able to appropriately serve them given the program’s staff capacity, its intensive format, and its arts-integrated model (which can sometimes be overwhelming to certain students). More information about what services and accommodations SALA can offer can be found here.
In-program, the EIP Chair helps ensure student and staff success by working closely with the program’s Lead Special Educators at each of our sites. Together, they will ensure that a plan is in place for each student and that the school staff are aware of the accommodations each student requires.
ESOL Teachers
The SALA ESOL Teacher is key to ensuring all ELL students receive a meaningful learning experience in a unique and creative learning environment. ESOL Teachers work hand in hand with SALA staff at their site to support ELL students within the Summer Arts for Learning Academy program. ESOL Teachers are expected to provide support both through one-on-one interactions with students and through full classroom support. ESOL Teachers are responsible for providing reasonable accommodations to students and will support educators in meeting goals for specific students. ESOL Teachers should have knowledge of and a sensitivity to the developmental stages and well-being of ELL students. In addition to serving specific students, ESOL Teachers are expected to support all ELL students regardless of whether or not they receive ESOL services during the school year.
Site Support
The SALA Site Support position is pivotal to the success of the program. Site Support will be assigned to a school site and will be responsible for all subbing needs at that site. On days when a sub is not needed, the Site Support will look for other ways to ensure that the site runs smoothly. This could include supporting staff in the afternoon, working with the Site Directors, planning SALAbrations, and more. Site Support must be flexible as this position requires them to sub for both Teachers and Teaching Artists and jump into new roles as needed.
Artist Apprentices
The SALA Artist Apprentice role is a key component of the success of the Academy. Apprentices will have the opportunity to work alongside some of our state’s most experienced and accomplished Teaching Artists. Apprentices will be paired with a Teaching Artist and Classroom Teacher pair for a portion of the program day and will work closely with them to plan and implement lessons. Apprentices are expected to assist with class set-up and breakdown, assist students in learning through the art form, support with attendance, record keeping, and coordinate student showcases and performances/exhibitions. Apprentices will also work with the Site Admin Team on SALAbrations throughout the program.
Please note: Arts for Learning Maryland is willing to work with students’ college career centers to help them earn college credit for their participation in SALA.
Physical Education Teachers
The Physical Education (PE) Teacher is a key component of the success of the Academy as they lead the movement portion of the day, called Fitness and Fun. During that time, PE Teachers are required to plan, lead, and supervise a series of structured, age-appropriate physical activities each day of the program for all grades PreK through 6th. Additionally, PE Teachers will lead and plan a PE Major for 3-6 grade students, to be conducted in the afternoon. PE Teachers may also be required to organize additional sports and physical education events on-site within and throughout the program. There will be 2 PE Teachers per site, which will require them to collaborate, co-plan, and implement their plans collaboratively.
Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultivating a diverse workforce and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, veteran status, and disability. All qualified applications will be given equal opportunity.