Visual Arts Teacher
Brookwood School, Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA
Job Summary:
Brookwood School seeks a skilled Visual Arts Teacher to join our outstanding team who deliver an exceptional visual arts program. The successful candidate will teach Elementary and middle school students (PreK-8), and we are seeking a professional who is passionate about nurturing creativity, curiosity, and self-expression in young learners. Grounded in Brookwood’s commitment to educating the whole child, this teacher will design and facilitate developmentally appropriate, learning opportunities in visual art. The ideal candidate focuses on process over product, understands the role of the visual arts in social-emotional development, and embraces collaboration as central to excellent teaching and learning.
Essential Duties:
Teaching & Learning
- Design and implement an engaging, age-appropriate visual arts program for students in Elementary and Middle School.
- Foster creativity, imagination, confidence, and joyful exploration through drawing, painting, sculpture, mixed media, and creative design.
- Create learning experiences that emphasize inquiry, experimentation, reflection, and the development of individual artistic expression.
- Differentiate instruction to meet diverse developmental needs, abilities, and learning styles.
- Integrate visual arts learning with classroom themes and projects when appropriate, supporting the school’s interdisciplinary approach.
Learning Environment
- Cultivate a warm, inclusive, and respectful studio environment where students feel safe taking creative risks.
- Establish predictable routines and clear expectations that support independence, responsibility, and collaboration.
- Thoughtfully organize and maintain art studios, materials, tools, and resources.
Assessment & Communication
- Observe and document student growth using developmentally appropriate, narrative-based assessment practices.
- Provide encouraging, constructive feedback that honors each child’s artistic process and progress.
- Communicate effectively with families about curriculum, student learning, and visual arts exhibitions and displays.
Community Engagement
- Plan and contribute to school-wide events such as art exhibitions, celebrations, and community showcases.
- Collaborate closely with classroom teachers, specialists, and support staff as part of the school’s collaborative faculty culture.
- Participate actively in faculty meetings, professional development, and ongoing reflection on teaching practice.
- Uphold and advance the school’s mission, values, and commitment to community, belonging, and mutual respect.
Job Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree ideally in Education, Visual Arts, Art Education, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred)
- Ideally 3 years experience teaching visual arts to young children, ideally in a progressive or independent school setting (minimum of 3 years)
- Strong understanding of child development and developmentally appropriate practice
- Demonstrated willingness to grow professionally
- Strong communication, collaboration, and organizational skills
- Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment
Desired Qualities:
- Deep respect for children and their individual learning journeys
- Creative, reflective, and flexible approach to teaching
- Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
- Enthusiasm for contributing to the life of a close-knit school community
- Alignment with Brookwood School’s values and educational philosophy
We strongly encourage applications from people of color, LGBTQ candidates or candidates from communities that are historically underrepresented in independent schools. We are committed to an inclusive school experience for all those who come to work at Brookwood.
To Apply:
To apply, please email Olivia Shouvlin, Assistant to Division Heads at oshouvlin@brookwood.edu and have these items ready to upload:
- Your PDF resume / Your CV
- Your cover letter / statement of educational philosophy
We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis. Thank you so much for your time and interest – we’re very much looking forward to hearing from you!
Brookwood School