Jobs

Walnut Hill School for the Arts seeks a Director of Teaching & Learning starting on July 1, 2026. This is a full-time, 12-month, position reporting to the Assistant Head of School.

In collaboration with the Assistant Head of School, Dean of Faculty, and members of the Teaching & Learning Leadership (TLL) Team, the Director of Teaching & Learning (DTL) provides school-wide leadership for instructional quality, curriculum coherence, assessment, and program design across Walnut Hill’s academic and arts programs.

The Director of Teaching & Learning serves as the School’s instructional leader, holding institutional authority over instructional standards, curriculum quality, and expectations for effective teaching across academic and arts programs. This role is responsible for defining standards of effective teaching, ensuring curricular alignment and progression, and leading faculty evaluations related to pedagogy, curriculum, and instructional practice. The ideal candidate is a thoughtful and systematic problem solver who can observe, listen, learn, and then take appropriate steps to provide solutions, support, and resources to faculty.

This position provides formal evaluative input to the Assistant Head of School and serves as the School’s primary academic and instructional point of contact for students and families, responding to questions related to teaching practices, curriculum, assessment, workload, and academic progress with clarity, consistency, and care. Intentionally non-disciplinary, this role does not include official authority over faculty reappointment or salary decisions. Faculty supervision, disciplinary action, and the management of formal grievances are handled by Department Directors & Heads, the Assistant Head of School, and/or Human Resources, allowing the DTL to remain focused on instructional excellence and student learning outcomes.

This position includes teaching one course (0.20 FTE equivalent) in an academic, arts, or interdisciplinary program during the academic year. Teaching responsibilities do not extend into the summer months unless otherwise agreed upon with the Assistant Head of School.

The DTL supervises the Manager of Educational Operations & Registrar and the Associate Director of Educational Programs. The Associate Director of Educational Programs is responsible for Walnut Hill’s special programs, such as J-Term, Global Discovery Programs, Global Online Academy, and other student and scholar visiting programs.

All Walnut Hill faculty/staff are active and engaged members of the School community committed to collaborating and growing in their field, participating in school events and supporting students in their arts, supporting other faculty/staff members, and can self-reflect on their own practice.

Responsibilities:

Educational Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a member of the Teaching & Learning Leadership (TLL) Team, contributing to long-term educational program planning and strategic initiatives;
• Promote a collaborative process that draws on the expertise of faculty and staff, and input from students, in reviewing and refining policies and practices; seek broad input to ensure informed and inclusive decision-making;
• Define, articulate, and uphold standards of effective teaching across all academic and arts disciplines;
• Establish shared instructional language and expectations while honoring discipline-specific pedagogies;
• Promote inclusive, developmentally appropriate, and culturally responsive teaching practices;
• Partner with Department Directors & Heads to support strong instructional leadership, understanding and recognizing the substantive differences and similarities between academic and arts pedagogies;
• Work collaboratively with the Dean of Faculty to balance faculty accountability with care and support;
• Maintain a visible presence in classrooms, studios, and rehearsals to understand, support, and strengthen instructional quality;
• Partner with Department Directors and Heads on faculty recruitment and hiring, and collaborate with the Dean of Faculty on onboarding and retention, ensuring alignment with Walnut Hill’s mission, pedagogical priorities, and programmatic needs;
• Represent the academic program in admissions events, open houses, and other family-facing contexts as appropriate;
• Supervise the Manager of Educational Operations & Registrar and Associate Director of Educational Programs;
• Supervise direct reports, provide regular, clear, and supportive written and verbal feedback, offer resources where needed, and conduct annual evaluations and reviews per the School’s performance evaluation process; provide expertise, guidance, coaching, and leadership to support team growth and development; and
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School or his designee.

Curriculum & Program Design

• Center Walnut Hill’s mission as an arts school as a “North Star” to develop the instructional and curricular excellence needed for exceptional young artists;
• In partnership with Department Directors and Heads, lead the design, alignment, and ongoing review of curriculum across all arts and academic departments;
• Partner with Department Directors and Heads to ensure coherence and progression across course sequences and academic pathways;
• Oversee academic structures, including schedules, credits, graduation requirements, and academic policies;
• Treat curriculum documentation as a living system, regularly reviewed and refined;
• Work with Department Directors and Heads, and other Educational Program administrators to gather and analyze student performance and outcomes data to inform instructional strategies; and
• Form and steward the Faculty Advisory Council to gather valuable faculty input on curriculum design, program development, instructional priorities, and meaningful faculty evaluation.

Faculty Evaluation & Instructional Growth

• Conduct classroom and studio observations across academic and arts programs;
• Provide growth-oriented feedback grounded in clearly defined instructional standards; offer practical pedagogical resources to faculty in areas such as classroom management, supporting international students, and collaborating between departments;
• Design and lead the instructional and curricular components of faculty evaluation in partnership with Department Directors and Heads and the Assistant Head of School;
• Collaborate with the Dean of Faculty to ensure evaluation systems are transparent, fair, and effective in fostering faculty professional growth, and are developmentally appropriate; and
• Contribute to the evaluation of Department Directors and Heads on curriculum and pedagogy.

Student & Family Educational Partnership

• Serve as the primary administrator for instructional and curriculum-related questions from students and families;
• Address concerns related to teaching practices, course expectations, assessment, workload, and academic progress from students, parents and guardians;
• Partner with faculty, advisors, Student Life, and Department Directors and Heads to constructively resolve concerns;
• Support day-to-day educational program issues, such as attendance patterns, learning challenges, and classroom engagement, when they relate to teaching and learning; and
• Other duties related to students, families, and the student experience in the educational program.

Community Involvement & Engagement

• Actively participate in the student community by supporting the Student Life program which may include serving as a faculty or club advisor, chaperoning School events, providing weekend duty (3 per year), or other opportunities for community involvement that arise throughout the school year;
• Attend and participate in communal programs outside the classroom, including but not limited to, assemblies, guest speakers, and special programs; model and encourage appropriate behavior and monitor students during events and programming;
• Speak authentically about the imperative for community and belonging in schools; be committed to learning about and contributing to Walnut Hill’s culture of inclusion and belonging;
• Attend student performances, art openings, and art events throughout the year; support and engage richly in arts productions, shows, exhibitions, and performances; and
• Plan and/or attend Family Weekend, Open House, Class Night, Boar’s Head, Candlelight, Awards Ceremony, and Graduation; attend other events as required.

Collaboration, Professional Development, and Training

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments to foster a positive working and educational environment for students and employees to support the School’s mission, vision, and core values;
• Attend and participate in all faculty and staff meetings and department meetings; participate and engage fully in individual reviews and evaluations; be open to feedback and work with supervisor to set goals and expectations for the future;
• Attend and participate in all Professional Development (PD) days, training programs, orientation programs, benefit meetings, mandatory seminars, team-building exercises, and safety training/drills; and
• Pursue PD opportunities in and out of school; display willingness and ability to grow, learn, explore new approaches, and practice self-reflection.

Administrative and Additional Responsibilities

• Keep records of correspondence with parents and utilize the School’s learning management system (LMS) appropriately to communicate student issues;
• Complete required paperwork, forms, surveys, employment documents, background checks, fingerprinting, online training programs, request and report absences, accidents, and injuries, and follow other school policy and legal requirements by established deadlines; and
• Perform other administrative, educational duties, or additional duties as assigned by the Head of School or his designee.

Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required; Master’s degree in Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Educational Leadership, or a related field preferred;
• Minimum of 5 years of secondary-level teaching experience required; experience in an independent school or arts-focused educational setting preferred;
• Demonstrated experience in instructional leadership, curriculum design, and faculty evaluation;
• Practical experience and a deep understanding of one or more art forms strongly preferred;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong organizational ability and attention to detail; and capacity to thoughtfully plan and facilitate meetings;
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituents, including students, families, faculty, staff, donors, alumni, board members, outside artists, vendors, and community partners;
• Demonstrated successful experience in supervising and leading a team.

Professional Competencies

• Strong understanding of both academic and arts pedagogies in an intensive or conservatory-style environment;
• Sound instructional judgment and credibility; demonstrated curiosity and openness to learning across disciplines, with the ability to identify connections and shared practices;
• Commitment to culturally responsive teaching and inclusive educational practices;
• Relational leadership grounded in trust, clarity, and consistency;
• Ability to respond effectively to the needs of a diverse and engaged student and family population;
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify challenges and propose thoughtful, creative, and solution-oriented approaches;
• Demonstrated strong collaborative skills that foster mutually beneficial outcomes for students and faculty;
• Ability to observe teaching practice and provide clear, actionable feedback;
• Cultural competence and commitment to fostering a safe and inclusive community;
• Ability to balance strategic vision with day-to-day educational program leadership while working independently and effectively in a changing, fast-paced environment;
• Ability to handle highly sensitive information with discretion;
• Strong technology skills, including proficiency with learning management systems, online teaching and learning tools, Google applications, and Microsoft Office Suite;
• Alignment with Walnut Hill’s educational and artistic missions and core values; and
• Strong collaboration and team-oriented working and leadership style, with the ability to balance academic, artistic, and institutional excellence with compassion and care for individuals.

About us:

Walnut Hill School for the Arts, located in Natick, Massachusetts and 20 minutes from Boston, is an independent boarding and day high school offering a transformational educational experience designed for student artists in grades 9–post graduate. Walnut Hill combines a comprehensive college-preparatory academic curriculum with intensive, pre-professional artistic training in theater, dance, music, visual art, and writing, film & media arts. Walnut Hill is committed to creating and enhancing an inclusive environment, and welcoming and celebrating a wide range of cultural, artistic, and educational backgrounds that compliments and supports our diverse community.

Commitment to the School’s Core Values, of Community, Growth, Excellence, Creativity, and Respect are imperative to the success of all Walnut Hill faculty, staff, and administration members. All Walnut Hill faculty/staff are active and engaged members of the school community who are committed to collaborating and growing in their field, participating in school events, supporting students in their arts, supporting other faculty/staff members, and who have the ability to self-reflect on their own practice.

Physical Demands

Physical demands include dexterity for office machines and supply operations including but not limited to writing, using electronic devices, computer, phone, calculator, copy/fax machine, and printers. Stooping, bending, traveling to/from locations on campus, ascending/descending stairs, reaching and sitting or standing for extended periods of time are common.

To Apply: Interested candidates should submit the following materials for consideration:

• A cover letter expressing interest in the position
• A current résumé
• A Statement of Leadership (1-2 pages)
• Contact information for three professional references

The Search Committee will start reviewing the applications during the week of March 23, and will continue reviewing applications until the position is filled.