Jobs

Walnut Hill School for the Arts seeks a full-time photography teacher to join the Writing, Film & Media Arts (WFMA) department, teaching darkroom and photography and managing the photo lab spaces for the 2024-2025 academic year beginning in mid-August. This is a full-time 10-month position reporting to the Head of  Writing, Film & Media Arts.

At Walnut Hill, Writing, Film & Media Arts is home to storytelling on the page, the stage, and the screen. We believe that process is equal to product and that a multi-disciplinary arts experience prepares students to be versatile creators. In an environment that supports collaboration and growth, our students generate original ideas and explore a variety of practices in order to develop distinct voices and innovative work.

In addition to bridging digital, darkroom, mediums, this position would actively collaborate with the other WFMA faculty to foster interdisciplinary connections within the department.

Residential Life Opportunity: As a boarding school, opportunities to live on campus and work as a dorm parent in the Residential Life program may be available. Dorm parent hiring is managed through the Student Life Office. Applicants interested in pursuing a position as a dorm parent may indicate their interest during the online application process.

Responsibilities:

Teaching & Department Duties

• Teach four sections of photography including, but not limited to Introductory and Advanced classes in Darkroom Photography and Digital Photography and lab drop-in hours;
• Prepare lessons and develop curriculum that reflects the diverse educational and cultural backgrounds of the student body; teach, lead, and guide students and promote an open and safe classroom space; technology and other educational tools to support student learning;
• Support  students as they explore, improve their technique, and discover their own strengths and style;
• Support students in the development of portfolios for college and summer programs;
• Support students in the development and preparation of work for gallery and digital exhibitions;
• Collaborate with faculty and students on other multidisciplinary and collaborative projects that could include film, interactive media, and writing;
• Participate in programmatic discussions including curriculum and program planning, development, evaluation, and decision making as well as the development of new teaching-learning methods and materials; and
• With the support of the department heads, manage and coordinate lab spaces, equipment, and supplies; and
• Utilize the learning management system (LMS) to facilitate communication across the school community, record attendance, grades, comments, and maintain Class Pages for each academic class.

Collaboration & Community Engagement

• Support the Student Life program including serving as a student advisor, club advisor, chaperoning school events, weekend duty, and/or participating in other opportunities for community involvement that arise throughout the school year;
• Participate in the School’s restorative justice initiative; actively learn about and practice anti-racist work;
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments to foster a positive working and educational environment that supports the school’s mission, vision, and core values;
• Attend and participate in all department meetings, assembly, Professional Development days, training and orientation programs, benefit meetings, mandatory seminars, team-building exercises, and safety training;
• Attend and/or engage in student arts productions, shows, exhibitions, and performances; and
• Pursue professional development opportunities in and out of school; display willingness and ability to grow, learn, explore new approaches, and practice self-reflection.

Skills and Qualifications

• 3+ years teaching or equivalent experience required; experience working with high school students preferred;
• BFA or equivalent required, Master’s degree in Photography, Fine Arts, Film, Media or in Arts Education preferred;
• Active artistic practice, as demonstrated by current or previous projects;
• Demonstrated ability to instruct students in the developmental and technical aspects of darkroom photography using wet lab/darkroom processes;
• Ability to instruct students in contemporary digital photography practices, including facility with Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom;
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate and assess student photography, art and studio skills, and to mount, display, and digitally scan works for exhibition;
• Ability to organize, inventory and maintain a darkroom/lab space, equipment, and photochemistry;
• Experience in other disciplines/mediums such as film, media, writing, music, theater;
• Experience teaching models that reflect a diversity of voices, identities, and experiences;
• Comfort with technology and willingness to adopt new technologies as needed;
• Possess cultural competence in working with adolescents from a diverse, academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability and ethnic backgrounds;
• Ability to foster growth in students’ varied artistic backgrounds, from intro to more advanced levels;
• Wide repertoire of innovative teaching practices and a focus on skills-centered learning;
• Strong collaboration and team-oriented working and leadership skills;
• Demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive community;
• Ability to speak authentically about the imperative for diversity, equity, and inclusion and comfort with cross-cultural dialogue;
• Share an educational and artistic vision that aligns with the core principles of Walnut Hill;
• Ability to balance a pursuit of academic, artistic, and institutional excellence with compassion and nurture for each individual; and
• Positive attitude and a passion for teaching and learning.

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 tools, equipment, and office machine and supply operation including but not limited to writing, typing, 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.  Ability to lift up to 25 lbs required.

Salary: Faculty salaries are based on the School’s salary scale, education, and experience.

To Apply: Submit resume, cover letter, and recent art portfolio work through the Walnut Hill School for the Arts online Career Center. Submission of student teaching artwork is encouraged.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of state and federal background checks.