MS Drama Teacher
Job Description
Position Title: MS Drama Teacher
Division: Middle School
Supervisor: Middle School and High School Principal
Position Summary:
This role is in charge of developing, implementing and growing a vibrant theatre program for Concordia Middle School. He/she will produce and/or direct main stage productions each year, which may include traditional plays, a musical, a reader’s theatre, and even one-act plays. In addition, collaborates with the Performing Arts Technical Specialist to supervises the theater technical activities as well as oversees the use and maintenance of theater equipment.
In order to meet Concordia school-wide learning outcomes (SLOs) and grade level expectations, the teacher carries out the following broad and specific responsibilities across the following domains: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Management, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities.
Qualifications
[Required]
- Bachelor’s degree in teaching, theater, speech or related field
[Desired]
- Valid Teaching Certificate/Degree in theater with an emphasis in technical theater
Experience
[Required]
· Demonstrates expertise in knowledge and teaching of dramatics and musicals
· Any equivalent combination of experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of the position.
[Desired]
· Working in an international school setting and familiarity with the American educational system
· Working successfully with an ethnically diverse population
· Teaching in the subject area and with the age of students assigned
· Creating units of work using ‘UbD’ strategies
· Working with students with learning needs or ELL
Required Skills
1. Maintains appropriate confidentiality and promotes a harassment-free environment.
2. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships; demonstrates a commitment to teamwork.
3. Ability to learn and utilize office equipment, computers, and software especially as systems are upgraded.
4. Ability to learn and upgrade job skills in order to meet changing demands of the position.
5. Ability to react well under pressure, handle and balance multiple demands at one time, work with frequent interruptions, and perform duties and tasks at expected levels of professionalism.
6. Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.
7. Ability to use independent judgment and demonstrates initiative to act without being asked.
8. Strong communication, public relation, and interpersonal skills.
Teacher Expectations
▪ As a school grounded in the Christian faith, we hire Christian teachers and administrators. Concordia seeks to hire candidates who are able to model Christ’s teachings through interpersonal skills, respectful relationships and problem solving, are interested in the complex questions of faith and spirituality and are keen to learn and interact with others of different faith traditions.
▪ Establish collaborative relationships with all staff, students, and parents.
- Engage parents and students in meaningful discussions about student achievement.
- Commit and contribute to the school community—play an active, positive, and supportive role in addressing the needs of the whole child and the ethos of Concordia beyond the classroom. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Participation in school-sponsored educational trips that require a teacher to be away from home overnight, such as HS Tribes and MS Trips. When a school sponsored event requires students to be away from Shanghai overnight, teachers will be expected to chaperone students.
- Leading co-curricular activities during the year.
- Integrate the school curriculum with the school-wide learning outcomes (SLOs).
- Insightful Learners
- Effective Communicators
- Reflective Spiritual Beings
- Principle-Centered Leaders and Team Members
- Active Global Citizens
- Teach the curricula established by the school.
- Complete all aspects of the standard-referenced curriculum for the current teaching assignment.
- Develop and maintain curriculum maps.
- Select and use school-approved teaching strategies and classroom resources.
- Ensure that personal professional goals are established and completed each year.
- Understanding of employment.
- Oversee, when appropriate, Teacher Assistants/Paraprofessionals/Support Staff in working with or monitoring children and managing clerical tasks.
- On regular school days, all teachers are on duty between 7:45AM and 3:45PM, not inclusive of activities and meetings.
- Undertake additional duties that may reasonably be assigned or requested by the Supervisor.
- Concordia reserves the right to reassign a teacher to a teaching duty commensurate with their educational training and experience. Such a decision will be made by school administrators and be guided by what is in the best educational interest of students and the school as a whole.
- Professional Practice/Concordia Fit– see Employee Development Handbook –Appendix A & B for greater detail.
Concordia teachers are expected to function in the Proficient or Distinguished categories.
- Planning and Preparation
- Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
- Demonstrating Knowledge of Students
- Setting Instructional Outcomes
- Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources
- Designing Coherent Instruction
- Designing Student Assessments
- Classroom Environment
- Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport
- Establishing a Culture of Learning
- Managing Classroom Procedures
- Managing Student Behavior
- Organizing Physical Space
- Instruction
- Communicating with Students
- Using Questioning and Discussion Techniques
- Engaging Students in Learning
- Using Assessment in Instruction
- Demonstrating Flexibility and Responsiveness
- Professional Responsibilities
- Reflecting on Teaching
- Maintaining Accurate Records
- Communicating with Families
- Participating in the Professional Community
- Growing and Developing Professionally
- Showing Professionalism
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Designs and conducts recruitment/outreach programs to attract new theatre participants.
- Sponsors the high school drama club and chapter of the International Thespian Society, an honor society for theatre students.
- Teaches acting principles and techniques to individuals and groups and conducts readings to evaluate student’s talent.
- Teaches enunciation, diction, voice development, and dialects, using voice exercises, speech drills, explanation, lectures, and improvisation.
- Discusses and demonstrates vocal and body expression to teach acting styles, character development, and personality projection.
- Produces and directs plays for school and public performances
- Auditions students to select cast and assign parts.
- Rehearses and drills students to ensure they master parts.
- Assigns non-performing students to backstage production tasks, such as constructing, painting, moving scenery; managing properties and costuming; operating stage lighting and sound equipment; and operating the stage counter-weight system.
- Selects script for production.
- Sees that all royalties, costume purchase and other fees/bills associated with a production are paid and maintains an accurate record of all expenses and receipts.
- Manage lighting and sound design and application
- Organize and managing ticket sales
- Work with the Performing Art Technical Specialist to:
- Advises and assists principal(s) with scheduling of high school, middle school, and community activities in the middle school/high school theatre.
- Oversees proper organization and storage of stock theatrical units and school-owned equipment and material on the high school stage, in the auditorium, and in the theatre classroom.
8.Establishes performance requirements, enforces academic requirements, and verifies each student’s eligibility to participate in theatre activities.
- Submits to division principal, upon request, a year-end report including:
- List of participants
- Awards and honors received
- Summary of activities
- Recommendations for improvements.
- Meets with division principals to review goals for the theatre department productions.
- Ensures the safety of students by adhering to both stage safety while on stage and general school rules and regulations while on Concordia premises and traveling.
- Submits budget needs annually to the division principals in accordance with established timelines and guidelines.
- Orders all supplies and materials necessary for theatre-related activities in accordance with established district procedures and budget allocations.
- Prepares lessons that reflect accommodations for individual student differences.
- Plans and uses appropriate instructional and learning strategies, activities, materials, and equipment that reflect understanding of the learning styles and needs of students assigned.
- Creates an environment conducive to learning and appropriate for the physical, social, and emotional development of students.
- Other duties as assigned.
