Long-Term Substitute Middle School Art Teacher

The Role:
Thurston Middle School seeks a full-time substitute Art Teacher from August 26 - October 18, 2024. Our ideal candidate is committed to keeping student exploration at the center of instruction. Westwood's art teachers are committed to creating environments in which students develop the skills and capacity to create, respond and communicate through the unique language of the visual arts. They nurture imaginative thinkers and inventive problem-solvers. You will be an integral part of our departmental team as we create challenging and inspiring teaching and learning experiences for all students.

Our District:
Westwood is a welcoming suburban community with an exceptional track record of supporting and celebrating its public schools. As a district, we are committed to creating an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, and we understand that a diverse team allows us to serve our community better. We welcome and encourage individuals of every race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, age, gender, marital/domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, and veteran status to seek opportunities within our school district.

You will join the strong professional learning community of the Westwood Public Schools. In our mission to prepare students for college, career, and civic life, we work collaboratively to provide rich and rigorous curriculum, high-quality instruction, trusting relationships, and authentic educational experiences. We hold true to our core district values of academic excellence and a commitment to improvement; curiosity and tenacity; and respectful relationships in a caring, collaborative community.

Our School:
Thurston Middle School is a thriving community of curious, kind students supported by engaged families and dedicated staff. With approximately 600 students in grades 6-8, Thurston welcomes students from the district's 4 elementary schools. Our teachers model and encourage a deep investment in learning. Thurston is a proud METCO school, with strong program leadership and an unwavering commitment to supporting the values of the nation's oldest and most successful public school racial integration program.

Required Qualifications
Current Massachusetts teaching licensed in relevant area or eligibility to become licensed
Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree preferred

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
Plan and deliver engaging lessons with clear, measurable, relevant learning outcomes that reflect district learning expectations, align with MA curriculum frameworks, and convey a love of learning to students
Demonstrate caring and concern for all students by establishing a culture of high expectations for learning and behavior
Implement a variety of instructional strategies based on students' diverse needs, and integrate technology to increase learning
Assess student understanding of learning objectives with student self-assessments, frequent formative measures, and periodic summative measures
Collaborate with colleagues to analyze student work, draw conclusions, develop interventions and extensions, and implement new teaching strategies based on assessment data
Integrate social emotional learning and culturally responsive teaching into the classroom and foster a safe, welcoming, and engaging learning community
Partner with families to support students' academic, social, and behavioral progress
Make positive contributions to the larger school community
Implement Individual Education Programs and 504 Accommodation Plans, participate in team meetings, and collaborate with special education and support staff members
Fulfill professional responsibilities by communicating effectively, using good judgment, meeting deadlines, engaging in professional development, reflecting on performance and making positive changes to improve student learning, being receptive to feedback, and completing assigned duties
Assume other responsibilities assigned by the building principal in accordance with collective bargaining provisions

Job Environment:
Work takes place in classrooms and other building rooms/areas, including offices, auditorium, gym, lunchroom and hallways, within a school building setting, primarily indoors. Job takes place in a high-performing school district with high expectations.

Physical Requirements:
Requires sufficient vision to read printed documents and to view detail on a computer screen for extended periods.
Requires frequent standing, walking, sitting, bending, and reaching, as well as carrying and occasionally lifting up to 30 lbs.
Ability to speak in an understandable voice with sufficient volume to be heard in normal conversation, on the telephone, and in the classroom.
Ability to hear sounds clearly up to twenty feet.
Travel among buildings may be required.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The Westwood Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.