Lower School Art Teacher (2026-2027 SY)

Position Description: 

The Hockaday School is seeking a full-time Lower School Art Teacher to join our community of educators. This position will teach art classes to students in select grades in Lower School (Prekindergarten – Fourth Grade). 

The Visual Arts Program at Hockaday starts with the youngest student in prekindergarten and seeks to awaken her creativity and self-expression by exposing her to various two-dimensional and three-dimensional art forms. Through instruction, example- and student-directed exploration, students follow their curiosity and exercise their imaginations as they develop as artists. 

Essential Functions:

• Plan and teach weekly art lessons to students in various grade levels from Prekindergarten through Fourth Grade

• Plan a program of study that, as much as possible, meets the individual needs, interests, and abilities of the students

• Develop curriculum that intentionally supports the Lower School outcomes of wonder, agency, collaboration, and resilience.

• Assess and share student growth through trimester progress reports and other approved forms of communication with parents

• Collaborate with grade-level teachers in PK-4th grade to create interdisciplinary projects for students

• Communicate regularly with visual arts faculty to align the visual arts curriculum within Lower School and across the PK-12 grade visual arts program

• Organize and showcase student artwork in school exhibitions and displays.

• Stay updated with current art education practices and incorporate new techniques and digital tools to enhance learning.

• Supervise and perform assigned duties including morning and afternoon carpool, recess, and lunch coverage and support. 

• Attend and participate in assigned grade-level, divisional, and all-School faculty meetings

• Participate in on-going professional development opportunities

• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Experience:

• Advanced degree in Elementary Education, Art Education and/or Fine Arts field preferred

• Professional exhibiting art practitioner preferred 

• Experience teaching art at the Lower School level preferred

• A genuine appreciation of young children, solid knowledge of the milestones of their development, and understanding of appropriate classroom management techniques.

• Experience and interest in developing innovative uses of technology in the classroom as well as comfort with its administrative use

• Experience developing curriculum strongly preferred 

• Commitment to being a supportive, respectful, and energetic colleague and mentor

• Must have the ability to work in a school environment through satisfactory completion of all legally required and School-required background and screening checks and verifications, including criminal and sex offender background checks. 

Training:

• Participate in all requisite School trainings prior to the start of the school and throughout the School year

• Attend required staff development and training sessions throughout the year

• Attend periodic in-service meetings

• Acknowledge receipt of the current Employee Handbook and are responsible for reviewing the contents and abiding by rules, policies and procedures stated in the Handbook or otherwise by the School

• Abide by Hockaday’s Code of Ethics and Conduct

• Commit to the ideals expressed in  Hockaday’s Tenets of Faculty Excellence

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Regularly works in standard office or classroom conditions and climate 

• Regularly uses close and distance vision, including working at a computer screen for extended periods of time; ability to observe students from various distances 

• Frequently required to move around the office/classroom; works at a desk for extended periods of time 

• Ability to occasionally move items weighing up to 30lbs. across the campus/classroom/office 

• Ability to periodically support before and after-school or weekend events

• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with students, fellow staff and community members

About The Hockaday School: 

The Hockaday School is an independent, college preparatory school for girls of strong potential and diverse backgrounds who may be expected to assume positions of responsibility and leadership in a rapidly changing world. With an enrollment of more than 1,100 students, The Hockaday School is the nation’s largest prekindergarten through grade 12 independent girls’ school. Ranked among the country’s finest college preparatory schools, it was founded over a century ago and continues today to build on its original Four Cornerstones: Character, Courtesy, Scholarship, and Athletics.

Hockaday’s faculty are recognized as experienced leaders in their field and students in every grade benefit from outstanding faculty and access to unmatched resources.  Families who choose Hockaday care deeply about providing their daughters with a comprehensive and rigorous education, both inside and outside the classroom. Hockaday’s student body reflects the diversity that is deeply valued by the School. 

Limitations and Disclaimer:

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.  This job description reflects administration’s assignment of essential functions; and nothing in this herein restricts administration’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

The Hockaday School is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy not to discriminate, and to comply with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, or other applicable protected classification.