Curriculum & Professional Development Manager

About Arts for Learning Maryland

Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of Maryland) is devoted to enriching the lives and education of Maryland’s youth through educational and culturally diverse arts programs. Through Arts for Learning, professional teaching artists from all disciplines partner with educators, schools, and school districts to provide -- on average -- over 560,000 hours of learning in, through, and about the arts to more than 155,000 Maryland students annually.

Arts for Learning is a mission-driven organization that values community, innovation, and passion. The staff, board, and teaching artists have a shared commitment to advance equity in the field of education by working tirelessly to generate opportunities for students to imagine, create, and realize their full potential through the arts.

Job Description:

The Curriculum and Professional Development Manager performs an integral role in ensuring that the Arts and Learning Academies (Summer Arts and Learning Academies (SALA) and After School Arts and Learning Academies (ASALA)) are designed and implemented to the highest standards to ensure as many students as possible can benefit from our programs, improve academic and social and emotional outcomes and provide life changing opportunities through the arts.

The Curriculum and Professional Development Manager will be responsible for coordinating and developing the guidelines for a program curriculum, plans to assess student engagement, participation and performance, and ensuring that integrated instructional techniques address the needs of all students and adheres to the MSDE requirements. The CPD Manager will ensure that research-based, best practices for students will form the core of instruction in a differentiated program that meets the academic, creative and social emotional needs of the students.

The CPD Manager will provide support to Instructional Coaches, teachers and teaching artists by helping create and revise materials used in the classroom, analyze student data to assess and improve the program's implementation and will conduct research to find appropriate material/books in order to improve the learning outcomes of the program’s scholars.

The CPD Manager will provide curriculum and professional development support to new programs in partnership with other Arts for Learning staff. This is a new full-time, exempt position that will report to the Deputy Chief of Education.

Responsibilities Include:

Supported by the Deputy Chief of Education and in conjunction with the Arts and Learning Academies Directors, the Curriculum and Professional Development Manager will conduct the following duties and responsibilities outlined below grounded in the tenets and practices of Teaching and Learning the A4L Way:

Curriculum Development

• Guided by standards requested by districts, the CPD manager will develop Curriculum Guides for all grade levels in the program that include: little ideas, essential questions, texts (for literacy) and standards. This is a resource for teaching artists and teachers to use throughout the duration of the programs.
• Create pre and post assessments for each grade level based on the standards included in the Curriculum Guides.
• Identify developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant texts for all grade levels in the program that align with the little ideas.
• Understand trends, opportunities and gaps in the field of education, and ensure that our programming is aligned.

Professional Development

• Work with the Arts and Learning Academies Team, with support from the Deputy Chief of Education, to develop a schedule of professional development that:
• prepares teaching artists and teachers to co-create positive and inclusive classroom cultures by utilizing the language of virtues and restorative practices as part of their daily work, approach all teaching and learning in trauma informed ways, and honor all student identities;
• prepares artists and teachers to meaningfully collaborate in planning and facilitating high quality arts integration lessons utilizing A4L tools and templates while grounding in our values and anti-racist practices;
• prepares Arts Integration Coaches to mentor and coach teaching pairs in co-creating these classroom climates and delivering high quality arts integration, which includes regular visits to classrooms with our Classroom Practices Feedback Form and opportunities to share feedback and support.

In Program Support

• Work with Arts Integration Coaches to provide teachers and teaching artists with ongoing robust constructive feedback related to lesson plans, instructional techniques and classroom culture.
• Provide individual, classroom, and community-wide training regarding arts integrated learning strategies effective for all students (e.g., reinforcement schedules, prompt hierarchies, and general classroom management techniques).
• Ensure that integrated instructional techniques address the needs of all students and develop and implement plans to assess student engagement, participation and performance.
• Review and assess Arts Integration lesson designs requiring all integration lessons to have a depth of understanding of the integrated subjects and authentic rigorous connections between the subjects.
• In partnership with Arts Integration Coaches, gather and assemble successful arts integration lessons to make available to appropriate grade level/content teachers.
• Coordinate individual, classroom, team, and community-wide meetings as needed to discuss programming, student needs, and other important information
• Set up regular workshops for teachers, staff and parents on instructional methodologies and curriculum as needed
• Serves as a resource to the program leadership and staff in order to help generate an environment conducive to the creative, intellectual, physical, social and emotional development of students.
• Design and lead co-curricular programs that can be used in a variety of special school events and regular activities.
• Conduct and coordinate professional development opportunities that focus on Integrated Arts teaching and learning.

Data Collection

• Conduct a variety of formal and informal assessments on student skill levels and produce the corresponding reports and documents as needed based on academic, creative and social and emotional goals and objectives
• Utilize the information gathered through assessments to assist teachers and teaching artists with developing appropriate instructional program goals and objectives.
• Manages program’ professional development calendar, communications, and preparations.
• Participates in budget planning, tracking, and reporting.
• Keep current on research surrounding effective learning for all types of learners including: English Learners, Standard English Learners, and historically underserved populations.
• Perform all other duties as assigned by the Deputy Chief of Education.
• Support new and additional programs with curriculum development, professional development, in program support and data collection as needed.

Qualifications:

While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, the successful candidate will fit many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

• A Bachelor's degree in Education, Arts Education, Special Education or a related field. Masters degree preferred.
• Must have at least five (5) years’ experience as a state certified classroom teacher.
• Must have experience delivering engaging and meaningful adult professional development as demonstrated in years or feedback results.
• Requires a high level of interpersonal and professional skills to interact effectively with Arts for Learning Maryland staff, parents, school system personnel, teaching artists and other professionals
• Excellent oral, written and presentation skills
• Demonstrate a strong knowledge base in K-12 curriculum development, art integration, educational pedagogy, strategies and technology, English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• A passion for the arts, arts integration, and the role of developing teachers and teaching artists/community artists in education.
• A self-starter with a proactive approach to problem-solving with strong decision-making skills.
• Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias, and its impact on policies and practices, especially related to the administration of public education.
• Competency in analyzing policies, systems, and structures through a race equity lens, which results in the advancement of equity and minimizing biases and injustices.
• Must have strong customer service skills.
• Must be extremely detail-oriented, and be skilled with budgeting and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Must have professional-level written and verbal communication skills, as well as proven interpersonal skills. Ability to work across teams and with a variety of constituencies.
• Data entry/computer experience is required. Skilled with Google Workspace, Salesforce, ASANA project management, Canva, and/or an ability to become familiar with organization-specific programs and software.
• Must be able to meet deadlines in a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Effective project management skills.
• Has worked in the Arts and Learning Academies in any role.

Compensation:

We offer a starting annual salary of $64,000 and an attractive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision healthcare coverage, retirement contributions, and a flexible paid time off policy.

To Apply:

For consideration, please apply on our website at artsforlearningmd.org. Please do not send applications that include headshots or photos of yourself. No phone calls or recruiters, please. All employees will be subject to a federal and state background check in accordance with state and federal law.

Arts for Learning Maryland is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultivating a diverse workforce and equitable workplace. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, veteran status, and disability. All qualified applications will be given equal opportunity.