Middle School Art Teacher

Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Crystal Springs Uplands School is a 6-12 co-educational, independent day school located on two distinct campuses in Hillsborough and Belmont, CA, with 125 employees. Our deeply connected culture and community celebrates scholarship, strives for balance, and fosters inclusion. The Professional Adult Community (PAC) is an experienced, collaborative group of employees who are committed to the mission and core values of the school. Crystal is full of kind, curious learners (adults and students alike) who are passionate about the school’s mission of transformative teaching and meaningful connections. We are committed to the work required to create more equitable systems and foster inclusive environments so that all members of our community can thrive together.MISSION STATEMENTThrough transformative teaching and meaningful connections, we empower kind, curious learners to thrive together.CORE VALUESWe Celebrate Scholarship - The foundation of Crystal is academic excellence.We Seek Growth Challenges - Our culture says try it.We Foster Kindness & Inclusion - Crystal is a caring and diverse community.We Strive for Balance - A holistic approach to well-being is integral to our mission.We Engage with Enthusiasm - With unbounded spirit, we give our best effort every day and pay it forward to our community.We Lead with Humility - Being grateful and open-minded, we pursue lifelong learning.QualificationsJob SummaryCrystal seeks an exempt, part-time (.75 FTE) Middle School Art Teacher starting August 2026.Teachers at Crystal advance the mission of the organization by providing students with appropriate learning activities and experiences designed to fulfill their potential for intellectual development through general education. They enable students to maximize their competencies and skills to function successfully in society. They help build equity and inclusion, and a sense of belonging. A Crystal teacher lays the foundation for positive self-assessment and emotional intelligence amongst students and teaches them a sense of responsibility as well as their academic curriculum.The Fine Arts department at Crystal believes that the arts are a valuable part of a quality education and essential to the human experience. Our fine arts education provides students with a progressive, experiential, visual and performing arts curriculum that offers exploration, depth, and breadth. We strive to cultivate self-expression, an understanding of the language of the arts, and a working knowledge that a multitude of solutions exist to solve artistic challenges.The objectives of the Middle School Fine Arts Department are that the students will:Develop foundational skills and techniques while cultivating individual expressionExplore a variety of art forms through sustained, meaningful engagementUnderstand and apply the artistic process from concept to creationAnalyze, evaluate, and critique artwork using appropriate art vocabulary and conceptsAppreciate collaboration, individuality, and diverse perspectives in the creative processKey Job CompetenciesClassroom Management: Maintains rules and procedures proactively to ensure a safe, equitable, and productive environment for high-quality learning.Collaboration: Leverages interpersonal qualities to work effectively with others toward common goals, solving problems, shared projects, or innovative processes.Communication: Articulates ideas effectively through oral, written, and visual channels while utilizing deep listening skills to gain understanding.Cultural Competence: Applies values, principles, and skills to respect and work effectively across cultural differences. Recognizes the unique perspectives and strengths of every community member.Developing Others: Supports the continuous growth and development of students and colleagues across all levels of the organization.Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates high levels of self and social awareness, self-management, and empathy.Formative Assessment: Monitors student understanding and modifies instruction in real-time to meet learning needs and support competency-based learning goals.Instructional Delivery: Implements transformative teaching practices to maximize student growth and acquisition of knowledge and skills.Personal Growth: Demonstrates a consistent commitment to ongoing learning, curiosity, and individual development.Relationship Management: Builds authentic, trusting relationships through positive collaboration and high levels of discretion and confidentialityEssential FunctionsDesign and deliver engaging lessons in art and art history aligned with student learning goalsFoster creativity and artistic expression through hands-on instruction and thoughtful guidanceTeach students the proper use and care of art materials, tools, and equipmentCurate and present student artwork through classroom and school-wide displaysMaintain a clean, organized, and well-prepared classroom environmentManage inventory and follow appropriate procedures for ordering art supplies to support instructionCultivate an inclusive, challenging, and equitable learning environment that reflects Crystal’s core values and allows the diverse student body to grow and thrive Set and maintain acceptable standards of classroom behavior to establish a positive and appropriate learning environmentCollaborate with colleagues to support the goals of the Middle School Fine Arts department and grade-level teamIntegrate technology in effective ways that enhance students’ learning experiences and growthParticipate in professional development and growth opportunities offered by CrystalAssess student learning through projects and formative assessments while recording and reporting progressServe as a supporting co-advisor who is committed to students’ social-emotional developmentParticipate in meetings and school activities as requiredUphold Crystal’s Core ValuesRequired Education, Certifications, And Work-Related Experience3 years of teaching experienceBachelor's degree from an accredited university Strong working knowledge of middle school art pedagogy and classroom practicesAbility to manage a classroom effectively and build positive relationships with studentsStrong communications, public relations, and interpersonal skills PreferencesUndergraduate or advanced degree in Fine Arts or a similar disciplineConsiderable artistic abilities and knowledge of aesthetics and art historyClassroom teaching experience: Grades 6-8Teaching credentialIndependent school experiencePhysical Requirements And Work EnvironmentAble to work in a dynamic environment, dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts Able to lift up to 20 pounds Able to climb stairs May work at a desk and computer for extended periods Travel RequiredLight travel between the Middle School and Upper School campuses, as neededAffirmative Action/EEO StatementCrystal Springs Uplands School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.Other Professional DutiesPlease note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties as assigned to the Essential Functions, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.Salary And BenefitsThis is a regular exempt, part-time (0.75 FTE), benefits-eligible, 10-month Faculty position, and the annual salary is commensurate with experience within the range of $52,500 - $112,500.The recruitment period will remain open until sufficient resumes have been received and may close at any time a sufficient pool of highly qualified candidates has been established. The ideal start date for this position is August 1, 2026.