Returning: Site Director - SALA (Summer Arts for Learning Academy)

Company: Arts for Learning Maryland
Location: Baltimore
Posted on: April 4, 2025

Job Description:

Returning: Site Director - SALA (Summer Arts for Learning Academy)About the Summer Arts for Learning Academy:Baltimore City Schools' Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA), operated by Arts for Learning Maryland, offers students an opportunity to imagine, create, and express who they are through the arts. This is an action-packed, full-day, five-week program (Monday - Thursday) that introduces students to a wide variety of art forms -from illustration and spoken word to percussion, drama, and dance- which gives students a chance to work alongside students from across the city and be taught by professional Artists. Students' work is celebrated through a student showcase on the final day of the program. Arts for Learning Maryland will host 6 Academy sites throughout the city, locations TBD.Mission and Core Values:The mission of Arts for Learning Maryland's Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) is to provide students with an opportunity to spend summer learning from the best Teachers and Teaching Artists our state has to offer. Through a dynamic, creative, and supportive environment, students will explore math and literacy in a unique arts-integrated environment that allows them to develop socially and emotionally, expands their personal creative process, introduces them to different art forms taught by professional Artists, and allows them to experience math and literacy content from a different lens.We...

• believe unwaveringly that ALL students can achieve high standards in and through the arts.
• provide opportunities for students to develop powerfully articulate voices through art forms and honor their creative processes along the way.
• create safe, brave learning environments for students to grow, make mistakes, and contribute to the community.
• collaborate and reflect by learning from and with each other at every step of the process, cultivating positive relationships between all ages.
• encourage the development of critical thinking, problem solving, inquiry, imagination, and creativity, and provide multiple ways for students to demonstrate knowledge and mastery.
• learn about, honor, and leverage the cultural knowledge, experiences, and frames of reference of our students and community to make learning more relevant and effective.
• ensure that our students are known, loved, supported, celebrated, and valued.Job Description:The Summer Arts for Learning Academy (SALA) Site Director is our most important ambassador and outward-facing role, and they work in partnership with other Site Directors as well as the SALA HQ team to promote and support the overall vision and mission of the program.SALA Site Directors are responsible for all aspects of the program and its operations and provide leadership, mentorship, and oversight of all aspects of the Summer Academy site, which includes but is not limited to overseeing student achievement, daily attendance, climate and culture, scheduling, building and staff supervision, emergency procedures, and partnership connections.Ideal Site Directors will have:
  • Key skills: successful people management, demonstrable logistical planning, vast classroom observation experience, clear and successful communication.
  • Excellent management skills, including organizational and logistical planning, punctuality, ability to meet deadlines, timely and effective communication, and ability to demonstrate and require accountability.
  • Strong inclination to collaborate and share ideas, and work collaboratively with the other Site Director and the rest of the Site Admin team.
  • Experience working with SALA, thus having a strong understanding of the program culture, logistics and procedures, as well as all position expectations.
  • Proven and demonstrable success leading educational initiatives, building positive school cultures, and motivating and supporting staff.
  • An ability to create inclusive environments where all students' unique gifts and talents are discovered and cultivated, and where students' identities (racial, cultural, social, gender, etc.) are acknowledged, affirmed, and reflected around them.
  • A strong desire to fully integrate into a non-traditional learning environment where flexibility is strongly valued and where new and innovative ideas are not only cultivated but expected from all staff.
  • A willingness and desire to utilize restorative practices when conflict arises both with staff and students.
  • An ability to examine biases and an understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and its impact on policies and practices, especially related to the administration of public education.
  • Ability to have critical conversations and provide constructive feedback to Teachers, Teaching Artists, staff members, parents, students, and partners when necessary.
  • A commitment to seeing families as partners in education and communicating with them regularly.
  • A willingness to use either the school office landline or their personal cell phone (number blocking is acceptable) to contact parents and guardians, as needed.
  • Understanding and appreciation of arts integration.
  • A strong interest (with experience preferred) in arts integration and collaborative planning and reflection.Please note, staff working in SALA will need to be able to stand, walk, and be active throughout the entire duration of the program day. They will need to be able to keep up with and supervise students within and outside the classroom, for example during Fitness and Fun time and field trips. Staff will also need to be able to lift up to 20lbs on occasion when setting up and breaking down classroom and/or preparing for performances and other events. Bending, kneeling, and climbing stairs are also frequently needed during SALA.Job Responsibilities:As a member of the Site Admin Team:
    • Check instructional resources (e.g. math manipulatives, books, dictionaries, etc) in the first two weeks - those that are not being used in a classroom should be taken to the office and repurposed.
    • Ensure all Artists/Teachers submit written weekly instructional outlines for all classes.
    • Ensure arts integration/co-teaching planning occurs and keep records of time spent.
    • Support the Site Admin team in carrying out the operations of the site.
    • Supports or participates in school-wide student activities and/or family and community events.
    • Supports the structured team-building recess (Fitness & Fun) block twice per week.
    • Submit verbal and written reports as required.
    • Administer student program evaluations when needed.
    • Create a positive culture and climate within the building by centering the program's mission and core values and addressing any issues within the parameters of site procedures and expectations.
    • Build relationships with students, staff, and families and create a positive, supportive community within the classroom and site.
    • Support the completion of all required paperwork as assigned by the Site Director/Instructional Coach, including student attendance records, student pre and post surveys or assessments, student observation rubrics, student progress reports, etc.
    • Adhere to all health and safety policies as required by BCPSS, CDC, World Health Organization (WHO), and Arts for Learning Maryland.
    • Assist with site logistics (transitions, cafeteria duties, tidiness of site, among others).
    • All other duties as assigned.Specifically as the Site Director:
      • Attend the mandatory SALA Leadership Academy in the Spring, and all other required training and meetings as directed by Arts for Learning Maryland.
      • Ensure that the philosophy and core values of the Summer Arts for Learning Academies are central to the school culture and visible throughout the site.
      • Establish a positive and productive school climate for all staff and students.
      • Provide oversight of the daily operations and implementation of the Summer learning instructional program to ensure that all students have access to unique, relevant, challenging, and fun learning experience.
      • Monitor and manage the site's data (ie, attendance, assessments), being ultimately responsible for its timely and thorough collection and storage.
      • Hold weekly staff meetings and daily admin team check-ins.
      • Ensure that parents/guardians of absent students are called daily to promote high rates of daily attendance.
      • Attend required training and meetings as directed by Arts for Learning Maryland.
      • Work cross-functionally with Arts for Learning Maryland and Baltimore City Schools stakeholders to ensure smooth operation of the site, including teaching and learning (Office of Extended Learning, Office of Specialized Services, Extended School Year Office, and Office of Fine Arts), food and nutrition, transportation, student support and safety, and communications.
      • Complete at least one hour of lesson observations of each Artist or Artist/Teacher pair at your site. Provide written feedback to Artists and Teachers and a copy to Arts for Learning Maryland.
      • Respond to inquiries from parents and the community in a timely and professional manner with consultation from Arts for Learning Maryland and the Office of Teaching and Learning at Baltimore City Public Schools.
      • Model and require that all staff engage in practices that promote high performance, ethical behavior, collegiality, and teamwork.
      • Manage the implementation (in collaboration with the Site Admin team) of a Student Support Plan and other policies for the site.
      • Collaborate with and provide support for various partnerships and external stakeholders.Required Dates, Times, and Working Hours:SALA Site Directors must be able to commit to attending the program and training days listed below. Currently, dates are tentative and are subject to change:Asynchronous Training (Must be completed prior to May 30, 2025)All new A4L Academies staff must complete the following asynchronous, virtual trainings:
        • Race Equity Training (8 hours)
        • Creating Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth (2 hours)Spring Training (Required, Paid)While SALA is a summer program, the following time commitment for training purposes is required in the Spring.
          • Building Culturally Responsive Classrooms & Sites
          • In-person: April 12 or May 3 (2 hours)
          • Supporting Students with IEPs and 504s
          • In-person: May 10 (2 hours)
          • OR
          • Virtual: May 22 (2 hours)
          • In-person: (two sessions)
          • March 22 and April 26, 2025Professional Development Week (Required, Paid)
            • Time: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
            • Location: In-person, TBDSALA Program Dates for Students (all Baltimore sites)
              • When: Monday-Thursday, June 30 - July 31, 2025
              • Program Hours: 8:30 AM (Breakfast) - 3:00 PM
              • Site Director's time commitment: 8 hours a day (8:00-4:00pm)Weekly Meetings and Planning Time : (Required, paid)
                • One 30-minute staff meeting per week (days/times TBD by Site Directors)
                • 3.5 hours per week for logistical meeting and planning time as needed for the site.Compensation:
                  • The SALA Site Director position is a temporary, non-exempt position and is not eligible for employee benefits. This position is eligible for time-off in the form of Sick & Safe leave.
                  • Site Directors will be paid an hourly rate of $53.18
                  • ALL positions will be paid at the hourly rate of $30.00 for all professional development sessions and training.Time Off:Grant and special-funded staff, hired for short-term assignments, internships, and as temporary project-based staff, are not eligible to accrue PTO, however Sick and Safe leave is available to these employees. Sick and Safe Leave is accrued at a rate of one hour for every thirty hours worked and begins accruing on day one of employment. Employees may use the leave in increments of 1 hour or greater. Employees will be paid at their current regular rate for each accrued Sick and Safe Leave hour used.Employees who have questions about Sick and Safe Leave, including (i) their eligibility for Sick and Safe Leave; (ii) when Sick and Safe Leave may be used; and (iii) the amount of available Sick and Safe Leave should promptly contact the People Operations Department ( pops@artsforlearningmd.org )Arts for Learning Maryland (formerly Young Audiences of 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.
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Keywords: Arts for Learning Maryland, Baltimore , Returning: Site Director - SALA (Summer Arts for Learning Academy), Executive , Baltimore, Maryland