Teaching Artists

Splat Lab is seeking dynamic, engaging, and adventurous Teaching Artists to join our team for after school residencies, one day school visits, and school day residencies. The ideal candidate will have multiple day availability and is flexible to teach workshops at different schools. We work with students from 3K-8th grade and primarily serve elementary school-aged students but have a robust middle school roster as well.

We are hiring for educators in

• Queens: Jamaica, Sunnyside
• Brooklyn: Downtown BK, Prospect Heights
• Manhattan: Central Harlem
• Other locations in NYC for pop ups

Schedule

• After school residencies begin in October and run approximately 10-14 weeks. Sign up for as many days of the week as your schedule allows
• One day school visits are peppered throughout the year at locations across NYC, you choose which locations work for you
• School residencies begin in Oct/Nov and occur during the school day. These can run 6-10 weeks
• We run our own camps in DUMBO and Windsor Terrace during school breaks

About Us:

Splat Lab and Anthro Arts grew out of the world of after school, where we partner with over 50 schools to provide high quality and unique enrichment classes for youth. We have two signature classes: Anthropology Arts and Splat Lab.

Anthropology Arts: Our goal is to expose young people to the cultural traditions, voices and histories of people that are often left out of traditional classroom settings and social studies curriculum. Each class is formatted to feature a community circle, project time with open ended materials, collaborative clean-up, and a closing community circle.

Splat Lab: Splat Lab exists for the sole purpose of having fun! Each class is formatted to have a Main Splat activity, such as making slime, marshmallow towers or ooze, and Open Splat where students can choose from a few activities such as butcher paper drawing, clay station or tinker time, followed by clean-up.

Position Descriptions:

Teaching Artists facilitate our curriculum and modify projects and group management based on the individual needs of each site. Leads must have strong group management and facilitation skills, especially since each assignment will be made up of new students who you are meeting for the first time. We will provide all the materials and logistical support. Leads ensure the workshops are magical, highly professional, and engaging for all students.

We will provide high-quality training for educators to learn the teaching method and curriculum. Lead Educators will mentor TAs and give clear directions for their role in each session. Pairs will debrief and communicate frequently about how to make sure workshops are continually high quality, fun, and smooth.

Position Qualifications: We are looking for Teaching Artists that can learn any kind of curriculum and make it fun and intellectually satisfying. We need the type of person who kids can’t wait to see, with group management skills to ensure a smooth, fun, and exciting class.

• For this position, the applicant must be strong at keeping up with emails, curriculum folders, schedules, and communication with your manager that is virtual.
• 1-3 years of working with youth in a leadership role: leading groups in after school, summer camps, museums, or early childhood settings. Babysitting and 1x1 tutoring experience is not applicable for this role.
• A dynamic, cool, magnetic personality that will engage all students.
• Strong group management skills with the ability to confidently organize and lead transitions, set up structured projects, and create clear rituals and routines.
• The ability to direct and collaborate with TAs to keep all students excited and on task.
• Experience with strength-based, restorative, positive discipline practices.
• Must be fully vaccinated.
• Must be over 18.

Teaching Artist Background and Training

Anthro: Content knowledge or interest in social studies, history, anthropology or art, and the ability to learn curriculum/content that may be new.

Splat Lab: Strong facilitation and classroom management skills, STEM knowledge a plus

• Museum educators, teaching artists or educators with a background in Montessori, Waldorf, Reggio Emilia etc. are highly encouraged to apply.
• Experience with under-resourced schools and special needs populations will be an advantage for some placements.

Compensation

Teaching Artists are paid $35 per hour for teaching and $20 per hour for monthly planning, meetings, PD. Assistants are paid $25 per hour. We provide paid set up and clean up time and training.

Application Process and Timeline

Candidates will be invited to an engaging group interview where they will demo one of our signature projects. Our group interviews are designed to be a community building experience that gives applicants a mini-training on how our program works. Once hired we will provide curriculum training, our signature "slime school" to learn how to facilitate our projects and cross-training, on site with our experienced teachers.