Welcome to the Fine Arts Educator Coaching Clinics podcast- The podcast that supports art, theatre, dance, and music teachers by sharing instructional trends and exploring perspectives in fine arts education.  I am your host, Eric Sanford.  

Visit our website, FAECC.org to find resources and links to this podcast.  While you are there, follow our socials, and let us know your thoughts on the episode.

Today we’ll explore fine art teacher job opportunities.  I know this time of year we see a lot of transition. We may be considering moving to a different campus, a different school district, or even a different profession.  

So how do you market yourself as a lead contender for open positions?  Let’s look at a few ways you can stand out from the rest. 

First, I want to say just one bit of advice.  Take it or leave it as you will.  The grass is not always greener on the other side.  The grass is greener where you water it.  

Consider your year or your time with your current position and ask yourself, why are you wanting a change?  It’s not bad to want change at all. Sometimes we subscribe to the idea that somewhere else has better pay, better conditions, or different parents- and all those reasons are legitimate.  

My word of caution comes not for why you are looking, but merely as a thought - if switching campuses or schools, it may be more of an internal change than an external change that you are looking for.  

I will also say that flowers do not always grow in every environment.  Find the best environment for you so that you can flourish.

The first topic we’ll discuss is a list of items you can do on your own. They are all research based, which a web search usually offers most answers.

Research the fine arts program you want to join.  Get an idea of their expectations and history.  Competition results can let you know if the current teacher has been there many years, or if the position changes frequently.  You can also find news articles, youtube videos, social media, and campus websites to get a sense of the program.

Research the campus and district.  How are fine arts supported? Are there any sports teams that frequently compete at the state level?  What does the community look like?  Is it growing? Stable? Shrinking?  What’s nearby? Are there other options for schools in the area?  These are important because it will affect your class size and program feasibility down the road.  

Are there other fine arts faculty on campus in the same discipline?  Would you be joining an established team? What other fine arts are offered at the campus?  

Searching online can give a first-impression of the school and the culture there.

So you researched the school and it’s time to get that resume updated.  

So what do you write in a modern resume?  My number one recommendation, search online for a resume template.  There’s no sense in reinventing the wheel.  Find something you are comfortable with, is simple, and displays your personality in a professional manner. 

Too much and it’s difficult to read.  Too little and it looks bleak.  Once you start crafting the resume, have some friends or family look it over for suggestions.  

The basics include - Identification of who you are, Certifications, your Educational background, and your Experience.

In any instance, apply for the job you want, not always the job you have. Even if it’s just wanting to be around a different community or school atmosphere, name what you are looking for in your resume. “I am looking for a position in a well-supported teaching community that encourages professional growth.”  That’s miles of difference from “I’m looking for a change.”  

Also be intent with your Experience.  Are you moving from an assistant job to a head job? Are you wanting to do more in leadership? Your current experiences can let interviewers know more about your intent.  

You might also include data in your Experiences.  Listen to these two options. 

“Some of my students competed and won an art competition.”

Or

From 2015-2020, 25 students advanced to state visual art competitions.  

The second example is more defined, showing the length of time that you actively supported students for a competition, what the competition was, and the level of student success.  It also creates a talking point for your interviewer to learn more about that process.  

You got your resume on point, you had several people offer feedback for it, and it’s ready to be at the top of the applicant list.  

One feature that we often overlook is marketing ourselves on social media.  When I first started teaching, Facebook was new, YouTube was new, the internet was a much smaller universe than its current form, and networking was mainly done face to face.  

Now, there are so many options to promote yourself, as well as hinder your progress through social media.  And even if your profiles are set to private, there’s always something that leaks through from someone else, so be careful what you put out there.

One way to highlight yourself in a positive way is to use networking social media like LinkedIn.  

I was actually recruited as a teacher by posting my work experience on LinkedIn.  One of the district recruiters found my info, encouraged me to apply for a teaching job, all because I added my teaching experience to an otherwise blank profile.  

I won’t lie and say you’ll get the job based on your networking, but one thing I know from my experience, who you know can help get your foot in the door, even for just an interview. It’s what you know that gets you that job and keeps it.  

The next bit of Advice - Apply Everywhere!

Even if you are unsure about the campus, applying for everything you can could provide interview experience or a job offer that you hadn’t considered before.  The worst that could happen is they say no, and you are no worse off than before.  The best that could happen, you could receive multiple job offers, and you get to choose from your options.

Look at Interviews as a Growth Experience.  Learn more about the campus, district, and what you want.  You will be asked great questions and not so great questions.  Remember that you are interviewing them as much as they are interviewing you.  It should be a conversation, an exchange of ideas.  Learn all you can about the school, the people there, and how you might fit within that community.  

You might learn that you definitely don’t want to work there, that the grass looks greener, but it’s not. Or that it could be greener for someone else, just not you.  Or even better, it’s your dream job hiding in some unknown place. 

So what questions do you ask to determine if it’s a good fit for you?

Well, try these: 

How does the campus/district financially support the fine art programs?  Would your program get a budget?  Who manages that budget? 

Does the district have a department or staff to help with fundraisers and grants?

What does the teaching schedule look like?  It’s great to teach our own fine art content, but what if they throw in something different?  The last teacher may have also taught reading or acted as an in-class support. 

What does the teaching space look like?  Do you push into other classrooms with a cart, or do you have a dedicated space?  Is there storage? An office?  

What other duties or extra assignments are included?  Lunch duty? Car rider line? In School Suspension?  

Speaking of, what does their student discipline model look like?  Don’t let someone tell you their students are great and a behavior management system is unnecessary.  Learn as much as you can about campus discipline.

How is teacher performance rated and evaluated?  Is it a twice a year evaluation, or do you get weekly goals?

Ask questions about cross curricular and arts integration collaboration.  You should be able to determine fairly quickly if the arts are a lonesome silo, or if they constantly interact with other teachers and classes.  

How does the school interact with the community?  Is it mostly sporting events?  Are there community festivals and holidays?  

Ask about the grading system and expectations for fine arts.

More interview questions can be found online by searching “questions to ask during a teacher interview”. 

And last, questions to ask yourself.

What is required for a hard “no” response from you?   What boundaries are you willing to cross or not cross?  Where do you draw the line?

Is it location? Pay? Extra duties? Campus culture? Maybe it doesn’t quite fit your style.  The Discipline System?  The category of “Other” expectations?  

Know your limits and what you are looking for.  Are you looking for something beyond the traditional fine arts programming?  In what ways are you wanting to grow?  In the end, how does this possibility support your professional goals and direction?

It could be just a job to get you through the year, or it could end being your job.  In the end, how will you thrive and grow over the next year?

I wish you the best if you are actively seeking a new opportunity.  Sometimes we learn after looking at the other options that where we are isn’t that bad after all.  And sometimes, you land the opportunity of a lifetime.  

We look forward to hearing from you- your comments, questions, and suggestions.  Hit us up on our Twitter, at FAECC Host, and visit our website, FAECC.org, for more information.  

Thanks again for listening!  Until next time, I wish you Peace and Blessings!