Annie Wright Schools seek a Middle School Digital Media & Design Teacher to begin on August 18, 2023. This is a full-time position and reports directly to the Middle School Director.

Annie Wright’s strong community cultivates individual learners to become well-educated, creative, and responsible citizens for a global society.

Position Description:

The Middle School Digital Media & Design teacher is passionate about what they do and who they teach. They recognize and appreciate that the Design process and the creative process of the Arts go hand-in-hand. 

In Digital Media, the ideal candidate has the knowledge and enthusiasm to bring digital technology to life for our students through inquiry and discovery of the artistic process. This exploration into the concepts of change, communication, aesthetics, and identity could take the form of synthesized music, animation, digital art, videography, photography, or a wide spectrum of other artistic platforms that use digital media. This is a new course and, thus, the specifics of the units taught can fit the interests, talents, and passions of the teacher. Our one-to-one MacBook program means our students are equipped with a powerful tool to explore their creative world. In addition, they will have exposure to more classical visual art and theater classes to support growth in this course. Experience with applications from Adobe Creative Cloud is expected. 

The Design course at AWS is based around a maker space filled with duct tape, glue guns, and cardboard. With access to a woodshop, textiles lab, 3-D printers, and other tools, the ideal candidate allows students to creatively solve problems in a hands-on manner through human-centered, empathy-focused problem solving. All projects follow the IB MYP Design Cycle which encourages students to inquire and analyze, develop ideas, create a solution, and evaluate both their process and end product. For example, students may be tasked with designing a cardboard arcade game to appeal to a Grade 3 audience. They start by interviewing Grade 3 students, build a game, test it with a Grade 3 audience, make adjustments as needed, and evaluate the success of the process. As the facilitator of this course, no prior experience in the subject is required. However, enthusiasm for inquiry, the ability to guide students in a creative brainstorming process, and a passion for hands-on exploration are all essential qualities of a successful teacher of this course. Our students document their journey through both Digital Media and Design using Adobe Express and record their thoughts and progress in both courses over the three years of Middle School. 

Strong positive relationships and effective community-building are essential in Middle School; therefore, the Middle School Digital Media & Design Teacher must connect with young adolescents of all backgrounds and abilities to enable them to explore the world from multiple perspectives with eagerness and drive. Compassion and an understanding of the needs of this age group are vital to simultaneously support each student's academic and social-emotional growth and hold them accountable for their actions and choices. 

While energy, patience, and a little bit of goofiness are key elements that are indispensable for this position, the Middle School Digital Media & Design Teacher is also a team player who thrives in collaborative endeavors, both as an advisor and as a subject specialist in the Arts and Design departments. The creation and implementation of interdisciplinary units of inquiry that captivate, inform, and stretch our students are also essential components of the Middle Years Programme. While experience with the International Baccalaureate (IB) is not a prerequisite, an appreciation of criterion-based grading and a global, holistic approach to the IB is important. 

Position Overview: Core Duties and Responsibilities

The Middle School Digital Media & Design Teacher: 

• teaches in alignment with the mission and philosophy of Annie Wright Schools and with the International Baccalaureate framework; 
• designs and teaches Digital Media & Design with an emphasis on collaboration with the other Art (theater and visual arts) and Design teachers
• collaborates with other faculty, including the Director of Middle School, student Advisors, the Middle School Counselor, and other colleagues to develop programming;
• participates in collaborative planning and faculty meetings, serves as a Middle School Advisor, and fulfills other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The Middle School Digital Media & Design Teacher will demonstrate key elements of the listed expertise and experiences. This is an aspirational list, and Annie Wright Schools encourages candidates to apply who may not currently possess but who are working on building all of these qualities. The Middle School Digital Media & Design Teacher: 

• holds a BA in Art, Music, Design, Education, or a related field;
• is familiar with independent schools and/or the International Baccalaureate framework;
• demonstrates success as a teacher at the Middle School level and an interest in interdisciplinary curriculum development;
• demonstrates enthusiasm for working with Middle School-aged students and the ability to form authentic relationships with them; 
• demonstrates proficiency in educational technologies, specifically with Adobe Suite/Creative Cloud;
• is a strong communicator and empathetic listener;
• is innovative;
• is organized and flexible;
• practices cultural humility in personal interactions;
• is eligible to work in the United States.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods of time;
• Must be able to move comfortably around a classroom, accessing materials and assisting students as needed;
• Must be able to communicate and exchange information with students, other teachers, and families. 

Application process

Annie Wright Schools remain firmly committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity. Annie Wright shall hire, promote, transfer, terminate, and make all other employment-related decisions without regard to an employee’s race, color, creed, sex, religion, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, political ideology, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or any other basis prohibited by law. Annie Wright Schools are actively seeking to create a more culturally diverse school community and accordingly, applicants of color and underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 

To apply, email a cover letter, resume, email and telephone contact information for 3-5 professional references, and this completed and signed application, all in PDF format, to Mrs. Erin Gann, Executive Assistant to the Head of Schools, at erin_gann@aw.org. In accordance with Annie Wright Schools’ strategic focus on issues related to social justice, candidates should anticipate being asked to address how their past work, as well as future contributions, might serve to advance Annie Wright’s commitment to a more diverse and inclusive community. Applications for this position will be accepted until filled.

About Annie Wright Schools

Tradition meets innovation at Annie Wright Schools, where we honor our rich history and traditions, embrace the present, and continue always to move forward. Founded in 1884, Annie Wright Schools serve students from age three through high school. The Lower and Middle Schools offer co-ed programs in Preschool through Grade 8, while separate Upper Schools for boys and girls offer day and boarding options in Grades 9 through 12, welcoming students from Tacoma and around the world. We are proud to be an International Baccalaureate World School, delivering IB programs in every division.

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