Position: Visual Arts Instructor for The Center for ArtEsteem

School Year: 2026-27

Schedule: No less than 8 and no more than 20 hours per week 

Type: In-Person, Part-Time, Spans OUSD/WCCUSD School Year

Hourly Pay Range: $28-$31

Grade Level: TK-12

Locations: ArtEsteem Office > Oakland, CA

                       Assigned School Site Locations > OUSD and/or WCCUSD school sites (Assignment/grade levels based on school site contracts for the school year!)

The Center for ArtEsteem (ArtEsteem) promotes a culture of unity and creativity, merging the arts with social justice to manifest a better society. Every member of the ArtEsteem community is driven by our mission: ArtEsteem empowers individuals to be self-aware and inspired through art, creativity, and education, making positive choices to break the cycle of violence for themselves and their communities.

ArtEsteem seeks to hire a Teaching Artist—a practicing artist and teacher—with a passion for art, educating and building healthy, safe communities. An excellent candidate loves working collaboratively, is trained and experienced to teach in-person, is familiar with best practices in classroom settings and classroom management, and is committed to racial, economic, and environmental justice. This position has the ability to grow into a full-time Lead Teaching position.

They must be able and willing to work with students to develop wellness, creativity, community engagement, and ecological sensibilities while engaging in art activities embedded with cultural, situational, and arts integration subject relevance.

The qualities that ArtEsteem is looking for in a Teaching Artist are: Team Player Mentality, Integrity, Sensitivity, Self-Sufficient, Courage and Vision, Leadership Capacity, Competency as Collaborator, Organizer, Strategist and Communicator. 

Requirements:

• Onboarding: DOJ Live Scan background check and submission, tuberculosis screening, proof of COVID-19 vaccination, Mandated Reporter trainings. Additional training may be required by ArtEsteem to maintain client contract compliance and student wellbeing.
• 2+ years of experience working with elementary, middle, and/or high school students.
• Availability to work within Academic Day hours (8:30am-3:00pm) and/or After School Programming (2:00pm-6:00pm).
• Ability to teach students visual art fundamentals, color theory, painting, drawing and/or sculpture skills.
• Knowledge of Common Core and Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) standards.
• Ability to create and teach lesson plans using ArtEsteem templates.
• Have strong classroom management skills.
• Curriculum development experience for TK-12th grade.
• Well organized, able to balance multiple priorities, and able to meet deadlines.
• Passion for working with students of diverse backgrounds in urban environments.
• Ability to collaborate with other teachers and school staff on curriculum.

Desirable, but not required:

• Experience working with students who have special educational needs.
• Background in sustainability and environmental justice.
• Access to a personal vehicle with a valid driver’s license.

Teaching artists are responsible for the following:

• Organizing and maintaining classrooms that are engaging, creative, positive and supportive of students.
• Preparing supplies, materials and transporting them to assigned sites. 
• Generating new and implementing existing curriculum.
• Emphasizing Common Core standards and/or STEAM project-based learning in lessons.
• Coordination with ArtEsteem communications staff for program documentation in the form of photos and videos of student artwork and work-in-progress.
• Effectively able to collaborate and be team oriented with other teaching artists, school staff, and program specialists.
• Submission of administrative documents, such as unit and lesson plans, timesheets, class attendance, classroom reflection forms, surveys, and program enrollment forms to ArtEsteem administrative staff as required and requested.
• Engage students in producing high quality and meaningful artwork that demonstrates Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Math (STEAM), environmental, and social-emotional learning themes for school-based showcases and the Annual ArtEsteem Exhibition.
• Incorporating the Twelve Principles of Attitudinal Healing into lessons and classroom culture.
• Attending professional developments, staff training, and all monthly staff meetings.
• Supporting agency events and the Annual ArtEsteem Exhibition.
• Engaging with families as needed.
• Wearing ArtEsteem branded apparel while working.

To apply, please prepare and send the following materials to Alexa Brown, ArtEsteem Program Manager, at alexa@artesteem.org.

• Resume
• Portfolio (Artist & Teaching)
• Cover Letter
• Three References