Lower and Middle School Art Teacher

School Description

Santa Catalina School is a vibrant, independent, Catholic school offering student-centered co-education to PreK through grade 8 and an all-girls’ boarding and day college preparatory upper school serving grades 9 through 12. Santa Catalina exists to develop in each student a striving for excellence, a maturing awareness of moral and spiritual values, a sense of responsible purpose, and a determination to serve the world with courage, grace, and compassion. With the cornerstones of excellence, spirituality, service, and responsibility, the school is committed to providing a supportive learning community for each student to grow in their intellectual, personal, and spiritual life, making Santa Catalina a transformational educational experience for its students.

Position Summary 
Santa Catalina School, a nationally recognized, independent, Catholic school in Monterey, California, seeks an innovative, dedicated, and student-centered full-time art teacher for the 2025-2026 school year. The Lower and Middle School is composed of over 250 pre-kindergarten through eighth grade students, whose dedicated faculty and staff collaborate to design and deliver a dynamic learning environment. This is a unique opportunity to join students and teachers who joyfully and actively engage together in creating values-based, intentional community. The Lower and Middle School Art Teacher will join a highly collaborative and dedicated faculty who are committed to strengthening and enriching learning through innovative teaching methods that enable students to identify and solve problems, bridge content across traditional “subject” domains, and develop an unshakable growth mindset.

Description

Our Lower and Middle School art program, located in a state-of-the-art studio space, provides all students multiple opportunities to enjoy learning to create art, to appreciate various forms of artistic expression, and to demonstrate their creativity in a variety of settings with confidence. The art teacher is deft at establishing positive relationships with students, their families, and colleagues; accomplishes grade-appropriate curriculum planning and instruction; and is a role model for innovation, creativity, integration between disciplines. Reporting to the Head of Lower and Middle School, the art teacher will join with colleagues that work closely together and value collegiality.

Santa Catalina School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to its success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer his/her services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

Essential Responsibilities

Teach visual art to all students in grades 1-8 as part of the Lower and Middle School curriculum
Apply knowledge of child development to teaching and classroom management
Understand and employ developmentally appropriate pedagogical approaches and varied presentation styles to ensure high student engagement
Actively employ various project outcomes and assessment methods in order to more fully address different learning needs
Create a classroom environment centered on problem-solving, synthesizing information, and integrating knowledge 
Communicate clearly in writing and verbally to students, other teachers, parents, and administrators regarding student progress and student needs
Maintain accurate and complete records of student progress and development to adjust teaching strategies  
Pursue professional development to maintain expertise in performance of teaching responsibilities and promote the sharing of best practices with other members of the school’s faculty community
Show genuine concern for students: demonstrate deep investment in student learning and success both in and out of the classroom 
Manage student behavior in and out of the classroom by establishing and enforcing rules and procedures 
Participate and support the life of the school through various duties as assigned 
Attend and engage in department, school, and parent meetings

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in related field required, master’s degree and/or teaching credential preferred
Two or more years of experience as a primary grade and/or middle school grade art teacher
A commitment to the mission and identity of Santa Catalina School
A desire to participate fully in the Santa Catalina community
Successful completion of a LiveScan criminal background check as required by law

Competencies

Demonstrated use of relevant pedagogy to support and differentiate instruction
Excellent writing, communication, and public speaking skills
Approachable and welcoming demeanor
Cultural competence and enthusiasm for working with a diverse and dynamic community
Strong interpersonal skills, including good listening, humor, tact, and intuition
Ability to create responsive, caring, and appropriate relationships with students, families, and colleagues
Strong organizational and record-keeping skills and digital literacy
Ability to assess and respond to the needs of the school and act as a representative of the school
Commitment to professional growth and education

Supervisory Responsibilities

This position does not supervise other employees

Working Conditions and Compensation

Work in a classroom, standing and sitting, and using a computer screen for extended periods of time each day
Ability to access buildings and facilities throughout a 36-acre campus, with reasonable accommodations, in order to meet with students and faculty
Work in a school environment with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and people
Additional time is required beyond a normal day or week for evening and weekend meetings
Santa Catalina School offers competitive insurance and retirement benefits
Salary Range: $55,000 to $90,000 annually, depending on experience

Equal Employment Opportunity

Santa Catalina School is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment at Santa Catalina School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions and reproductive health decision-making), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics, citizenship, military or veteran status, off-duty and off-premises use of cannabis, age,  victims of a qualifying act of violence or other categories defined by state law, federal law or local ordinance.

To Apply

Interested candidates should visit our website to complete and submit an application, resume, and cover letter:

https://www.santacatalina.org/upper-school/who-we-are/employment 

Electronic submission of candidate papers in .pdf format is preferred.

Santa Catalina provides reasonable accommodations to employees and applicants with disabilities. Applicants who need accommodations to participate in the application process should contact employment@santacatalina.org.

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in related field required, master’s degree and/or teaching credential preferred
Two or more years of experience as a primary grade and/or middle school grade art teacher
A commitment to the mission and identity of Santa Catalina School
A desire to participate fully in the Santa Catalina community
Successful completion of a LiveScan criminal background check as required by law