Middle School Teacher, Integrated Art Specialist

Title: Integrated Art Specialist

Department/Location: Middle School Faculty, St. Louis

Position Type: Full-time, 39-week

Principia is looking for an Integrated Art Specialist to incorporate art into all subject areas for 6th-8th grade students. In this role, you will use project-based learning and a variety of teaching methods to foster creativity, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary connections. Your ability to teach for understanding (UbD), engage students in meaningful artistic expression, and mentor them as both a teacher and character educator will be key to your success. Reporting to the Middle School Principal, you will play a critical role in helping students apply their knowledge and skills through art. You’ll collaborate with faculty across disciplines to create a dynamic, integrated learning experience.

At our award-winning Early Childhood through grade 12 Principia School in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education—blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia’s team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College, but also a worldwide network of alumni and friends.

At Principia School, our core value is LOVE. Love and its attributes underpin our foundational beliefs as well as our educational approach. We focus on developing the whole child—intellectually, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, preparing students for the next steps in life. We foster a challenging yet supportive environment where character unfolds naturally, and talent is cultivated through boundless opportunities. Character education plays an essential role in every aspect of the student experience, and classroom work is augmented by character trips, leadership development, and real-world, hands-on, project-based learning.

Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued.

• Displays a strong interest and love for working with 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
• Plans lessons that invoke student interest and ownership, incorporates real-life situations where appropriate, and demonstrates an awareness of the needs of the future-ready learner
• Sets challenging and integrated long-term projects for students that are experiential and authentic
• Plans and implements a cohesive and appropriate Art curriculum that integrates with other subject areas
• Overseas all art aspects of the MS, including but not limited to planning and overseeing Evenings of Excellence, Grade 8 Culminating Art Project, Grade 7 gift, MS O-Week project, and locker decor
• Works with US and LS Art teachers to ensure a scope and sequence is in place for Art education at Principia
• Willingness to work effectively in a 1:1 tablet laptop environment, using technology as a tool to enhance learning
• Effectively integrates future-ready skills into the classroom helping students develop strong critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, research, and communication skills
• Works with a wide range of students – helping them feel successful and understand their unlimited potential
• Provides daily conferences for students
• Handles discipline situations in an effective manner that supports character growth
• Actively collaborates with colleagues across levels and departments to support the implementation of school-wide initiatives
• Actively participates in various committee meetings, faculty and parent meetings, and professional development; becomes part of a professional learning community where teachers are continually improving teaching and learning
• Communicates effectively with coaches, parents, and houseparents
• Supports middle school activities by chaperoning social events and trips
• Recognizes that spiritually-based character education is as important as the subject matter being taught

• Team players: Ability to collaborate and partner with peers and senior leaders is critical, with an ability to listen, give and receive feedback, and be comfortable exchanging ideas and speaking candidly in a professional and collegial manner
• Strategic thinkers: Ability to consider complex topics from multiple perspectives and offer innovative solutions.
• Leadership: Exhibits confidence in self and others; inspires and motivates others to perform well; effectively influences actions of others; inspires respect and trust; accepts feedback from others; provides vision and inspiration to peers and direct reports; gives appropriate recognition to others; mobilizes others to fulfill the vision; promotes a positive work environment.
• Communication: Provides regular, consistent, and meaningful information. Listens carefully to others and ensures message is understood. Ensures important matters are shared with all appropriate parties. Communicates in a clear and concise manner. Tailors communication style to needs of the recipient.
• Project Management: Monitors status of projects, thoroughly deals with project details, holds project owners and participants accountable, delivers clear, accurate depiction of status
• Innovative: Presents a problem-solving mindset that helps our team come up with creative solutions to challenging issues, with a mentality of self-improvement and organizational excellence; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas
• Ethical: Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity; upholds organizational values
• Planning and Organizing: Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; manages multiple projects and tasks simultaneously

• Student of Christian Science preferred
• Supportive of Principia’s guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/guiding-statements
• Willingness to turn readily to God for guidance
• Teaching certification/Master’s degree/Significant coursework in art education (required within two years of hire date)
• Bachelor’s degree in Education or a related field
• Relevant teaching experience with middle school students
• Prior experience of working in an integrated studies setting

We offer a competitive salary range for this position: $53,000 - $78,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes:

• Generous Employee Tuition Discount: Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded).
• Relocation: Principia provides a relocation imbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary, when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles
• Professional Development: Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more.

Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status.