Teaching Artists

 

Kids From Wisconsin is seeking professional, energetic, and dedicated Teaching Artists (TA) for its Realize Your Dream residency programs (currently for grades 3-8). The Kids From Wisconsin was founded in 1969 to bring musical performance experiences to communities across the Midwest, showcasing the state’s most talented youth performers to over 120,000 people each summer. Realize Your Dream is the community enrichment and education pillar of the organization, and was founded upon the traditions, legacy and core values of KFW's 55 year history. 

​

With the achievement of the Realize Your Dream Spotlight, and outreach workshops that impact hundreds of participants across Wisconsin every year, the Kids From Wisconsin staff wondered how to connect to local schools year-round. During the summer of 2020, a team was assembled encompassing a wide variety of teaching experiences in the performing arts. In over 240 hours of collaborative meetings and countless innovative ideas, the team’s purpose revolved around one common goal — every child deserves to be introduced to the world of music. Now with two current residency programs (Music In Me and Music With My Friends), and three in development our primary focus is on the disparity of music education access, as we aim to provide educational programming to underserved communities across SE Wisconsin.

​

Teaching Artists will play a large role in Kids From Wisconsin's mission to work with communities, schools, arts organizations, and supporting foundations to develop and deliver engaging performing arts and music education. They will be contracted to facilitate and teach pre-determined and written residency workshops and sessions in Milwaukee area school districts and community centers.

​

​

Music In Me

Grades 3-5
Embracing Wisconsin’s standards for General Music Education, Music In Me incorporates vocal, instrumental and movement principles. The lessons will encourage self-confidence, spark creativity, and develop music appreciation with an interactive lens.
 

Music With My Friends

Grades 6-8
Positive and inspiring song choices, challenging choreography, and collaborative coaching all wrapped in a high energy team building atmosphere. Various styles in vocals, movement and performing techniques. TAs have an opportunity to collaborate on artistic development. Both programs will celebrate the participants work by presenting a showcase that will leave them empowered with the ability to connect to their community through music and performance. Residencies fulfill schools, after school centers, recreation and youth organizations that seek music and performing arts programming in their facilities

​

​

Qualifications:

• Minimal: 

  • High School Diploma OR GED

  • At least 2 years of experience in the performing arts (i.e. music, theater, dance, etc.)

  • At least 1 year of experience working with children (i.e. caregiving, in classroom setting, private lessons, etc.)

  • Basic/Fundamental understanding of music theory, dance/movement, or acting theory.

  • Comfortable with technology (i.e. GoogleSuite, SmartBoards, Projectors, YouTube, etc).

• Preferred: 

  • Ability to play piano, and read music

  • College bachelor’s degree in music/theater/dance education, or other arts related degree

  • Current college students pursuing an education degree

• Adaptability: Willing to train and implement an existing lesson plan, but also be flexible to alter due to attendance and special needs of participants or facility

• Present a positive, friendly, respectful and helpful demeanor when working with children and community/school contacts and partnerships.

• Demonstrated interpersonal skills - ability and willingness to collaborate with co-teachers

• Accurate and precise attention to detail.

• Ability to clearly communicate verbally and in writing

• Driver’s License or access to public or reliable transportation

• Ability to pass a background check in accordance with state and/or Federal laws.

​

Your talents will:

• Instruct and execute provided 1-hour lesson plans with professionalism

• Create an engaging, positive, safe, and inclusive learning environment

• Communicate and collaborate on class goals and progress of sessions and students with Community Education Director

• Support colleagues and collaborate with other volunteers in and outside the classroom to prep, organize and maintain materials

• Incorporate classroom management strategies and learning theories to encourage engagement and motivation

• Ensure surveys, assessments, and evaluations are completed and submitted in a timely fashion

​

Other details:

• Independent Contracted Position

• Schedule

  • 4-10 hours per weeks depending on bookings and TA availability

  • ​Flexible opportunities during or after school hours, and weekend availability

• Compensation:

  • $70/session after training and observation hours

  • $25/prep sessions

• Travel: 

  • TA’s can expect to travel to a variety of schools or community centers for teaching engagements in Milwaukee County. Travel costs are the responsibility of the TA.

  • TA’s are paid the hourly wage of $70/hr only during instruction time, and are not compensated hourly for travel time between teaching engagements.

• Mandatory Background checks

​

To Apply

Please email a resume and cover letter to Ashley Patin, Community Education Director at ashley.patin@kidsfromwisconsin.org with 2 references if selected for interview. 

 

Questions?

Call Kids From Wisconsin 414-266-7067