Digital Arts Teacher (Grades 6 – 12)

New England Innovation Academy (NEIA) is the school the world needs next. A new global school for day and boarding students in grades 6-12, NEIA is preparing young innovators with a future-focused curriculum, human-centered design, and real-world inclusion. Students connect Passion to Purpose, bring Ideas to Impact, and graduate Next Generation Innovators who leave NEIA with a unique PIN and become the change they want to see in a rapidly evolving world. Set on a beautiful 26-acre campus in Marlborough, Massachusetts, the school offers a custom curriculum informed by research at MIT’s Integrated Design and Management program. Students engage in relevant, project-based learning that directly supports their academic success. NEIA’s learning experience will encourage students to build empathy, take risks, and engage in hands-on community, environment, and industry projects.

Diversity is essential to NEIA’s existence as a place of innovation. To innovate, you must belong. As a human-centered design community, we work toward every NEIA innovator feeling a sense of belonging at school. We value creating the same experience for our staff and invite you to join our community.

POSITION OVERVIEW: 

The Digital Arts Teacher supports and stimulates students’ and teachers’ passions and curiosities. The Digital Arts Teacher will help students think creatively and critically about the world and how to express themselves in digital 3D and 4D space. The Digital Arts Teacher will work with colleagues to support the learning objectives of NEIA’s Innovation Studio and Arts: collaboration on the design and implementation of the curriculum and program. This position will instruct, enable, and assist the students with the complex conceptualization and production challenges that they will face in the 3D and 4D creative environment.

The position requires maintaining a full teaching load in Upper School, Middle School, or a
mixture of both divisions; serving as an advisor to a small cohort of students; and actively supporting various student and residential life activities. The Digital Arts Teacher works collaboratively and creatively with colleagues in various curricular areas and divisions. NEIA encourages collaborative teamwork in the classroom, teaching students to communicate effectively and thoughtfully, justify their reasoning, and consider multiple perspectives when solving problems. Teachers invest in the life of the school by participating in the advising program, social and emotional learning, weekly team meetings, anti-bias training, student and residential life, and any aspects that support the student experience.

Under the general supervision and guidance of the Head of Teaching and Learning, teachers are responsible for preparing lesson plans, educating students, and collaborating with colleagues. Their duties include assessing student work and performance through NEIA’s Competency-Based model, providing feedback, documenting student progress, and assigning learning extensions. Teachers must be able to command their classroom and reach students with an engaging project-based curriculum. Teachers are responsible for creating and maintaining a learning environment that guides and encourages students to develop and fulfill their academic potential and accomplish the learning goals of NEIA. Teachers are expected to understand and utilize Human-Centered Design as a process and develop it as an ethos across
our program.

DUTIES:

• Embodies NEIA’s principles of empathy, equity, personalization, authentic work, and collaboration in all work activities and actions.
• Creates daily lesson plans with project-based assignments connected to the human experience that are engaging, educational, and exciting for the students.
• Plans, prepares and delivers instructional activities that facilitate active learning experiences.
• Incorporates goals, competencies, and objectives into lesson plans in ways that directly apply to the student’s life.
• Achieves school and course-wide performance goals for every student in class.
• Assesses student work regularly to keep students updated on how they are doing.
• Identifies students who are struggling with learning, emotional problems, or situations at home, and find them the resources they need.
• Engages in ongoing professional learning and development per the school’s professional growth framework.
• Supports the work of School Leadership in reaching strategic goals.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned and required by the position and
  the school.

HOURS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

The responsibilities contained within this section are a guide.

• The expected teaching load for Teaching staff members is 4 classes (every season).
• Teaching staff members are expected to be on campus during the workday which generally begins at 8:00 AM and ends at 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
• Teachers should be available from 2:50 PM – 3:30 PM for office hours, most days, unless fulfilling other NEIA commitments.
• Teaching staff members are expected to attend all scheduled Teaching staff members meetings.
• Teaching staff members are required to attend training(s) or professional development sessions, typically held on days when school is not in session.

Explorations

• Contributes to the residential and day community by participating in after-school explorations.
  ○ Teaching staff members are expected to run/lead/support at least one afternoon exploration, two seasons during the academic year (Fall, Winter, or Spring). Explorations run 3-4 days a week from 3:30PM – 4:30PM.
• Participates in extracurricular activities and other school functions as needed. The Head of Teaching & Learning may assign additional duties that meet the needs of the school.

Residential Life Responsibilities

• Responsibilities include those associated with the residential life program at NEIA, including, but not limited to, weeknight and weekend supervision.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Passionate about teaching middle and high school students.
• Willingness to explore and implement opportunities that will add value to the studio.
• Ability to design and implement individualized creative processes to plan, organize and execute complex projects.
• Eagerness to work with the Innovation Studio and other NEIA staff members to facilitate projects.
• Knowledge of developing, editing, and refining narratives and scripts.
• Ability to teach students visual and verbal presentation skills. Proficient knowledge of teaching strategies and methods.
• Ability to create a welcoming and supportive community for a diverse study body.
• Ability to work with professionalism, discretion, sound judgment, equity, honesty, and
  personal accountability at all times.
• Ability to incorporate goals, competencies, and objectives into lesson plans in ways that
  directly apply to students’ lives.
• Ability to use technology effectively in teaching, learning, and administrative functions and willingness to stay current in technology skills and learn emerging technologies as needed.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong administrative and organization skills.
• Strong creative and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to efficiently and effectively manage the time of self and others.
• Understanding of and adherence to applicable laws, codes, policies, regulations, and safety practices and procedures.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree required in a relevant FAV field; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least three years of teaching experience in a residential or day school setting is
  preferred.
•  Pofessional experience in filmmaking and/or related fields.
• Technology experience required:
  o Adobe Design Suite (particularly After Effects, Premiere, Audition)
  o Audio Editing
  o Video Editing
  o CAD & 3D modeling software
  o 2D & 3D animation and Rigging
  o Digital product rendering
  o Proficiency in the proper use of 2D, 3D, and 4D software and methods of creating
  time-based art
  o Competency in live-action film, 4D art, and open media
  o Real-world experience utilizing and executing FAV practices

Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This 10-month, full-time teaching staff position begins in late August 2023. Interested candidates should email a cover letter and resume/CV to careers@neiacademy.org.

NEIA is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and equal opportunity for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, military service, application for military service, or any other status protected by applicable law. NEIA will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities or pregnancy-related conditions, in accordance with applicable law.