High School Technical Dir. & Theatre Arts Teacher (2024-2025)

Georgetown Day School opened its doors in 1945 as the first integrated school in a segregated city. Governed by a Board of Trustees elected by the parent body and administered by an appointed Head of School, it was founded by seven families who wanted to create a school committed not only to academic excellence and educational innovation but also to a value system emphasizing appreciation and respect for others. Believing that diversity was the ground out of which all deep and rich learning occurs, they established a school where all children would be welcome, celebrated, and challenged to be their best selves.

Today, the School's philosophy, programs, and position in the national educational landscape strongly reflect its roots. Having grown from 12 children in 1945 to 1075 students in PK-12 today, GDS is recognized as one of Washington, D.C.’s and the nation’s most dynamic educational institutions.

Since the school’s founding, GDS has called eight different locations home. In the fall of 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools were all joined on one extraordinary campus.

About the Position

The Technical Director/HS Theatre Arts Teacher contributes to our vibrant learning community for the 2024-2025 academic year. This is a 10-month position reporting to the High School Performing Arts Department Chair.

This full-time position includes the following responsibilities:

1. Managing equipment, proposing enhancements, and maintaining systems and theatrical elements of the HS Blackbox and scene shop for The Performing Arts department and community use

2. Developing and implementing technical theatre academic courses (gr. 9-12)

3. Supervising an after-school technical theatre crews to support three main-stage theatrical productions across the year and selected events

The Visual and Performing Arts Program endeavors to inspire and actively engage every student, from the true beginner to those with dreams of a career in the arts. A strong academic program, coupled with robust extracurricular offerings, means that each student, from the youngest to the oldest, has the opportunity to explore, engage, discover, and grow as an artist. Students cultivate skills and techniques while building creativity, confidence, and avenues of self-expression. Student work across all divisions is showcased regularly throughout the year with an active calendar of performances, competitions, events, and shows.

Location: On campus

Start Date: August 19, 2024

Type of Opportunity: Full-time, salaried, exempt with benefits.

Roles and Responsibilities

Technical Director:

• Lead the after-school technical theatre activities for the HS in support of three major productions and selected music and dance performance events

• Train, guide, and mentor students in a range of technical theater elements, including set design and construction, sound, lighting, props, and stage management

• Collaborate effectively and positively with others to further advance department goals and initiatives

• Effectively communicate and collaborate with the HSTheatre Directors, relevant arts department members, facilities coordinator, and school leaders to support production team, student, and departmental success, as well as ensure that technical resources are available and operational for community events

• Be available for occasional weekend work sessions until mid-evening during tech weeks and for performances under the tech director’s purview

• Enhance students’ active, experiential, and hands-on learning to develop student agency and independence

• Create learning environments that encourage risk-taking and deep learning using a variety of methods and approaches

• Demonstrate a positive, solution-oriented approach to teamwork and collaboration

• Host regular production meetings and attend periodic department or divisional meetings as required

• Communicate effectively with parents, colleagues, school counselors and administrators regarding student progress, as appropriate.

Classroom Teaching:

• Teach two theatre art classes, in the areas of Technical Theatre and Design for HS students

• Develop lesson plans and supplementary materials compatible with the basic instructional philosophy

• Collaborate effectively with theatre department members to further advance department goals and initiatives, including curriculum development

• Enhance students’ active, experiential, and hands-on learning to develop student agency and independence

• Create learning environments that encourage risk-taking and deep learning using a variety of methods and approaches

• Demonstrate a positive, solution-oriented approach to teamwork and collaboration

• Remain current in pedagogical practices and field-related trends

• Attend periodic department or divisional meetings as required

• Communicate effectively with parents, colleagues, school counselors, and administrators regarding student progress, as appropriate.

• Design and implement assessments that measure progress toward academic standards and provide timely feedback to students

• Use the student learning management system to provide timely feedback, grades, and assignments

Additional Responsibilities

• Continued professional development endeavors

• In the second year, serve as an advisor by supporting the academic and social well-being of a small group of students and steward the family/school partnership.

• Other tasks as assigned by the High School Performing Arts Teacher & Department Chair

Skills and Abilities

• An appreciation and respect for high school-aged students as learners and people through challenging and joyful moments alike

• Commitment and knowledge to work with, teach, and lead groups of diverse individuals in respectful, equitable, and inclusive ways

• Good cheer, humor, and warmth, balanced by professionalism and sound judgment

• Detail-oriented with the capacity to effectively and efficiently manage multiple tasks and demands on attention

• Use of reflection and feedback aimed at continued growth in the field of teaching and working with young people

Education and Experiences

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree: Required in Theatre Arts or a related field, with a focus on classroom teaching.

• Experience: Demonstrated experience teaching high school students in a theatre or related arts program.

• Flexibility: Ability to work some nights and weekends, as needed.

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Windows or Apple OS, Microsoft Office, cloud computing platforms (Google Docs, etc.), and other relevant productivity and media software.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree: Advanced degree in Theatre Arts, Education, or a related field preferred.

• Professional Experience: Previous professional experience in the theatre field, such as directing, acting, or design, is a plus.

Americans with Disability Specifications

Physical Demands:

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 essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear; taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

Work environment characteristics 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 essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is exposed to weather conditions prevalent at the time.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

To Apply

Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and list of three references using our online application system through ADP/Workforce Now: http://www.gds.org/Recruiting. To find out more about the school, candidates should visit our website at www.gds.org.

As an inclusive school devoted to preparing our students to live, work, and lead in an increasingly globalized and multicultural society, GDS is particularly interested in professionals with demonstrated interest and experience in working in such a school setting and is driven by the core charge of working to enhance and bring joy to every student’s individual learning experience in equitable and meaningful ways.