Teaching Artist
Zoological Society of Milwaukee - Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States, 53226Work at Zoological Society of Milwaukee
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Overview
Job Location
Zoological Society of Milwaukee - MILWAUKEE, WI
Position Type
Full Time
Job Category
Education
Description
The Zoological Society of Milwaukee (ZSM) is searching for a Teaching Artist to join a very fun environment and talented team of professionals in supporting one of the most cherished community assets, the Milwaukee County Zoo. This full-time position takes a holistic view of theater and arts education offerings within ZSM's Conservation Education department and its theater program-Kohl's Wild Theater (KWT). The Teaching Artist will develop supplemental education materials including teacher guides, student handouts, At-Exhibit pieces, and pre/post show workshop content. The Teaching Artist creates, develops and teaches KWT camps and workshops and is expected to lead educational programs, deliver content and write curricula for a variety of classroom settings. This role works closely with the Arts Education Program Manager in support of the Conservation Education department's mission to provide interactive, innovative and engaging learning opportunities to our community, fostering empathy for animals and an emotional connection to the natural world, ultimately inspiring and empowering all members of our community to take conservation action.
This is a full-time position eligible for a competitive benefits package, including medical insurance, complimentary dental, vision, life, STD and LTD coverage, 401k with up to a 5% match, PTO, paid holidays, and a complimentary zoo pass, up to the family level.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Design, lead and train staff and volunteers to engage Zoo guests in arts education activities, such as:
Performing improvisational "At-Habitat" material as directed by the Arts Education Manager or specific production director.
Coordinating the KWT education station including creating educational play bills, interactive "biofact" learning activities and processes that support these activities.
Hire, train and supervise summer Actor-Educator(s).
Provide educational lens in producing KWT shows, working closely with the Arts Education Program Manager to:
Age-band scripts for school outreach, summer stage, and summer shows.
Adapt scripts to engage young people through participatory elements, utilizing empathy for wildlife and conservation science content, aimed at achieving learning objectives.
Develop education materials to enrich learning presented during performances.
Conduct research and generate information/activities for KWT Conservation Action Guide.
Collaborate in the development of pre/post show workshops, including the approval process.
Administer pre/post show workshops in schools and summer stage.
Assist in marketing KWT programming in the community.
Aid Arts Education Manager in exploring and selecting season themes.
Attend professional development opportunities related to education and theater provided by ZSM or other partner organizations.
Design and development of arts education programs, with a focus on summer camps.
Write age-appropriate summer camp curriculum in collaboration with the Arts Education Manager, Summer Camp Coordinator and other peers as needed.
Collaborate with the Conservation and Education departments to introduce new arts education seasonal classes and summer camps.
Lead summer Arts Education camps and classes.
Coach summer interns, volunteers and co-teachers as needed.
Assist in the administration of evaluations and collection of data for KWT education experiences.
Represent the ZSM and MCZ onsite and in the community.
Greet, guide, and create a personal experience for Zoo visitors.
Project a positive image and energy.
Lead or support post-performance debrief and Q&A session.
Maintain basic knowledge of all relevant scientific topics as discussed in arts education programming.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in education, performing arts or related field, or equivalent work experience.
Two years of professional, semi-professional, or educational theater experience.
Experience teaching children in classroom or nonformal setting, including curriculum writing.
Experience with a touring theater company a plus.
Proven ability to work independently and in teams.
Demonstration of excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills; Spanish or second language fluency a plus.
Possession of a valid driver's license, personal vehicle and adequate car insurance with and/or the ability to frequently travel to program sites, meetings, and professional opportunities.
Ability to work flexible hours based upon performance requirements, including occasional weekend, late afternoon, and/or pre-designated holiday hours.
The Zoological Society of Milwaukee believes diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) are the hallmarks of a robust, vibrant community and have adopted DEAI as foundational to our organizations' priorities and values. A successful candidate will embrace these values and incorporate a similar commitment within their scope of work to foster an inclusive culture that celebrates diversity, which is demonstrated through actions and words. Individuals from all backgrounds and those with diverse lived experiences are welcomed and encouraged to apply.
The Society provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.
The Zoological Society of Milwaukee is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in all its services. If you need accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact our Human Resources department at .