Job Title: Residency Teaching Artist
Job Type: Part-Time
Reports to: Arts Residency Team
Location: New York City, all 5 boroughs
FLSA Status: Non-exempt
Hourly Range $ 50 - 65/session hour (commensurate with experience)
At LEAP, we believe in the transformational power of the arts. Not only do we build great programs — we build a great place to work. You’ll thrive here if you’re excited to be part of a mission-driven, people- centered, and joy-filled team. We are:
🌱 Community-oriented, believing in a shared moral responsibility
🎨 Creative, flexible, and open-minded
🚀 Collaborative and mission driven
✅ Accountable to ourselves, each other, and our goals
🌟 Committed to feedback and clear, consistent communication
🌍 Champions of a compassionate and inclusive culture
💖 Supporters of self-care and the well-being of others
🎉 And above all… FUN!
At LEAP, you’ll be empowered to grow, lead, and make a lasting impact — all while being part of a community that values who you are and what you bring.
We are seeking passionate, experienced educators with a vested interest in arts and academic integration to join our roster of LEAP Teaching Artists Depending on availability and interest, LEAP teaching artists can be placed at in-school and/or after school residencies with partner schools in all five boroughs. The teaching commitment for residencies varies, depending on the requests LEAP receives from our school partners. Onaverage, one residency will consist of 2-4 teaching hours per day, up to 2x per week, for a 3-4 month time period LEAP maintains a roster of teaching artists from which we pair artists with residency opportunities based on availability and alignment with specific program goals.
Teaching artists must have demonstrated previous experience teaching New Media, ideally in NYC or urban public school settings. New Media Arts at LEAP refers to all arts created with digital technology, including: digital photography and design, digital sound, and the moving image. Each genre emphasizes and develops competencies in storytelling, exploration, and experimentation. Examples include:
Digital Design & Images: digital photography, digital painting, graphic design, web design, game design, app design, and robotic sculpture
Digital Sound & Sound Design: music production, DJ, and podcasts
Moving Image: filmmaking, PSA’s, animation, and music videos
Represent LEAP through collaborative planning with school partners to support shared goals.
Plan engaging and active lessons that combine the arts and academics.
Establish and deliver clear lesson objectives, writing daily lesson plans using the LEAP lesson plan format and the LEAP Way experiential framework.
Prepare your classroom and all materials prior to facilitating planned activities.
Make LEAP a visible and exciting part of the school community.
Plan, support, and execute delivery of student culminations and celebratory events.
Work closely with LEAP staff to gather data, attendance, assessment, and teaching documentation.
Attend and actively participate in required training and our professional learning opportunities.
At LEAP, we are looking for individuals whose scope of influence begins with a commitment to positive and creative youth development while modeling a growth mindset and student-centered approach in their instruction. The ideal candidate will have a strong sense of ambassadorship and communicate with professionalism and respect while acknowledging and celebrating the multi-cultural identities of the communities we serve Additionally, our next teaching artist will invest in the LEAP community through peer networking and in-house training, while advocating for their own growth as an artist and educator through coaching & feedback, and external professional learning opportunities.
Core Competencies & Strengths:
Minimum 2 years demonstrated experience teaching new media (music production, filmmaking, digital photography, graphic design, etc.) in urban public school settings
Demonstrated excellence in the field of professional new media
Social-emotional and cultural responsive approach to instruction that prioritizes communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking outcomes
Planning, facilitation and class management strategies that promote positive behavior and student-centered learning through creative exploration
Required Qualifications:
A college degree and/or multiple certifications in the Arts or Education, or equivalent experience
Familiarity working with Students with Disabilities and English Language Learners
Passion for inclusion and advocacy in the arts
Enjoy working with youth in a team environment
Effective writing, communication, and interpersonal skills
Must be punctual, responsible, resilient, and reliable
Self-motivated, highly efficient, and able to problem-solve
Proactive, hands-on approach, as well as a professional work ethic
Flexible schedule and willingness to travel to multiple boroughs
PRE-EMPLOYMENT SCREENING
Pre-employment screening is required for this position, including but not limited to criminal history checks by regulating agencies as needed per placement.
WE ARE AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
Please note: In accordance with organizational policy, LEAP does not sponsor individuals on O-1 visas.
LEAP partners with school communities to offer creative arts programs to over 20,000 students across 140+ New York City schools in all 5 boroughs.
Founded in 1977, LEAP is a leading creative youth development nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting equity and access to the arts for underserved children and youth from communities that have been intentionally and unintentionally excluded and under-resourced.
Our K-12 programs inspire students with a love of learning and help them develop social emotional learning skills, expand their creativity, and hone critical thinking abilities. We believe that youth in our communities will be the next generation of lifelong learners, creative problem solvers, and collaborative leaders.
