Education Outreach Instructor

Saugatuck Center for the Arts; Saugatuck Township (MI); Hybrid; USD 48,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

401K option

Generous vacation benefits

Flexible / remote work

Job summary

The Education Outreach Instructor at Saugatuck Center for the Arts expands access to arts and wellness by delivering high-quality, K-12 and youth-focused programming across schools, libraries, and community spaces. The role emphasizes off-site engagement (50-80%), collaborative teaching, and partnership work with the Director of Education & Exhibitions.

You will develop and facilitate multidisciplinary lessons, mentor teaching artists, and ensure equitable access to arts education while aligning

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience in Education, Art or related field.
• 3 years preferred (1 year minimum) of experience teaching or leading youth in educational settings.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to travel regionally.
• Ability to lift/move art materials weighing up to 50 pounds.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a primary educator for K-12 and youth outreach throughout the region.
• Implement multi-week in-school programming and facilitate field trips and after-school programs.
• Develop age-appropriate interdisciplinary learning experiences; adapt programming to learner needs.
• Coordinate mobile and off-site programming with partners and educators.
• Maintain program records, inventories, and outcomes data to inform impact.

Skills

Teaching youth experience

Travel regularly

Lift up to 50 pounds

Strong communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Education, Art Education, Fine Arts, Museum Education, Youth Development, or related field

Job description

Education Outreach Instructor

Education - Saugatuck, Michigan

SCA MISSION

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts nurtures the art, the artist, and our audiences. We foster curiosity, connection, and joy through world-class, accessible programming and shared creative experiences. We believe arts + creativity are tools for wellness, belonging, and transformation.

WHO WE ARE

The Saugatuck Center for the Arts is a multidisciplinary, year-round arts organization bringing people together through performances, exhibitions, film, classes, festivals, conferences, and creative experiences for all ages. We present professional theater and concerts, produce indoor and outdoor exhibitions, offer adult and family programs, and provide cost-free creative education in classrooms, libraries, and community spaces throughout the region. We also partner with artists and community organizations on creative placemaking projects.

We welcome audiences from communities throughout our region and believe the arts can be a powerful catalyst for connection, creativity, and community life.

THE POSITION

The Education Outreach Instructor expands access to the arts and wellness by bringing high-quality creative learning experiences to children and youth throughout the region. Serving as one of SCA's primary youth educators and ambassadors, this position develops and facilitates engaging K-12 and youth-focused programming in schools, libraries, nonprofit organizations, parks, and community spaces.

This role is being added to expand and grow our outreach offerings. With 50-80% of creative programming taking place off-site depending on the time of year, making high-quality arts education accessible beyond the walls of the Center. Through collaborative partnerships, creative teaching, and community-centered programming, the Education Outreach Instructor works closely with the Director of Education & Exhibitions and the Education Programs Manager to advance the SCA's mission of nurturing artists, audiences, and lifelong creativity.

AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:

COMMUNITY OUTREACH, YOUTH & SCHOOL PROGRAMMING

• Serve as a primary educator for SCA's K-12 and youth outreach programs throughout the region.
• Implement multi-week In-school programming for grades K-12, facilitate field trips, after-school programs, youth workshops, Artist in Residence experiences and other youth-focused learning opportunities.
• Support and facilitate community-based outreach programming for adult audiences, including older adults and individuals with disabilities, by developing and strengthening partnerships with organizations and community settings that expand access to the arts.
• Develop and adapt age-appropriate, interdisciplinary learning experiences in response to learner needs, program goals, and community contexts.
• Implement afterschool programming in partnership with local schools and community organizations.
• Build positive working relationships with teachers, youth-serving organizations, site partners, and families to support successful program delivery and expand equitable access to arts education.

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT & TEACHING

• Facilitate multidisciplinary, multisensory lesson plans and learning experiences that support diverse learners and connect to SCA exhibitions and annual themes.
• Adapt and contribute to educational programming and lesson development in response to learner needs, program goals, and community contexts.
• Prepare and lead mobile classroom, gallery, outreach, Artist in Residence, and exhibition-based educational programming across a variety of settings.
• Support process-driven, experimental learning experiences that encourage creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and self-expression.
• Capture data reflecting program outcomes and participant experiences to help strengthen SCA educational impact and effectiveness.

ARTIST COLLABORATION

• Collaborate with Creative Fellows, Artists in Residence, visiting artists, and teaching artists to develop and facilitate meaningful educational experiences.
• Mentor artists in classroom facilitation, youth engagement, and effective community-based teaching practices.

MOBILE ARTS & STUDIO MANAGEMENT

• Manage the SCA Art Truck (the WiP), including inventory, supply purchasing, maintenance coordination, organization, and implementation of vehicle safety protocols.
• Manage outreach teaching materials, tools, and equipment, ensuring supplies are inventoried, organized, maintained, and ready for programming.
• Coordinate the preparation, packing, transportation, setup, and return of materials for mobile and off-site programming.
• Maintain studio and outreach safety practices across mobile and community-based learning environments.

EVENT & FESTIVAL PROGRAMMING

• Collaborate on the planning and facilitation of hands-on arts activities for SCA festivals, community celebrations, and special events, including Jump Into Summer, Mountainfilm Festival on Tour, and other annual initiatives.
• Deliver engaging drop-in art experiences that respond to SCA exhibitions, annual themes, and community interests.
• Support educational programming connected to select performances, exhibition openings, and special events, including several evenings and weekends.

PROGRAM COORDINATION & OPERATIONS

• Coordinate program logistics and preparation for outreach programming and community partnerships, ensuring spaces, materials, schedules, and other needs are ready for implementation.
• Collaborate with the Facilities Manager to determine room layouts and prepare learning environments that support educational goals and visitor experience.
• Gather participant feedback and observations to inform program improvement, maintain accurate program records, inventories, and documentation to support grant reporting, and continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively across departments to align educational programming with exhibitions, performances, and broader organizational initiatives.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Education, Art Education, Fine Arts, Museum Education, Youth Development, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 3 years preferred (1 year minimum) of experience teaching, facilitating, or leading youth in classroom, nonprofit, arts, therapeutic, community-based, or other informal learning environments.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel regularly throughout the region, including safely operating a 22-foot box truck, with reasonable accommodation as needed.
• Ability to safely and effectively participate in program setup, transportation, and facilitation, including moving and handling art materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.

PREFERRED SKILL SET

• Exceptionally warm and engaging facilitator and relationship-builder with strong classroom and group leadership skills, who confidently guides learners of all ages through captivating, hands-on experiences and adapts instruction in real time to diverse learning styles, developmental stages, interests, abilities, and needs.
• Skilled at creating learning environments that are welcoming, inclusive, joyful, and well-structured, with the ability to establish clear expectations and use positive, responsive behavior-management strategies.
• Experience teaching, facilitating, or leading youth in classroom, nonprofit, arts, therapeutic, community-based, or other informal learning environments; experience in museum education, creative youth development, or community arts is especially valued.
• Demonstrated interest and experience engaging with people from diverse backgrounds, with a commitment to equitable access to arts education and meaningful community engagement.
• Deep curiosity about art, culture, and creativity, with a passion for helping others explore, develop, and express their own creativity.
• Strong organizational and communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, work independently, and collaborate effectively across departments, with artists, educators, and community partners.
• Comfortable working in a variety of educational and community environments throughout the region and transporting materials and equipment as needed.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is a full-time, community-based position. Approximately 50% of work occurs off-site (outside of the Art Center) in schools and community locations. The schedule includes regular daytime teaching hours in schools as well as frequent evenings and weekends to support our growing after school offerings, family programming and community events. Flexible / remote work available throughout the year with supervisor approval.

This position reports to the Education Programs Manager.

SALARY AND OTHER DETAILS

Salary range for this position is $48,000 - $55,000

The SCA also offers:

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401K option
• Generous vacation benefits

IDEAL START DATE

January 11, 2027