Journalism Teaching Artist

Staten Island Chamber of Commerce; New York (NY); On-site; USD 68,880 - 96,432; Full time

Job summary

Sundog Theatre seeks enthusiastic Journalism Teaching Artists to join its arts education team on Staten Island. Teaching Artists lead workshops in schools and community settings, guiding 4th–5th grade reporters through article drafts and edits, with potential for layout duties.

They collaborate with a Photographer and Illustrator team, maintain an inclusive classroom, and adapt to diverse learners while aligning with NY standards for arts education.

Qualifications

• Professional journalism experience including interviews, research, and opinion pieces.
• Experience teaching or working with K-12 students in educational or arts settings.
• Strong classroom management and communication skills.
• Ability to create engaging lesson plans and hands-on learning experiences.
• Collaborative and flexible approach to teaching.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead engaging journalism lessons resulting in a deliverable school newspaper.
• Create a positive, inclusive classroom environment where students participate.
• Collaborate with Sundog staff and school personnel.
• Adapt lessons for diverse learners, including ELL and special needs students.
• Incorporate NY State standards and NYC Arts blueprints.
• Communicate progress and needs with Sundog staff.

Skills

Journalism experience

Classroom management

Communication skills

Lesson planning

Collaboration

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in arts-related field or equivalent

Job description

Sundog Theatre, founded in 2002, is a Staten Island-based performing arts organization with an excellent reputation in 4 areas:

• 100+ arts-in-education programs in over 50 schools and organizations; we support our teaching artists, and are team players with the mission to create positive change through the power of live performance and the arts. Rates of pay are comparable to those of teaching artists throughout NYC.
• Original, contemporary, and thought provoking theatre
• Touring productions with educational and social themes

Position Overview

Sundog Theatre is seeking enthusiastic and creative Journalism Teaching Artists to join our arts education team. Teaching Artists lead engaging workshops and residencies in schools and community settings, helping students explore artistic ideas, build new skills, and express themselves creatively.

We are looking for artists who enjoy working with young people and are passionate about sharing their craft in a classroom environment. Teaching Artists should feel comfortable leading groups, adapting lessons to different learning styles, and creating a supportive and inclusive space for students to learn and participate.

Through Sundog's School Newspaper programs, Journalism Teaching Artists work on a team with the Photographer and Illustrator Teaching Artists to create a print and digital school-wide newspaper. Journalism Teaching Artists are responsible for working with 4th and 5th grade reporters on article drafts and subsequent edits for accuracy, grammar, and style. Potential exists for an additional contract to complete the overall layout of the finished newspaper. Teaching Artists should be comfortable with both the writing and the editing process, collaborating on the newspaper team, and be very organized and communicative.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead engaging lessons within the journalism discipline resulting in a deliverable school newspaper
• Create a positive, inclusive classroom environment where students feel comfortable participating
• Collaborate with Sundog and school staff
• Adapt lessons to meet the needs of diverse learners, including English Language Learners and students with special needs
• Incorporate New York State Learning Standards and the NYC Blueprints for Teaching & Learning in the Arts
• Communicate with Sundog staff about program progress and classroom needs

Qualifications

• Professional experience in journalism, spanning interviews, research, and opinion pieces with the ability to both write and edit
• Experience working with students ages K - 12 in educational, community, or arts settings
• Strong classroom management and communication skills
• Ability to create engaging lesson plans and hands‑on learning experiences
• Collaborative and flexible approach to teaching

Additional experience that is preferred but not required:

• Experience working in NYC public schools
• Experience working with District 75 or special education populations
• Experience working with English Language Learners

Education Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in an arts-related field preferred, or equivalent professional and teaching experience.

Compensation

Teaching Artists are paid starting at $50 per hour, depending on experience.