Upper School Art Teacher (Grades 9–12)

Mcleanschool; Potomac (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

McLean School in Potomac, Maryland, seeks an Upper School Art Teacher to begin August 20, 2026. The role centers on ceramics instruction, digital arts, and yearbook production within a multidisciplinary Upper School program.

The ideal candidate will oversee the Digital Arts curriculum, collaborate with learning services, and support diverse learners while fostering creative confidence and a love of art.

Qualifications

• Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, Art Education, Graphic Design, Ceramics, or related field.
• Organized, patient, creative, flexible professional with hands-on ceramics and studio management experience.
• Passion for developing a strong digital arts program and supporting students with learning challenges.

Responsibilities

• Teach Upper School visual and digital arts courses (Ceramics, Web & Graphic Design, Yearbook).
• Lead the vision and expansion of a Modern Upper School Digital Arts program.
• Manage yearbook production, guiding editors and coordinating deadlines.
• Design studio and digital projects with differentiated instruction and hands-on methods.
• Maintain safe studio and digital labs and oversee equipment maintenance.

Skills

Ceramics

Digital arts

Studio management

Kiln operation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts/Art Education/Graphic Design/Ceramics or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Web design tools

Graphic design software

Job description

McLean School (mcleanschool.org), a K–12 co-educational independent school in Potomac, Maryland, seeks applicants for an Upper School Art Teacher to begin August 20, 2026.

For 70 years, McLean School has been helping bright students realize their full potential by providing a comprehensive college preparatory program that emphasizes small classes and differentiated instruction. We embrace both traditional learners and those with dyslexia, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges. Through our Abilities Model®, we recognize and teach to individual strengths, responding to areas of challenge but never defining students by them—all within a program that incorporates challenging academics, championship sports teams, performing and visual arts, robotics, service learning, and more. McLean School is proud of its caring and collaborative community of highly trained and experienced educators.

This position reports directly to the Head of Upper School and works closely with the Art Department Chair, learning services team, counselors, students, and parents. The ideal candidate possesses a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts, Art Education, Graphic Design, Ceramics, or a closely related field. We seek an organized, patient, creative, and flexible professional with hands‑on expertise in ceramics instruction, studio management, and kiln operation, combined with a passion for developing a strong digital arts program. The candidate will demonstrate a deep appreciation for students with mild to moderate learning challenges and a commitment to fostering creative confidence and self‑advocacy in our students as they prepare for success in college and beyond.

Job Responsibilities

• Teach multiple sections of Upper School visual and digital arts courses, including, but not limited to: Ceramics, Web & Graphic Design, and Yearbook publication.
• Spearhead the vision, curriculum development, and expansion of a modern, multi-disciplinary Upper School Digital Arts program.
• Manage all aspects of the annual Upper School Yearbook production, guiding student editors and staff through layout design, photography, copywriting, deadline management, and vendor coordination.
• Design and implement daily studio and digital projects that utilize differentiated instruction, hands‑on multi‑sensory techniques, and executive functioning supports to meet the diverse needs of all learners.
• Maintain a safe, well‑organized studio and digital lab environment, overseeing equipment maintenance (including kilns, cameras, printing devices, and graphic design software suites).
• Partner with the Grades 9–12 Coordinator of Learning Services and school counselors to implement accommodations outlined in Student Learning Profiles.
• Foster positive, supportive, and productive relationships with students and their families through regular, proactive communication regarding artistic progress and growth.
• Curate and organize student artwork displays across campus and coordinate participation in annual school‑wide art exhibitions.
• Serve as an Upper School Advisor, guiding a small cohort of students academically and socially‑emotionally throughout the school year.
• Participate in departmental meetings, curriculum mapping, school‑wide professional development, and supervise standard non‑instructional duties (such as study halls or lunch duty) as assigned.

Desired Skills and Personal Characteristics

Successful candidates will bring:

• A steadfast belief that every student can succeed in the arts and a genuine desire to get to know each student in the division.
• Technical proficiency and teaching experience across both traditional mediums (specifically ceramics/3D arts) and industry‑standard digital design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Cloud, web design tools, and digital layout platforms).
• An understanding of how students with processing differences, anxiety, ADHD, and executive functioning challenges learn, alongside strategies to support them in project‑based settings.
• Familiarity with and passion for individualized, strengths‑based approaches to teaching artistic concepts and creative problem‑solving.
• Strong organizational and project management skills necessary to meet strict publication deadlines for the yearbook.
• An open‑minded, flexible, and collaborative approach to McLean’s uniquely successful ways of working with students’ academic and social‑emotional needs.
• A commitment to embracing and implementing McLean’s Abilities Model®.

McLean School is an equal opportunity employer and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, family responsibilities, disability, genetic status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. If you need reasonable accommodation due to a disability during recruitment, please contact the Director of Executive Support and Recruitment, Robin Speller.