Visual Arts Teacher (Grades 5-8) | 2025-26 School Year

Madison Country Day School; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Madison Country Day School is seeking a full-time Visual Arts Teacher for grades 5-8 for the 2025-26 school year. The ideal candidate will inspire students through creative expression, foster a supportive environment, and contribute to a collaborative educational setting.

Benefits

Life Insurance

Paid Time Off

Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

Qualifications

• At least 2 years of teaching experience.
• Experience with the International Baccalaureate is welcome.

Responsibilities

• Design and facilitate student-centered lesson plans.
• Serve as a middle school advisor.
• Host special events as part of Fine Arts Month.

Skills

Communication

Creativity

Collaboration

Flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Job description

2025-26: Visual Arts Teacher (Grades 5-8)

Description

Madison Country Day School, a PreK-12 International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, is seeking a creative educator for the 2025-26 school year to serve as a full-time Middle School Visual Arts teacher.

The successful applicant will be confident and enthusiastic about teaching middle school students, creating a supportive environment where young artists can explore and grow. They will inspire students to create, perform, and present art that expresses emotions, communicates experiences, and brings ideas to life through meaningful artistic expression.

Applicants should bring more than just a passion for teaching and creating art—they should have meaningful experience working with adolescents in grades 5–8 and a genuine enthusiasm for connecting with this age group. We’re seeking educators who are eager to contribute to a dynamic, evolving school environment and who are committed to growing their professional practice. The ideal candidate is a curious, creative educator who leads with optimism, adapts with flexibility, and thrives in a collaborative setting.

Requirements

The successful candidate will:

• Work within a collaborative Visual Arts and Design Department,
• Be familiar with or willing to learn the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme, particularly the framework for Arts,
• Serve as a middle school advisor,
• Have the ability to design and facilitate rigorous, empowering lesson plans that are student-centered and thought-provoking,
• Have intellectual curiosity and a desire to spark a love of learning in students,
• Have excellent communication skills, a genuine appreciation of adolescents, a sense of humor, and the ability to work well within a collaborative environment,
• Believe in the intrinsic relationship between social-emotional learning and culturally responsive pedagogy,
• Be open to hosting special events as a part of Fine Arts Month at MCDS.

Qualifications

• Have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field;
• At least 2 years of teaching experience;
• Excellent oral, organizational, and written communication skills;
• Experience with the International Baccalaureate is welcome, but not required.

Benefits

• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Short-Term & Long-Term Disability

About MCDS

Madison Country Day School is Dane County’s only independent Pre-K–12 school, offering a challenging and comprehensive college‑preparatory education, including the Madison, Wisconsin area’s only International Baccalaureate program. MCDS students develop a deep knowledge base and lifelong critical and creative thinking skills in an environment where each community member is truly known.

Madison Country Day School’s vision is for all members of the school community to feel valued and supported as well as inspired to embrace the diversity of each person. MCDS respects, affirms, and protects the dignity and worth of each member of its community. We seek to establish a culture wherein every member feels safe, valued, and encouraged to participate in every aspect of the community.

MCDS embraces and celebrates diversity and does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, or sexual identity in its hiring.

Madison Country Day School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the School will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. MCDS does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, gender, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, hiring and employment practices, admission policies, scholarship and grant programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.