Woodworking Instructor / Teaching Assistant

The Crucible; Oakland, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 34,000 - 39,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Studio access

Free tuition

Job summary

The Crucible in West Oakland is seeking woodworking instructors to teach woodworking and wood-turning classes in a 56,000-square-foot non-profit industrial arts school. Instructors should know fundamentals of hand and power tools and wood lathe; 1–2 years teaching experience preferred.

Opportunities to access the wood studio and schedule classes, with path from TA to lead/co-teaching. Classes occur at night, weekends, and some day sessions; collaboration with Department Head; diversity

Qualifications

• One year of teaching experience in an informal or formal education setting.
• Ability to meet students where they are and help them to grow as creators.
• Respect for everyone’s differences, approach, and creativity.
• A strong commitment to teaching, collaboration, and curriculum design and development.

Responsibilities

• Teach in an artistically diverse environment
• Participate in departmental and faculty meetings
• Develop and maintain area procedures and standards
• Support The Crucible’s policies and strict adherence to The Crucible studio safety rules
• Organize materials and supplies before and after classes and workshops
• Collaborate with the Department Head and studio to order materials as needed

Skills

Teaching experience

Woodworking fundamentals

Woodturning

Tool safety

Tools

Wood lathe

Hand tools

Power tools

Job description

Our mission:

The Crucible inspires creative exploration and expression through welcoming, hands‑on arts education and experiences for people of diverse ages and backgrounds. As an innovative hub built around the industrial arts, The Crucible is a catalyst for individual growth and vibrant community connections. In addition to supporting working and emerging artists and art students, The Crucible has become increasingly focused in recent years on supporting career pathways into the arts and the industrial trades, and on supporting access to our programs for BIPOC youth and families, especially those from West Oakland.

The Opportunity:

The Woodworking department at The Crucible is looking for instructors to teach woodworking and wood‑turning classes at our 56,000-square‑foot non‑profit and industrial arts school in West Oakland. Instructors must know the fundamentals of working with hand and power tools and/or working on a wood lathe. We are looking for at least 1-2 years of teaching experience in an informal or formal education setting.

The ideal candidate is interested in making teaching an ongoing part of their woodworking practice. We do offer instructors access to the wood studio and tools, but our studio is too small to support a production woodworker who seeks to run their business out of our space. We have worked hard to increase diversity among our teacher and student population, welcoming young creatives seeking to explore their culture through creativity.

Woodworkers who can support this approach are welcome, as are those who appreciate both the creative and the healing experience of working with wood. If you are passionate about sharing your skills with a wide range of students and want to be in a collaborative environment with other teaching artists, this is a great place for you!

Classes are held at night, on the weekends, and during the day during the week. Instructors have the opportunity to both learn the curriculum for a specific class and to schedule their participation in a way that works for them. Many instructors come to The Crucible for studio access before and after their classes. We ask experienced woodworkers and woodturners to initially TA a class so they can learn our curriculum, before moving them into a lead and/or co‑teaching position.

Responsibilities (Instructor):

• --Teach in an artistically diverse environment
• --Participate in departmental and faculty meetings
• --Develop and maintain area procedures and standards
• --Support The Crucible’s policies and strict adherence to The Crucible studio safety rules
• --Organize materials and supplies before and after classes and workshops
• --Collaborate with the Department Head and studio to order materials as needed

Curriculum:

• --The curriculum includes teaching courses in areas that focus on foundational skills
• --There may be opportunities for faculty to bring their own curriculum or will work with the Department Head on curriculum development

Faculty Meetings, Open Houses, & Events

• --Attend two open houses or events a year to represent your area
• --Attend at least three paid faculty meetings a year
• --Participate in demonstrations and shows when able

Qualifications

• --One year of teaching experience in an informal or formal education setting.
• --Ability to meet students where they are and help them to grow as creators
• --Respect for everyone’s differences, approach, and creativity
• --A strong commitment to teaching, collaboration, and curriculum design and development

Preferred qualifications (Instructor):

• --Two years of teaching experience, with a track record of success, informal arts education is a plus
• -- Five years of experience producing work in your core teaching areas
• --Ability to instruct woodturning a plus

Pay:

We pay $19.44 an hour for a Teaching Assistant role, and $25.00-$27.50 per hour for an instructor, based on experience and seniority.

Non-cash benefits:

Faculty members who have worked within the previous 6 months receive access to the woodworking department studio when classes are not in session and maintenance is not scheduled. Faculty also have access to free tuition (though materials and studio fees must be paid.) Some prerequisites apply.

The Crucible is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all persons, especially those who bring the benefits of diversity to the organization. Women, people of color, people who identify as LGBTQIA, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.