Drama Teacher

It is the vision of the Marion School District to ensure an equitable engaging learning community where every student is empowered to achieve academic excellence and personal growth.

Position Overview

The Elementary Drama Teacher is responsible for developing and delivering a dynamic engaging theater arts program for students in grades Kindergarten through 6th. This role fosters creativity confidence collaboration and communication skills through age-appropriate drama instruction performance opportunities and integration with the broader school community.

Key Responsibilities

Instruction & Curriculum

• Plan and deliver developmentally appropriate drama lessons for K6 students
• Teach foundational theater skills including voice movement expression storytelling and improvisation
• Introduce students to basic elements of theater such as character plot setting and stage presence
• Differentiate instruction to meet diverse learning needs and abilities
• Integrate drama with literacy social studies and other content areas when appropriate

Student Engagement & Development

• Foster a safe inclusive and supportive classroom environment
• Build student confidence creativity and teamwork through performance-based activities
• Encourage student participation and risk-taking in a positive structured setting
• Support social-emotional development through role play and collaborative experiences

Productions & Performances

• Direct and produce grade-level or school-wide performances (e.g. plays showcases assemblies)
• Coordinate auditions rehearsals staging and basic technical elements
• Collaborate with staff for events programs and special performances
• Involve students in age-appropriate aspects of production (props costumes simple staging)

Collaboration & Communication

• Work collaboratively with classroom teachers specialists and administration
• Communicate effectively with families regarding performances and student progress
• Participate in school events staff meetings and professional development

Classroom Management & Organization

• Maintain an organized engaging and safe learning environment
• Manage materials props and costumes effectively
• Establish clear expectations and routines for behavior and participation

Direct Supervisor

Building Principal

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Theater Drama Education Elementary Education or related field (required)
• Valid teaching license with drama/theatre certification or endorsement (required)
• Experience working with elementary-aged children
• Strong classroom management and communication skills
• Passion for the arts and developing young learners

Preferred Skills

• Experience directing childrens theater productions
• Knowledge of child development and age-appropriate instructional strategies
• Ability to integrate arts across the curriculum
• Basic knowledge of stagecraft (lighting sound set designage-appropriate level)

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Ability to foster a nurturing classroom environment that respects all students andencourages them to do their best.
• Required to respect the confidentiality of information about enrolled children and families personnel issues contributors and other school operations.
• Required to be a respectful cooperative and reliable team member and participant in school activities.
• Ability to multi-task and act independently; exercise sound judgment.
• Must be committed to building a diverse community.
• Confidentiality: Required to respect the confidentiality of information about enrolled children and families personnel issues contributors and other school operations as per FERPA regulations and policies.

Essential Functions

Language: Must have superior expressive and receptive English language skills to be able to communicate with and be understood by students co-workers and parents receive their responses and respond to them appropriately.

Sensory: Must have the ability to track and observe students in a 360-degree classroom gym or cafeteria environment to ensure compliance and safety. Must be able to visually or otherwise access written and printed content and respond verbally and in writing. Must have the ability to understand and respond to the verbal expressions of others often in a noisy environment with multiple speakers and background noise or outside.

Movement: Must have the ability to move around inside on hard surface and industrial carpeted surfaces and to travel at a brisk walking pace relatively long inside distances without needing to stop or rest. (If applicable: Must be able to perform sustained CPR with the subject on the floor.)

Attendance: Must have the ability to work for the duration of the daily contracted time period and to be physically present and at assigned work with only infrequent unexcused absences during the contract year. Cognitive: Must be able to conform behavior to that which is socially accepted as being appropriate to an adult and positive role model who is working with young and impressionable children. Must have content mastery of subject area as well as employing pedagogical best practices. Must have knowledge and compliance with relevant state and federal laws governing education. Must have good executive functioning skills sufficient to ensure timely and accurate compliance with detailed federal state and local record keeping requirements. Must be able to convert complex state and district content standards into successful and functional lessons that are differentiated and appropriate for the ages and skill levels of the assigned students. Must be able to present this material to students and determine in the moment based on verbal and non-verbal cues of students whether or not the expressive language used by the teacher has been received and is being processed appropriately by students.

Marion School District recognizes the worth of all individuals and groups. It is the policy of Marion School District that there will be no discrimination or harassment of individuals or groups on the grounds of age color creed disability marital status national origin race religion sex or sexual orientation in any educational programs activities or employment.

Required Experience:

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