Head of Visual Arts & Art Teacher

Bishkek International School is a non-profit community school providing excellent international education in a safe, supportive and friendly environment. The school opened in September 2011 and now has 380 students from ages 2 to 18. Fifty percent of our students are American, Asian, and European citizens, children of employees of embassies, international organizations, and international businesses or NGOs. Fifty percent of students are Kyrgyz citizens. The school welcomes all students regardless of ability, gender, ethnicity, language, or religious belief, and everyone is encouraged to take part in all school activities. BIS is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) Commission on International Education. As an IB World School, we offer the IB Diploma Programme, IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), and IB Primary Years Programme (PYP). We are also a Cambridge International School, with Cambridge Assessment International Education accreditation for the IGCSE program.

Roles & Responsibilities

Head of Visual Arts Department (3 TPE - Teaching Period Equivalent. Note that 30 TPE = full time)

• Promote and develop visual arts education in the school at all grade levels.
• Oversee the professional standards and behavior of departmental staff.
• Staff appraisal, mentoring and support to teachers in the department.
• Ensure coherence of teaching approaches and curriculum used in the subject areas.
• Coordination, as required, between teachers in the department subject areas.
• Review of department resource needs and timely presentation of needs to the High School Principal.
• Carefully manage any delegated budget for the Department.
• Ensure the maintenance, safety, and safe use of equipment used in the Department.
• Work with School management to plan, prepare and deliver art exhibitions and demonstrations, both from students and from recognized professional artists.
• Support the Head of Performing Arts by engaging art teachers and students in preparing stage props, backdrops, and costumes for school performances.
   

Art Teaching (up to 22 TPE)

• Develop, deliver, and assess visual arts teaching in either the IB Diploma Programme (Grade 11/12), and/or Cambridge IGCSE (Grade 9/10), and/or IB Middle Years Programme (Grades 6/7/8), subject to student enrolment and teacher allocations.
• Align classroom learning and teaching to PYP, MYP, IGCSE, and DP approaches, as appropriate.
• Create an engaging classroom environment that motivates students to learn and ensures all student expectations are high.
• Provide a positive learning environment for each student and inspire students to expand their understanding and enjoyment of the subjects taught.
• Differentiate instruction to meet the individual needs of each student to be socially and academically successful, having regard to the abilities and aptitudes of individuals.
• Enhance lessons by incorporating technology into the teaching program and be creative in working with limited resources.
• Use a wide range of assessment methods to ensure student knowledge and understanding are appropriately recorded.
• Provide individual tutoring for students who need support to progress in their course.
• Be an exemplary teacher, demonstrating effective planning, teaching, and organization, and high student achievement and behavior in lessons.
• Collaborate with other teachers to ensure a consistent approach to learning and achievement of standards for each group.
• Work with Programme Coordinators to produce relevant planning documents and attend relevant Programme meetings.
• Plan, keep, and report appropriate records to school management and parents.

Other Responsibilities

• Supervise Extended Essay Students for the IB Diploma (as required, according to student needs and teacher allocations).
• Supervise relevant Community Service and CAS projects for High School students (as required, according to student needs and teacher allocations).
• Organise and lead extra-curricular activities and student engagement to promote positive interactions among students of all ages and develop their academic, creative and sporting potential.

General

• Maintain knowledge of current educational theory and practice and undertake professional training in liaison with the High School Principal.
• Act by the budgets, policies, procedures, directions, and decisions of the school management
• Act as an ambassador for the school and act in a manner that upholds the values and ethos of the school at all times
• Maintain high quality standards in all areas of the school
• Any other activities as agreed with management to contribute to the overall development of the school.

Reporting
Report to the High School Principal

Timing & Duration
The position is available starting 14 August 2023. This is a full-time long-term position with an initial contract of two or three years (subject to 3 months of probation) which will be renewable by mutual consent.