Upper School Teacher, Multimedia Communications + Film Position Available In St. Louis, Missouri

Upper School Teacher, Multimedia Communications + Film
Regular Full-Time
Full Time BE
St. Louis, MO, US
3 days ago

Requisition ID:

1816

Title:

Upper School Teacher, Multimedia Communications +

Film Department/Location:

Upper School Faculty:

Multimedia Communications + Film, St.

Louis Position Type:

Full time, 39-weeks Summary Principia School is seeking a dynamic and innovative Multimedia Communications + Film Teacher who is passionate about fostering creativity, critical thinking, and intrinsic motivation in students. In this role, you will create an engaging and inclusive learning environment where students gain fluency in multimedia processes, from pre- to post-production, as they develop, record, edit, and express their ideas, messages, and stories. Through your projects, extracurricular activities, studio practices, and emphasis on ethical multimedia communication, you will help students find their creative voices and equip them with the skills and creative habits needed to succeed in an ever-evolving media landscape. Reporting to the Visual Arts Department Chair, you will play a key role in inspiring students to explore video production from foundational skill-building through to final works they can share with the community in the form of broadcast journalism reels, documentary films, short videos, animations, etc. Additionally, you will collaborate with the Visual Art Department faculty, Technology Integration Specialist, and other educators to ensure cross-disciplinary integration and contribute to a robust and dynamic Visual Arts curriculum. “Principia School’s academic units strive to create a collaborative and inclusive community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and sees each other as infinitely capable and divinely whole. Our rigorous, globally-focused curriculum and character-based approach honors diverse perspectives and develops creative problem solvers who use their academic skills to benefit their communities and the world.” Who We Are At our award-winning pre-K-12 school in St. Louis, Missouri, and top-ranked Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, Principia faculty and staff make up a close-knit community of educators, coaches, and professionals taking a distinct approach to education—blending academic excellence with Christian Science-based character education. Principia’s team of over 500 employees supports not only Principia School and Principia College but also a worldwide network of Alumni & Friends. At Principia School, our core value is LOVE. Love and its attributes underpin our foundational beliefs as well as our educational approach. We focus on developing the whole child—intellectually, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually- preparing students for the next steps in life. We foster a challenging yet supportive environment where character unfolds naturally and talent is cultivated through boundless opportunities. Character education plays an essential role in every aspect of the student experience, and classroom work is augmented by character trips, leadership development, and real-world, hands-on, project-based learning. Principia employees are part of an engaging academic community preparing students to be tomorrow’s leaders, thinkers, and changemakers. We strive to create a collaborative and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and are valued. Primary Responsibilities Teach multimedia and video specific elective Visual Arts classes to students in grades 9-12 with the potential to further develop the curricula and course options.

Current classes include:

“Intro to Media Studies” – involves creating compelling videos from script to screen, with video editing in Final Cut Pro. Adobe Premier Pro is also available. “Advanced Media Studies” – involves advanced video creation and production of PNN (Panther News Nation), which is shared with the student body during assemblies. Alternate classes could include “Digital Media,” “Intro to Film and Documentaries,” “Animation,” etc. Design engaging teaching materials, activities, and assessments for beginner through advanced level students. Evaluate student work through comprehensive rubrics highlighting creativity, critical thinking, and technical proficiency. Create opportunities to support students in real-world media project experiences within coursework and actively procure field trip opportunities related to Media + Film curricula. Edit in Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premier Pro, preferred. Demonstrate an understanding of basic Apple computers and related software and a willingness to acquire new skills. Oversee and manage a significant budget for the Media Center and Studio. Utilize, oversee, and manage the Media Center and Studio, maintain equipment, and schedule use of the studio for recording and editing of studio events. Manage and maintain Blackmagic cameras, switchers and broadcast equipment, as well as Sony and Canon DSLRs and Camcorders. Meet weekly with an allocated small group of students in a “crew” setting to provide mentorship, foster personal growth, and build community connections. Go on a 1 week experiential education trip with students in the fall. Facilitate Quests – periods of student exploration and self-guided learning on topics of student interest. Assist in departmental work, including assessment, program review, and development of curriculum. Participate in weekly professional development. Contribute to a collaborative learning environment by sharing expertise with colleagues. Work closely with students to further develop their critical thinking skills, creativity, writing, research, and multimedia communication skills. Be an active character educator in accordance with Principia’s mission, supporting Principia activities, and promoting Christian Science-based character education in accord with Principia’s mission as outlined in Education at The Principia. Video record and edit school-wide events through a stipended secondary contract or in lieu of other responsibilities to be negotiated. Work Environment & Professional Characteristics Foster a dynamic, inclusive, and student-centered classroom culture where learners feel supported in taking risks, experimenting with new ideas, and connecting their work to real-world challenges. Cultivate an environment that empowers students as innovators and problem-solvers, encouraging exploration and creativity. Be comfortable promoting innovation and ceding responsibility for learning to students, guiding them as a coach and mentor. Challenge and support each student, fostering critical thinking and exploration. Communicate effectively with administration, students, parents, the community, and industry partners to enhance learning opportunities. Recognizing and valuing each individual’s capability ensures that every student is seen as capable and full of potential. Foster confidence in students by providing meaningful opportunities for them to take ownership of their learning, develop resilience, and engage in problem-solving with independence and curiosity. Exhibit receptivity, enthusiasm, and adaptability in a classroom where learning is both collaborative and individualized and where students may engage in a variety of activities simultaneously. Demonstrate strong classroom management and organizational skills, ensuring an engaging and well-structured learning environment. Actively work to promote interdisciplinary thinking and initiatives, sharing and integrating aspects of Art, Design, Media Studies, and Film with other programs and departments across the school and community. Remain progressive, continuously evolving the program to keep pace with advancements in technology and education. Encourage students to experiment, take risks, and learn through inquiry-based experiences. Create and sustain a cooperative learning environment, embracing a team-player mindset while managing multiple activities Model and encourage a lifelong passion for learning, inspiring students to grow into curious, capable, and resilient problem-solvers.

Core Competencies Positivity:

Optimistic, positive, and focused on elevating and bringing out the very best in themselves and others. Faculty and staff are invited to understand teammates’ strengths and how they can complement each other.

Team players:

Ability to collaborate and partner with peers and senior leaders is critical, with an ability to listen, give and receive feedback, and be comfortable exchanging ideas and speaking candidly in a professional and collegial manner

Relationship Builder:

 Builds and sustains strong connections with a genuine interest in others

Inclusion:

 Demonstrates awareness and respect for cultural differences, actively seeks to understand diverse perspectives, and supports cross-cultural interactions. Fosters an inclusive environment where individuals of all backgrounds feel valued and respected.

Innovative:

 Presents a problem-solving mindset that helps our team come up with creative solutions to challenging issues, with a mentality of self-improvement and organizational excellence; meets challenges with resourcefulness; generates suggestions for improving work; develops innovative approaches and ideas

Technical Skills:

 Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; pursues training and development opportunities; strives to continuously build knowledge and skills

Ethical:

 Treats people with respect; keeps commitments; inspires the trust of others; works with integrity; upholds organizational values

Planning and Organizing:

 Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; manages multiple projects and tasks simultaneously Minimum Qualifications Student of Christian Science preferred Support Principia’s guiding statements as articulated here https://www.principia.edu/about/mission Master’s Degree in Art, Film, Multimedia Communication, Broadcast Journalism, or a closely related field with an emphasis on digital/video media preferred; Bachelor’s degree and related industry experience will be considered Experience with a broad range of contexts and industries involving visual art, multimedia communications, broadcast journalism, and film Demonstrated ability to work with a range of students and skill levels Classroom teaching experience Demonstrated facility and comfort with navigating and leveraging a learning management system The statements above describe the general nature and level of work but are not a complete list of responsibilities and are subject to change at the discretion of the Principia. Additional Application Requests Along with your cover letter, CV, and the Principia Application, please submit: A link to a portfolio of up to 5 examples of student video work along with a description and supporting material or assignment details. A link to a demo reel/ portfolio of your professional video work showcasing up to 5 projects you created or participated in creating. For each project, include a brief description and time stamp (if appropriate) for the areas you completed (camera, editing, lighting, etc). Include what programs or equipment you used, as well. A brief statement of your teaching philosophy. Compensation and Benefits We offer a competitive salary range for this position, starting at $51,000 annually for candidates with a Bachelor’s degree and no prior teaching experience. Salary is commensurate with degree and years of teaching experience. In addition to salary, our comprehensive total rewards package includes: •

Generous Employee Tuition Discount:

Enjoy a 90% discount on tuition (pro-rated for part-time staff) for your eligible children enrolled from Pre-K3 through College (infant and acorn programs excluded). •

Relocation:

Principia provides a relocation imbursement of up to 12% of your annual salary when moving from outside a radius of more than 50 miles •

Professional Development:

Access to learning opportunities, training programs, and career growth support. •

Comprehensive Benefits:

Learn more about all our benefits here, including comprehensive health, dental, and vision plans, paid time off, a 403(b) retirement plan with Principia matching, and more. Equal Opportunity Principia, a mission-driven institution, believes every person has the right to an equitable and respectful educational environment and workplace. Principia does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, gender (identity or expression), sexual orientation, family status, disability, age, or military or veteran status. In hiring, admissions, and related decisions, Principia—as an institution with a religious mission—gives preference, where appropriate, to Christian Scientists.