Exploring the Hiring Process of K-12 Art Teachers: Tips for the Job Search

• Published in: Art education (Reston) Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 8 - 13
• Main Author: LaJevic, Lisa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reston Routledge 03.09.2019; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Administrator Attitudes; Administrator Surveys; Art Education; Art Teachers; Assistant Principals; Educational Environment; Educational Philosophy; Elementary Secondary Education; Employment Interviews; Hiring; Job Applicants; Job hunting; Job Search Methods; Lifelong Learning; Portfolios (Background Materials); Preservice teachers; Principals; Resumes (Personal); School Districts; Superintendents; Supervisors; Teacher Education Programs; Teacher Selection; Teaching; Visual Arts; Websites; New Jersey; United States > US
• ISSN: 0004-3125; 2325-5161
• DOI: 10.1080/00043125.2019.1621630

Looking for a K--12 art teaching position can be a daunting endeavor. What do school district administrators and art teachers feel is important when hiring visual arts teachers and how do they carry out the job search process? This is a question author Lisa LaJevic often hears from her preservice art teachers as they near the end of their college teacher preparation program. Although research about the job search process for K--12 art teachers is available (Bain, 2005; Buffington, 2011a, 2011b; Stephens, 2007; Tollefson-Hall, Bobick, Derby, & Villeneuve, 2012a, 2012b), information is outdated and/or limited, in particular for aspects such as the art teaching demonstration. Hence, to better answer preservice art teachers' question, LaJevic invited administrators, including superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, vice principals, art supervisors, curriculum supervisors, and art teachers from public New Jersey school districts to complete an online Qualtrics survey that explores various aspects of the search and hiring process of K--12 art teachers. She narrowed her focus to New Jersey because it is the state where she is employed; however any current job-seeking art teacher across the country may find the information useful. Of the survey's respondents, 40% assist in hiring at the elementary level and 30% assist at each the middle and high school level. The three main components to the hiring process: the application, interview(s), and teaching demonstration are described. The rest of this article summarizes a few findings from the study and provides resources that may be helpful to any art teacher who is looking for a new K-12 teaching job.