Job Opening

Maine Department of Education

Regional Education Representative – Visual and Performing Arts Specialist

Office of Learning Systems

(Anticipated Vacancy)

Code: 3032                 Pay Grade: 28 – $48,547.20 – $72,737.60 annually

OPEN:  June 20, 2019

CLOSES:  July 5, 2019, 5:00 PM

PURPOSE OF ANNOUNCEMENT

The Maine Department of Education (DOE) has one (1) full-time vacancy for a visual and performing arts specialist based in Augusta with a regional assignment.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This is professional services work involving regional and statewide implementation of Maine’s education standards for visual and performing arts education PreK-12, school improvement efforts and related education initiatives. The position provides PreK-12 visual and performing arts education leadership and expertise to organizations and educators statewide in curriculum, instruction and assessment through provision of professional development opportunities and technical assistance. The position may be assigned to lead other state and federal programs.  Work is performed in collaboration with other members of the Maine DOE and is executed under limited supervision.  Extensive use of technology, statewide/national travel and field assignments are required.

The position also serves schools and school districts within an assigned region through customer service, brokering technical assistance and providing a communications link for the Maine DOE’s continuous improvement process.  Primary responsibilities include developing ongoing interaction with school personnel and community representatives within an assigned superintendents’ region; serving as the Maine DOE representative and key contact for requests, information, and questions from within the region; providing or brokering professional development opportunities, technical assistance and other services to enhance teacher effectiveness and student and school performance; assisting districts with the implementation of the state education standards and associated assessments; promoting the Commissioner’s education initiatives within the region; and serving as the Commissioner’s representative and liaison in the region.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES REQUIRED to successfully perform the work assigned:

• Knowledge of current learning research, exemplary general educational practices and PreK-12 visual and performing arts content and instructional knowledge.
• Knowledge of community involvement issues in education policy decisions and educational operations.
• Knowledge of school improvement, Maine DOE strategic initiatives, systems-change concepts, student centered practices, and tools to support learning especially in the area of PreK-12 visual and performing arts education.
• Knowledge of large scale and formative assessment development and administration in PreK-12 visual and performing arts education.
• Knowledge of current and emerging state and federal legislation, rules and regulations impacting education.
• Knowledge of and experience with Maine’s education standards (Learning Results), the process of implementing standards and current and emerging trends for PreK-12 visual and performing arts including national standards development initiatives.
• Knowledge of performance-based and standards-based educational systems.
• Knowledge of systemic change principles.
• Knowledge of computer software and hardware systems, including networking.
• Knowledge of Total Quality Management concepts, practices and tools and productivity measures.
• Knowledge of documentation strategies.
• Knowledge of alternative assessment, developmental education and experimental learning.
• Ability to facilitate groups and use exemplary interpersonal skills; establish and maintain positive collaborative working relationships; effectively manage multiple projects and provide quality service.
• Ability to integrate PreK-12 visual and performing arts with other Maine DOE teams such as Special Education, Assessment and Accountability, Certification and Learning Through Technology.
• Ability to assist organizations with systemic change strategies/organizational development.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing and use technology for work and learning.
• Ability to write clearly and effectively in a team environment to problem solve.
• Ability to use computer technology for word processing, data applications, telecommunication (email, webinars, faxing) and internet searches.
• Ability to design and implement innovative approaches to school improvement and to student and teacher learning.
• Ability to analyze and interpret research and data and to integrate divergent ideas to solve problems and make decisions.
• Ability to apply and facilitate group dynamics and to use exemplary interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage projects.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and customer service.
• Ability to interact effectively with peers and customers. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

Bachelor of Arts/Science degree in Education, Human Resource Development, Psychology or a related field and 5 years of experience as an education practitioner. A Master’s degree in an education related field may be substituted for 2 years of educational experience.

LICENSING/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: (These must be met by all employees prior to attaining permanent status in this class).

Positions in this classification require a specific certification and/or ability to obtain a certification in an area specified by appropriate authorities.

BENEFITS

The value of State’s share of Employee’s Retirement:  15.37% of salary for BU positions.  The value of State-paid Dental Insurance:  $13.13 biweekly.  The value* of State-paid Health Insurance:

• Level 1:  100% State Contribution (employee pays nothing):  $444.68biweekly
• Level 2:    95% State Contribution (employee pays 5%):  $422.45 biweekly
• Level 3:    90% State Contribution (employee pays 10%):  $400.21 biweekly
• Level 4:      85% State Contribution (employee pays 15%):  $377.98 biweekly

*The level of the actual value of state paid Health Insurance will be based on the employee’s wage rate and status with regard to the health credit premium program.

APPLICATION AT THIS LINK!

Maine DOE Seeks VPA Specialist

Get your resume ready

This article is just in from the Maine DOE Newsroom! I hope that you will consider applying for this important position and a chance to collaborate with the Arts education organizations in Maine and beyond.

The Maine DOE is seeking applicants to fill the position of Visual and Performing Arts Specialist.

The position, which will be formally posted next week on the State’s Bureau of Human Resources website and also in future issues of the Commissioner’s Update, provides important supports to implement proficiency-based diplomas and guidance for effective instruction in the Arts. The Department hopes to have the specialist, who will be a member of its Standards and Instructional Supports Team, in place by spring.

Toward the goal of supporting effective arts instruction, in January the Maine DOE kicked of the Maine Arts Integration Consortium (MAIC). This consortium will continue throughout the winter and spring of 2015 and will result in resources and presentations to illustrate arts integration.

Until the position at the Maine DOE is filled, please direct all questions related to visual and performing arts education and the MAIC to Maine DOE’s Director of Standards and Instructional Supports Anita Bernhardt at 624-6835 or anita.bernhardt@maine.gov.

This information was posted yesterday in the Maine DOE newsroom at http://mainedoenews.net/2015/02/25/maine-doe-seeks-visual-and-performing-arts-specialist/#more-34127.

Introducing Kevin

Kevin Facer, Visual and Performing Arts Specialist, Maine Department of Education

I am happy to introduce you to Kevin Facer who joined the Department recently. He’d love to hear from you so don’t hesitate to contact him at kevin.facer@maine.gov

1. Tell us about your professional (and if you’d like to include personal) background. How did you get where you are?

Hi Argy, thanks for the opportunity to meet arts educators through the blog. I was an arts kid in high school. The arts were, and still are important to me and most likely helped me stay in school. After high school, I served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and then started a community college program in photography. I worked as a blue collar chef and then photographer in commercial and fashion sectors in Philadelphia. I went back to graduate school and did an MA in Humanities and M.Ed. in Arts Ed., and started teaching photography after having a show at college. Currently, I’m working on a dissertation about artists and creative problem solving toward an Ed.D.

2. What did you think of this real Maine winter?

This one seemed harsh. I hope it gets better.

3. Why did you become an art teacher?

I didn’t set out on a career to become a teacher. I suppose it found me by accident. Having experience as a working photographer and making my own photographs to show led me to start teaching after an exhibit I had at a college. After a few years adjunct teaching, I began teaching high school photo and art. Working in a studio environment with students is a rewarding experience and I believe all arts teachers share a similar perception about what they do.

4. What are you most passionate about in arts education?

As a teacher, for me it is all about creating memorable learning experiences. The kind of experiences students will know and remember because they grew and gained from doing it. Arts teachers understand the uniqueness of the creative learning process that ultimately lead to both self and creative discovery. Curriculum standards and learning outcomes are part of the process of teaching that frame steps in learning, but as teachers we also want to do things that spark creative thinking as a lifelong habit.

5. What are your most important goals as VPA specialist?

Right now all of the core functions of the job seem important, with emphasis on supporting Proficiency Based Education and Educator Effectiveness. But with arts education specifically my work with MAAI, promoting arts integration with other content specialists and teachers, STEAM education as an approach to teaching, gifted education opportunities in the arts and building partnerships with arts teachers across the state, and connecting to community, state and national arts organizations are my priorities.

6. What is your advice for arts educators?

I may not be the best choice for advice. But, I believe arts teachers need to take ownership of the arts programs in their school. Network and gain support from parents and your community. Showcase your work and the work of your students; collaborate and acts upon discussions with teachers and administrators in your school and those connected to you as these discussions can create great things. Look for unusual and customary ways to advocate for the arts in your conversations as these connections help everyone involved to become stronger and more engaged. Years ago, I taught in a high school that didn’t have a gallery space to show student work. Sure the hallways are okay, but I really wanted to do more. So, during a week there were school board and community meetings I got a 16’ truck and turned it into a mobile gallery, parked it in front of the meeting places and in town on Friday evening. Many people walked up the ramp to see the student show, which turned into strong support for the school and our arts programs.

7. What do you believe are three keys to ANY successful visual and performing arts education?

I spent some time thinking about how success can be defined in terms of stability of the arts program, status within the school and community, experience and notoriety of the teacher. These things can have influence on a program, but it’s all about student learning and their engagement with the arts. So, with this out front, my three keys are:

• Challenging Instruction – Think “Habits of the Mind” for the arts area you teach.
• Engagement – How active students are in their school and community about the arts.
• Legacy – This is from my experience as a high school art teacher, but when students wrote to me ten years after graduation about how their art experiences are used in their jobs, that they have a job (that they like) directly related to the arts, or send an invitation to an exhibit or performance, makes you think that maybe you made a positive difference.­

8. You’ve had a chance to check out the MAAI what benefits do you see in educators becoming involved?

Arts assessments are going to change the scope of arts instruction, not necessarily in the content of what is being taught, but definitely in how the arts will be taught and the nature of evaluation. Therefore, assessment is split into two major areas of Arts Knowledge (basic skills to include tests) and Art Ability (examples of production). This implies there is a shift in thinking from grading an assignment or project, to evaluating student learning. This is why being part of MAAI and learning new approaches to teaching and assessment will be valuable to teachers.

9. If you were given a $500,000.00 to do with whatever you please, what would it be?

It’s been far too long since my wife and I had a real vacation, but after that I would like to put the funds into the development of a center/institute for arts, craft and science where the mission is to discover connections between disciplines. Light on curriculum, heavy on creating, that would be my ideal learning environment.

Contact Information: kevin.facer@maine.gov

 

207-624-6826

MDOE VPA Position

Visual and Performing Arts Specialist position, Maine Department of Education

The information below is the posting for the job at the Department that was mine until I left in September to go to the Maine Arts Commission. Since below is small, here is the information if you are interested in applying:

Submit a cover letter, resume and Direct Hire Application. This job posting and a Direct Hire application can be found at http://www.maine.gov/fps/opportunities/. PLEASE NOTE: The DEADLINE is OCTOBER 25, 2013.