K-12 Director of Visual Arts

K-12 Director of Visual Arts

Westwood Public Schools District-Wide (WPS) - Westwood, Massachusetts Open in Google Maps

Job : 5570492
Final date to receive applications: Jul 31, 2026 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
Posted: Mar 04, 2026 5:00 AM (UTC)

Starting Date: Aug 26, 2026

The Westwood Public Schools seeks a K-12 Visual Arts Director to lead a team of innovative, student-centered art educators dedicated to helping students learn to create, respond and communicate visually. The Director serves as a key member of several leadership teams; oversees periodic reviews of the K - 12 Visual Arts curriculum; leads the department in implementing recommendations for improvement; recruits, hires, develops, supervises and evaluates art department staff;

develops and oversees the art department budget; and promotes the visual arts both in the schools and the wider community. The Director also maintains a strong connection to students and the classroom by teaching part time (0.6 FTE).

This position is 184 days (school year), with up to 10 additional days possible outside of the school year to support hiring or professional development work, as approved by the supervisor.

• At least five years of experience teaching Visual Arts in a K-12 setting
• Master’s degree in education or a closely related field preferred
• Supervisory and administrative experience preferred
• SEI endorsement required
• Massachusetts educator license required; supervisor/director or administrator license required
• Deep understanding of how to effectively engage students in creative and visual problem solving processes
• Experience and demonstrated skill managing long-term projects and initiatives
• Demonstrated commitment to celebrating diversity, pursuing equity, and promoting integration
• Familiarity with trauma sensitive educational practices

Position reports to the Assistant Superintendent of Schools

The responsibilities of the Visual Arts department head shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:

Student Achievement:
Diagnosis and Planning

• Examine multiple sources of evidence (e.g., student work) to understand student learning and assess educator effectiveness
• Communicate a vision for improving student learning outcomes and enlist members of the department in achieving that vision

Management

• Plan for short and long term, prioritizing effectively to reach departmental improvement goals
• Organize productive meetings that engage all members of the department
• Manage both financial and human resources responsibly and seek supplemental resources (e.g., grant funds) when appropriate
• Coordinate and support the showcasing of student work, including occasional events (art shows, community showcases) outside of school hours

Communication and Collaboration

• Ensure that staff members know how and why key decisions are being made
• Welcome and collaborate with parents and caregivers and respond successfully to their concerns
• Celebrate individual, school and district achievements in visual arts
• Promote culturally responsive practices that support diverse students, families and staff

Curriculum and Data

• Analyze multiple sources of data to assess curriculum
• Use data to inform plan for continual departmental improvement
• Model best practices for staff members by using student work to inform instruction in the classroom

Supervision, Evaluation, and Professional Development

• Oversee collaborative planning sessions to ensure that teacher development, lesson planning, and unit development are effectively improving student outcomes
• Make frequent classroom visits and engage in post-observation conversations that encourage teacher reflection and continuous improvement
• Recruit, hire, develop and support effective teachers
• Assist teachers in the development of growth plans that promote professional growth and student learning

Teaching and Learning

• Set high learning expectations and encourage student mastery
• Design and implement thoughtful and engaging lessons that consider different student learning needs, styles and interests
• Use formative and summative assessments to monitor and evaluate student learning
• Encourage students to…