| Sun Valley Community School is seeking a dynamic Upper School Theater Teacher and Creative Arts Academy Director who would be responsible for leading a dynamic, inclusive, and rigorous theater program for high school students at Sun Valley Community School. This educator teaches a range of theater courses—including acting, theater history, directing, and technical theater—and directs full-scale theatrical productions each year. The position blends classroom teaching with artistic leadership, mentoring students as both performers and theater-makers. A commitment to equity, collaboration, and student-centered learning is essential. This is a full-time teaching and directing position, with benefits, beginning August 11, 2025. Additional duties will include serving as a student advisor, participating in the school’s extensive Outdoor Program, and engaging in additional Upper School co-curricular activities. For the right candidate, the position could also include Residential Life responsibilities and/or housing.
Core Teaching Responsibilities: - Teach up to three sections of Upper School theater courses each term (e.g., Acting, Directing, Theater History, Technical Theater, Shakespeare, Devised Theater), adapting curriculum to meet student needs and interests
- Direct at least two major theater productions annually (fall musical, winter play), including play selection, audition processes, rehearsals, and collaboration with production teams
- Manage the Sun Valley Community School theater (see outline of responsibilities below)
- Guide upper school students through the process of applying and auditioning at serious BFA and summer training programs
- Provide artistic and logistical leadership for Upper School theater productions, working closely with designers and student crew
- Support student engagement with all aspects of theater-making, including dramaturgy, design, performance, and backstage work
- Maintain a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment that encourages risk-taking, creative expression, and collaboration
- Collaborate with faculty across disciplines and divisions to integrate theater into broader curricular and co-curricular offerings
- Mentor student artists, fostering growth in theatrical skills, personal confidence, and critical thinking
- Coordinate performance schedules, communicate with families and school leadership, and manage rehearsal calendars
- Contribute to the life of the Upper School through advising, event support, or other duties as assigned
- Lead 2 outdoor program trips per year, including Fall Campout and NYC Creative Arts Winter Trip
Core Theater Management Responsibilities: - Manage the Theater Calendar for all events held in the theater.?
- Account for lead/rehearsal/set-up time for major school productions.
- Ensure a lack of conflicts between assemblies, movies, speakers, performances, workshops, classes, etc. ?
- Balance and account for both internal use and external organization use of the theater.
- Set equitable priorities for theater use with the intent to make the theater available for use as much as possible.
- Establish pricing and issue Facility Use Licenses for external organizations contracting to use the theater.
- Promote use of the theater by outside groups.
- Arrange for and archive materials related to performances and productions that take place in the theater.
- Develop and communicate to interested faculty training standards for the operation of equipment in the tech booth.
- Develop and communicate to the Theater Committee policies, procedures, and protocols for the use of the lighting, projection, and sound equipment used in the tech booth.
- Schedule tech support for all theater events.
- Develop policies and protocol regarding compensation for theater staffing for external events held in the theater.
- Manage the theater budget(s), prioritize maintenance, upgrades and major initiatives and authorize all expenditures.
- Develop and implement, in coordination with the Facilities Director, an inventory of equipment and a corresponding short, medium, and long-term maintenance schedule for the theater lighting, sound, and projection equipment. The schedule and inventory should include financial implications to allow for predictive budgeting, an annual operating budget, and large scale depreciation funding of the theater.
Creative Arts Academy Director or Co-Director Responsibilities - Develop programming to grow the course offerings in the Upper School’s Creative Arts Department and support the needs/interest of the students participating in the Creative Arts Academy
- Ensure that students in the CAA are meeting the graduation requirements for completion of the program in their given track of study (focus), including participation in a culminating performance or exhibit in their senior year
- Provide participants in the CAA information for opportunities outside of the SVCS community, both during the school year and the summer
- Build collaborations with other non-profit arts organizations
- Write grades/comments for each student in the CAA that relates to their participation in the program and where they stand in fulfilling the requirements towards obtaining a Certificate of Completion for the CAA
- Communicate and advocate for the purpose of the program and how it aligns with the overall mission of SVCS
- Coordinate efforts with the Outdoor Leadership Academy and Sun Valley Ski Academy leadership in order to create synergies between the different academies and coordinate opportunities that allow for students to pursue interests in multiple academies and/or programs
Interested candidates can view the full job description and qualities at communityschool.org/about/employment. Applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and two letters of reference to Matt Fiorentino (mfiorentino@communityschool.org) by May 16. Sun Valley Community School is an equal opportunity employer. The school encourages, seeks, and will employ applicants the school deems qualified for the position sought, regardless of age, ethnic background, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identification, or physical ability, with reasonable accommodation to fulfill the responsibilities of the position.
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