KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Job Description

Job Title:               Director of Fine Arts

Job Title Code:       01360

Salary Grade:         S664- Starting at $84,958

Department:          Curriculum & Instruction

Reports To:            Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum & Instruction

FLSA Status:          Exempt

Date Prepared:      August 2026

Position Summary:

The Director of Fine Arts will support increased student achievement in K-12 Fine Arts and facilitate the transition to, and implementation of, rigorous and relevant standards in Fine Arts.

What You'll Be Doing: (Responsibilities)

• Provides leadership in Visual and Performing Arts curriculum, instruction, and assessment to teachers and building principals.

• Plans and conducts professional development as appropriate for Visual and Performing Arts teachers based on teacher needs.

• An active participant in the State Education and Arts Education Associations.

• Establishes and maintains partnerships with arts organizations, community stakeholders, and cultural institutions.

• Manages contracts and relationships with artists, vendors, and community partners.

• Identifies and secures opportunities to enhance fine arts programming through community engagement and strategic partnerships.

• Leads and coordinates secondary fine arts programming.

• Serves as the Visual and Performing Arts content expert for teachers.

• Coordinates the Visual and Performing Arts Chairs to ensure rigor and consistency from grade to grade and from building to building.

• Coordinates with elementary, middle, mid-high, and high school to ensure a well-articulated and well- coordinated curriculum in Visual and Performing Arts.

• Shares accountability for the improvement of student achievement in Visual and Performing Arts curriculum.

• Works with building administrators to recruit and hire qualified Visual and Performing Arts candidates.

• Provides instructional support for the implementation of the Art and Science of Teaching instructional model.

• Assists in creation of formative and common assessments as appropriate.

• Assesses the overall effectiveness of Visual and Performing Arts curriculum.

• Initiates and directs improvements in the Visual and Performing Arts programs.

• Communicates with and obtains feedback from students, teachers, and administrators in a manner that enhances student learning.

• Provides assistance and guidance in the selection of Visual and Performing Arts instructional materials and methods.

• Facilitates Visual and Performing Arts Curriculum Advisory Committee.

• Supervises the Elementary Fine Arts Coordinator and Lead Artist in Residence positions.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:  Yes

To Be Successful at This Job, You'll Need To: (Minimum Qualifications)

• Master’s Degree in education or Fine Arts.

• Five (5) years of teaching experience in Fine Arts.

• Possess a broad understanding of Arts Education from Elementary through High School.

• Experience as an effective leader.

• Experience in designing and writing curriculum materials (guidelines, resource guides, programs and activities) in subject area.

• Hold or be eligible for a valid Missouri teaching certificate in Fine Arts (Visual, Theatre or Music K-12).

• Training and/or experience working with students/staff on development, implementation, and evaluation of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

• Knowledge of standards, curriculum mapping, and vertical articulation support.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with staff, parents and patrons.

• Experience in conducting staff development in content areas.

• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain partnerships with arts organizations, community stakeholders, and vendors, including experience supervising staff and managing contracts.

• Demonstrated success at designing and maintaining a positive, collaborative culture.

• Demonstrated experience developing, expanding, and evaluating fine arts programs and/or initiatives.

• Demonstrated excellence in written communication.

In Order to #LevelUp in This Role, You'll Need: (Preferred Qualifications)

• Missouri Administrator Certificate preferred (or ability to obtain) and proven experience in leading curriculum improvement.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This job requires that the employee be able to: sit, stand, walk, speak, hear, use hands, fingers, reach with hands and fingers; bend, stoop, lift objects of at least ten pounds.  Job requires the employee occasionally to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.  Visual ability requires mono and color vision, close vision, distance vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Length of work year: 12 months; 7.5 hours per day/ 5 days per week; 260 work days

Benefits: Health and Dental Insurance are provided.

KCPS Defined Benefit Pension plan – mandatory 9.0% contribution effective 1/1/16 is required from employee and matched by KCPS; Voluntary retirement savings plans are also available.