Teaching Artist - Contract (Children's Creative Writing/Paramount Theatre Program)

Department: Paramount Theatre Education Department

Supervisor: Associate Director of Story Wranglers Program

Location: Austin, Texas

Deadline to Apply: 7/21/2026

Teaching Artists will implement the Paramount Theatre’s Story Wranglers curriculum in classrooms around the greater Austin area. Story Wranglers is a seven-week in-school residency where third graders learn the foundations of creative writing through arts-integrated lessons designed to motivate students and improve their writing skills, confidence, creativity, and storytelling. During the residency, each classroom writes several stories as a class, in small groups, and in individual journals with the guidance of their team of three to four teaching artists.

At the end of the seven weeks, our professional ensemble of actors, known as The Story Wranglers Performance Ensemble, transform students’ original stories from page to stage in a live performance for the entire campus! (Auditions for the performance company are separate from the Teaching Artist application process.)

Compensation:

• $27/hour
• Additional compensation for bilingual candidates. Travel stipends for teachers traveling more than 10 miles to their assigned campus.
• Teaching Artists are compensated for training, on-line meetings and attendance at their campus Story Wranglers show after.

Work Hours/Schedule:

• Teaching Artists work 4-8 hours per week, with potential to be scheduled for more/less classes based on availability and interest.
• Classes are 75 minutes in length and are taught during school hours based on the agreed upon schedule for each campus.
• Classes are taught on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays
• In-School Residencies are contracted for 7 weeks.
• We offer 3 separate Residency contracts for Teaching Artists each school year:

Fall residency begins: 9/1/2026

Winter Residency begins: 10/20/2026

Spring Residency begins: 1/20/2027

Schedule/Timeline:

Tuesday – August 5th

Invite Only: Demo Lesson/Auditions will take place in-person between (9:30am-12:30pm) OR (1:00pm-4pm) at the State Theatre, 719 Congress Ave 78701.

Tuesday – August 19th

If hired, the required New Teaching Artist training will be held in-person. Time and place TBA.

Thursday – August 21st

If hired, the required ALL Teaching Artist training will be held in-person. Time and place TBA.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Facilitates the Story Wranglers curriculum with a team of three to four co-teachers for third grade classrooms around the greater Austin area.
• Creates an uplifting, inclusive classroom environment.
• Ability to adapt curriculum to students’ abilities and learning styles.
• Exhibits strong communication and problem-solving skills with supervisor and with colleagues.
• Manages survey administration and data collection for all participating classrooms.
• Must have reliable transportation as work environment changes from school to school regularly.
• Must have access to reliable Wi-fi for bi-weekly online team meetings.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Bi-Lingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.
• Experience working with K-12 students.
• Knowledge of best practices in K-12 teaching, including Social Emotional Learning, Creative Learning Strategies, and classroom management.
• Educational Theatre skills are preferred but not required.

Competencies:

• We know there are great candidates who might not check all these boxes or who possess important skills we may not have included. If that is you, don’t hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself. We also encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including People of Color, people in the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities.
• Education and Experience: The candidate ideally has teaching experience, whether in-school or after-school. Experience with elementary students, implementing curriculum, and fostering positive relationships with students, their classroom teachers, and their colleagues.
• The ability to write and speak effectively using appropriate convention based on the situation; actively listens to others, asks questions to verify understanding, and uses tact and consideration when delivering feedback to others
• Uses time efficiently by prioritizing and planning work activities.
• Demonstrates utmost level of integrity in all instances and shows respect towards others, towards the company, towards and communities we serve.
• Demonstrates ability to make independent and sound decisions in all situations.
• Shares key information with others involved in a project or effort, works in harmony to accomplish objectives, responds respectfully to directives, and shows support for departmental and organizational decisions.
• Sets high standards and measures of excellence to ensure quality assurance in every aspect of work performed.
• Takes personal responsibility and ownership for adhering to all company policies and procedures…