Mega Group Leader

BAX is seeking a MEGA GROUP LEADER for its 2023 School Breaks Arts Programs:
President’s Week, Spring Break, and Summer

About BAX’s School Breaks Arts Programs
At BAX, we foster creativity and encourage playful exploration in a positive and nurturing environment. Our School Breaks Arts Programs (President’s Week, Spring Break, and Summer) draw from our year-round education programs to provide young artists with opportunities to explore different forms of mixed media art and performance around a specific themed week thoughtfully designed for active and fun engagement. Arts Specialists teach daily workshops, while a well-trained, creative staff supports a healthy balance of fun indoor (at the BAX Building in spacious, well ventilated studios) and outdoor (at the Old Stone House in Washington Park/JJ Byrne Playground during Spring Break and Summer) play, performance, and art-making activities.

2023 School Breaks Program Date

  • President’s Week: Tuesday, February 21 to Friday, February 24, 2023
  • Spring Break: Monday, April 10 to Friday, April 14, 2023
  •  Summer: Monday, July 10 to Friday, August 4, 2023

Program Structure
Approx. 40 children entering K through 5th grades (age range: 5-10) separated into two groups:

  • NanoBAXers – entering K through 2nd grade
  • MegaBAXers – entering 3rd through 5th grade

No special talent or experience is required of students – students come in with all levels of skill and interest in any given discipline.

Program Daily Schedule

  • Drop Off 8:30 to 9:00am
  • Main Program Hours 9:00am to 3:00pm (sample daily schedule below, subject to slight
    changes)
    • 9:00am – Morning Meeting & Community Building
    • 9:30am – Performing Arts Workshop with Specialist
    • 10:30am – Snack
    • 10:45am – Transition to Park
    • 11:15am – Outdoor Activities & Games
    • 12:30pm – Lunch & Play
    • 1:00pm – Transition to BAX
    • 1:30pm – Visual Arts Workshop with Specialist
    • 2:30pm – End of Day Sharing
  • Dismissal 3:00pm
  • Optional Extended Day Add-On 3:00 to 5:30pm

The Summer Arts Program is overseen by the Education Department administrative staff (Senior Manager of Education Programs and Director of Education & Artist Programs). Additionally, each group is supervised and supported by a core staff that includes a Group Leader, Lead Counselor, Senior Counselor, Junior Counselor, and Counselors in Training. An additional team of a Lead Counselor and Senior Counselor facilitate the Extended Day program. These staff members remain with students throughout the day and throughout the program, provide support to the arts specialists, facilitate additional activities and projects that relate to the daily/weekly performing arts disciplines and theme, and in the Summer, and support the culminating performance shares for families.

About the Mega Group Leader Position
We are seeking one Group Leader to work with the Megas (students in grades 3rd-5th) for the full School Breaks Program season.

The ideal candidate for this position has:

  • Passion and skill set for working with elementary-aged children,
  • Direct experience engaging the performing and/or visual arts with children,
  • Dedication to the fostering of community through equity building and inclusive pedagogy,
  • Interest in mentoring junior staff (which includes college and high school aged students),
  • Comfort in communication with parents and caregivers, and
  • A sense of play, creativity, and fun!

Group Leader Responsibilities Include:

  • Pre-Program Planning and Staff Training (10% of job)
    • Working with the Education Department administrative team to conceive, plan, and facilitate pre-program and ongoing staff training.
    • Participate in pre-planning team meetings and staff training.
  • Direct Program Facilitation (70% of job)
    • Guide the Mega Group (students in 3rd-5th grades) through the program’s daily and weekly schedules.
    • Cultivate and engage in an inclusive program-wide culture and student engagement style; creating and facilitating curriculum that is adaptive and can be modified based on students’ needs (and/or disabilities) and incorporating equity-building teaching and teaching & learning strategies.
    • Plan and facilitate original artistic Group Leader-led lesson plans and activities (“GLAs”) that supplement daily/weekly performing arts curriculum and exploratory themes that are age appropriate, and appeal to different types of learning.
    • Provide direction and support during guest arts specialist workshops, including hands on facilitation support; collaborating and building on specialist lessons and performance planning during GLA workshops; building a team ethic, exchanging information and advising support staff and specialists working with students; conveying a calm dependability and competence under stress, promoting a safe and supportive learning environment.
    • Adhere to the daily schedule, including any covid-safety arrival and departure procedures, workshop transitions, travel to and from the park for snack and/or lunch, outdoor play, and specialist activities, and clean-up; Also, advise Lead Counselor and/or assistant on outdoor space set up equipment needs, timing, etc.
    • In the Summer, collaborate with guest arts specialists and support staff to put together the Friday end of week sharing for families. This is a low-pressure opportunity for Mega families to witness their children’s creative process over the course of the week and for the Mega students to have their work witnessed as thy practice the art of performance.
  • Staff Supervision and Mentorship (10% of job)
    • Provide direct supervision and mentorship to Mega counselor staff through the delegation of tasks, provision of feedback, and
    • Help the support staff develop and confidently facilitate their own creative counselor-led activities (“CLAs”).
    • Assist in leading weekly staff meetings & provide staff development as needed.
  • Communication (10% of job)
    • Address concerns of parents, staff and children and resolve problems while maintaining confidentiality; communicate incidents (physical, emotional, etc.) that take place during program hours to the Education administrative staff and/or with caregivers directly.
    •  Meet with the Education administrative staff regularly, as needed, to discuss program logistics, scheduling changes/flow, staff development, group management, and any concerns.

All program staff will need to show proof of full vaccination for COVID-19. To see BAX’s current COVID Community Care plan, visit https://www.bax.org/covid-updates/.

Mega Group Leader Position Schedule (all dates listed are in 2023)

PRESIDENT’S WEEK & SPRING BREAK

  • Initial Pre-Program Planning Meeting (TBD based on staff availability)
  • Staff Training Planning Meeting (TBD based on staff availability)
  • President’s Week/Spring Break Training Schedule (exact training schedule to be
    confirmed, please hold all below dates/times)
    • Monday, Feb. 13 from 6:30-8:30pm
    • Wednesday, Feb. 15 from 6:30-8:30pm
    • Friday, Feb. 17 from 4:30-7:30pm
    • Monday, Feb. 20 from 9am to 12pm
  • President’s Week Program Dates (4 program days)
    • Tuesday, February 21; 7:30am to 4:00pm
    • Wednesday, February 22 to Friday, February 24; 8:00am to 4:00pm
  • Spring Break Refresher Training Schedule (exact training schedule to be confirmed,
    please hold all below dates/times)
    • Monday, Apr. 3 from 6:30-8:30pm
    • Wednesday, Apr. 5 from 6:30-8:30pm
    • Saturday, Apr. 8 from 9am to 12pm
  • Spring Break Program Dates (5 program days)
    • Monday, April 10; 7:30am to 4:00pm
    •  Friday, April 14; 8:00am to 4:00pm

SUMMER ARTS PROGRAM

  • Initial Pre-Program Planning Meeting (TBD based on staff availability)
  • Staff Training Planning Meeting (TBD based on staff availability)
  • Summer Training Schedule (Training scheduled TBD and will take place during the
    weeks of):
    • June 26-30, 2023
    • July 5-9, 2023
  •  Summer Program Dates (4 program weeks)
    • Monday, July 10 to Friday, August 4
      • Mondays; 7:30am to 4:00pm
      • Tuesdays-Thursdays; 8:00am to 4:00pm
      • Fridays; 8:00am to 4:30pm
    • On Fridays in the Summer, the Megas have a Family Sharing from 3:00-3:30pm,
      so Mega staff is scheduled until 4:30pm these days.
    • Note that on the final program day, Friday, August 4, Group Leaders are asked to
      stay until 6pm for clean up and staff appreciation.
  •  Final program debrief meeting (TBD based on staff availability)

Mega Group Leader Compensation
For the full scope of work and schedule listed above, Mega Group Leader will receive a stipend of $6,550 paid on the following dates:

  • $1,100 on February 28, 2023
  • $1,450 on April 15, 2023
  • $2,000 on July 15, 2023
  • $2,000 on August 15, 2023

How to Apply
Please send the following materials via email only to education@bax.org.

Please write “2023 Mega Group Leader Application” in the subject line. You will receive an
auto-reply confirming our receipt. Due to the high volume of applicants, however, we will only
contact candidates we are inviting to interview. No phone calls. Applications will be reviewed
on a rolling basis with an aim to conduct interviews with competitive candidates in
mid-January of 2023.

Your email should include:

  1. An introduction email including why you are interested in working at BAX and in this
    specific position;
  2. A current resume highlighting your related experience and education;
  3. Two Employment references including professional titles, your relationship, contact
    numbers, and email addresses.

The most successful applicants will become familiar with BAX, our education philosophy, and
our summer program. More information is available on our website: www.bax.org

About BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange
BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange, founded in 1991, is a multigenerational arts organization nurturing creative expression and artistic process through education, residencies, and performance at the intersection of arts and social justice.

BAX is dedicated to serving artists in progress, from children to professionals, at all ages and stages of development. The multi-faceted nature of BAX programs annually invites over 10,000 students, families, artists, audiences, and community members to embark on, and share creative journeys. For three decades, BAX has honored the power of performing arts to connect and transform individuals and communities. The education programs, artist residencies, affordable rehearsal space, community engagement opportunities, mentorship, and performances, all center artists from historically underrepresented backgrounds and prioritize lived and embodied experiences, and access, regardless of ability to pay.

Our Working Values
Accessibility, choice making, collaboration, community, creativity, equity, exchange, experimentation, performance, radical hospitality, skill building.

Our Aspirations
BAX commits to building equity across our programs, policies, budgets, and culture. This work demands that we identify and interrupt narratives and structures that uphold white supremacy, sexism, and ableism. We respond to this call with rigorous intention and in collaboration with artists, families, students, collaborators, audiences, supporters, neighbors, board, and staff. And so we are accountable to our multiple communities and continue to learn and change while taking immediate and long-term strategic action.

We aspire to cultivate a sustainable and just creative ecology where artists of all ages and stages
thrive.

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