Director of Education

Compensation

65,000-75,000

For over 40 years, Dallas Children’s Theater (DCT) has been astonishing kids and families with the fun of Broadway-like plays and so much more! Named by Time magazine as one of the top five children’s theaters in the country, DCT is DFW’s only theater center committed to bringing literature to life for children year-round. Each year, DCT’s devoted cast of professional artists and others expose more than 85,000 people to one of the best educational and artistic experiences available in the area. Through the DCT Academy, hands-on workshops, substantive classroom curriculum, and onstage performances, DCT provides kids and families with a safe, encouraging environment in which to experience the performing arts and exchange important and character-building ideas.

Summary

DCT’s Education Department includes a wide variety of programs built around DCT’s mission to inspire young people to creative and productive lives through the art of theater. Our programming is designed to support accessibility for students of all backgrounds and abilities. It includes the DCT Academy, serving nearly 2,000 students annually in Fall, Spring and Summer sessions, including the Musical Theater Conservatory that includes professionally produced performance opportunities. Sensory-Friendly programming and the Blue Pegasus Players provide accessibility to theater experiences for children that are differently-abled. Our residencies in public and private schools, and with community partners support reading and literacy while building confidence through theater experiences. The Student Matinee Performance Series serves nearly 40,0000 annually, including study guides to help teachers align to state curriculum standards, as well as Dramashops to provide student additional enrichment.

The Director of Education will oversee the development, implementation, and management of all educational programs. This leader will collaborate with community partners, manage a diverse staff, and promote an inclusive organizational culture, ensuring that educational programs reflect the communities we serve. The Director should have a genuine passion for working with children, fostering their creativity, and enhancing their learning experiences through theater education.

Key Responsibilities
Program Development and Management

• Design, implement, and oversee all DCT educational programs, including DCT Academy, sensory-friendly initiatives, residencies, community outreach, and workshops.
• Develop curriculum and educational materials that align with the theater’s mission and artistic goals.
• Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the education department and across all programs, accommodating various learning styles, disabilities, and cultural backgrounds.
• Assess program impact through surveys and feedback, preparing reports for leadership, board, and funders.
• Use evaluation data for program improvements and future planning.
• Contribute to strategic planning, identifying trends and opportunities in arts education.

Community Partnerships and Outreach

• Build and maintain relationships with schools, community organizations, and other partners to extend our educational offerings into the community.
• Design and implement outreach initiatives that specifically target and engage diverse and underrepresented communities.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with public and private K-12 schools to integrate programming into school curriculum. Build and maintain relationships with community organizations, and partners.
• Collaborate with public and private K-12 schools to develop programs that integrate state standards and best practices in theater education.

Staff Management and Development

• Recruit, hire, train, and supervise a diverse team of teaching artists and education staff.
• Oversee staffing, curriculum setting, scheduling, and handling parent inquiries for various programs.
• Provide ongoing training for staff on best practices in child safety and protection, as well as emergency procedures.
• Provide professional development opportunities and ensure adherence to educational standards and inclusive practices.

Administration

• Develop and manage the Education department’s budget.
• Ensure that policies and procedures are in place to provide for the safety and security of students.
• Work collaboratively with Production, Marketing, Development and other departments to support the goals of the Education department as well as DCT as a whole.

Qualifications:

• 10 years of experience in arts education, including 3-5 years of management experience, preferably within a theater or performing arts organization
• Bachelor’s degree in Education, Arts Administration, Theater, or a related field a plus
• Experience working with public and private K-12 schools, with programming integrated into state standards and school curriculum.
• Strong leadership, management and collaboration skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse community partners.
• Experience in budget management and securing funding through grants and sponsorships.
• Knowledge of best practices in inclusive education and accessibility.

To apply, email resume along with a cover letter that includes the following information: proudest achievement professionally, most challenging assignment, specific experience relevant to this position to: staff.openings@dct.org