Chapter 510 Poet Teaching Artist

Classification: Part-Time (up to 150 hours per contract, hours per week may vary- see schedule section below), Non-exempt, At-Will

Start Date: August 11th, 2025- June 15th, 2026

OVERVIEW

Chapter 510 is seeking an experienced Poet Teaching Artist for our Elementary School Programs. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals who have a passion for poetry, literary arts education and youth.

CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE TEACHING APPROACH

Our programs are grounded in a Culturally Responsive Teaching Approach inspired by Zaretta Hammond and our pedagogy partners, Studio Pathways. All curriculum centers the work of writers of color and integrates arts-based frameworks to support diverse learning styles and ways of knowing.

ABOUT CHAPTER 510

Mission

Chapter 510 connects youth to the power of their story.

We provide a safe space for youth to bravely write, centering Black, brown and queer voices.

Vision

Every young person in Oakland writes with confidence and joy.

Values

We are youth-centered.

We create programs for kids and teens ages 8-19. We center youth imagination, identity, and experience as an integral part of our curriculum and our community space.

We create lasting impact.

We build in-depth, long-term programming that helps form multi-year relationships with students, educators, volunteers, donors, and partners to create lasting impact in our students’ lives.

We center play & imagination.

We value play and imagination as essential to learning, fostering an environment of creativity, innovation, empathy, and connection.

We are strength-based.

We believe that every young person has brilliance within them. We create an affirming and culturally competent space for young people to grow and become agents of change.

We are Oakland-centered.

We prioritize Oakland youth, schools, artists, and vendors. We build connections between the city’s diverse communities, individuals, and organizations around arts and culture.

We create safe & brave spaces.

We cultivate a space where young people of diverse backgrounds can express their full selves in an environment of care and compassion. We hold safe space for queer and BIPOC youth to bravely write.

We are committed to Justice, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

We are an anti-hate and anti-discrimination organization that fosters a space of belonging through the arts and education. We follow culturally responsive practices in teaching and publishing. We prioritize publishing youth of color in programs led by paid artists of color who reflect the communities we serve.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Teaching Artist Duties

Teaching & Facilitation

• Lead in-person writing workshops at OUSD elementary schools
• Collaborate with OUSD elementary school teachers to support student and classroom goals.
• Debrief with staff after each workshop to discuss needs, insights, and seek support.
• Perform and present poetry to elementary students across OUSD
• Facilitate creative writing professional development workshops for teachers in collaboration with OUSD
• Ensure students complete and submit final drafts for publication.

Curriculum/Plan

• Designs curriculum aligned with Chapter 510 pedagogy and presents teaching plan and list of technology requests to supervisor for approval prior to teaching
• Documents each weekly lesson plan in designated folder on 510 Google shared drive
• Provides Program Coordinator a list of needed supplies and other items
• Meet and communicate with all project partners in order to include all the guest artists, volunteers/mentors, advisors and community partners in the program.

Final culmination - publication and celebration

• Ensure that students complete work and that work is ready for exhibit and/or publication.
• Prepare students for their final presentations, gallery walks, and exhibits. Attend all presentations and exhibits
• Writes the introduction for any book from the workshop going to publication
• Makes sure their student writers’ work is in final draft form for publisher, providing any developmental editing support needed
• Supports supervisor and other staff in curating the order of student pieces in an anthology

Reporting/Evaluation

• Ensure that the following reports/documents are submitted to Chapter 510 ten days after the conclusion of the workshops:
• Reimbursement with original receipts
• All documentation collected, including photos (labeled appropriately), videos, writing samples, etc.
• Final teacher evaluation if in your first year with Chapter 510

QUALIFICATIONS

Specialty-Related

• 3+ years of experience teaching or facilitating poetry for elementary aged youth
• Ability to work in collaboration with, lead and/or mentor other educators in public schools.
• Ability to design culturally responsive, age-appropriate curriculum.
• Preferred: Experience with Oakland-based arts or education organizations.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.

Core Attributes (All Staff)

• Deep commitment to Chapter 510’s mission and values.
• Experience working with diverse communities and across lines of difference.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Reliable, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Comfortable with direct feedback and respectful disagreement.
• Committed to self-reflection and growth.
• Computer-literate (Macintosh proficiency preferred).
• Comfortable presenting in public.
• Bilingual English-Spanish is a plus.

Logistical & Legal

• Must have a working phone and internet access.
• Must pass a background check (confidential and limited to job-relevant information).

SCHEDULE

This is a seasonal part-time residency position between August 2025 and June 2026. A majority of the teaching and facilitation for this project will be concentrated in Fall between August–November 2025. In Spring 2026, the teaching artist will have less concentrated hours and focus on culmination and training. Approximately 0–10 hours per week depending on project needs.

More detailed project timeline and teaching artist schedule forthcoming.

COMPENSATION

$50–$65 per hour based on experience

APPLY

Applications due by or before July 21st, 2025.

Please send a cover letter and CV to jahan@chapter510.org and use "Poet Teaching Artist" as the email subject.

HOW WE HIRE AT CHAPTER 510

Chapter 510 is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from individuals representative of the communities we serve. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, HIV/AIDS status, veteran status, or any protected category under the law.We are committed to a hiring process that is clear, collaborative, and rooted in our values of racial justice, youth voice, and liberatory education.

Access Needs Welcome We are happy to make reasonable accommodations at any stage of the process. Please feel free to reach out if you have any access needs, such as interpretation, mobility support, or interview flexibility. We believe hiring should reflect the community we serve. That means we especially welcome applications from Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and youth-rooted educators.

If you have questions about a role, feel free to reach out before applying.

This is an English writing class. Bilingual English-Spanish proficiency is preferred but not required. Additional language fluency is welcomed and valued, especially in languages spoken in Oakland communities. Multilingualism supports our commitment to culturally responsive education and inclusive communication with students and families.