Pones

Summary

The Education Program Manager leads the development, delivery, and continuous improvement of Pones arts education programs through curriculum design, direct instruction, and instructional leadership.

Responsibilities include: developing lesson plans; observing classroom instruction of other Teaching Artists (TAs); training, supervising, evaluating and coaching TAs to ensure high-quality, consistent, and engaging participant-centered learning experiences; creating social media content to highlight education programming; collaborating with staff, community partners, and cross-functional teams to strengthen partnerships and advance program goals; and teaching classes.

Collaborating across education, marketing, and administration, and working closely with the Education Operations Manager, this position ensures education programs align with the Pones mission while supporting the Executive Director’s vision for organizational growth, community connection, and expanded impact.

 

Typical Responsibilities

Education Program Leadership

  • Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of arts education programs aligned with the Pones mission, educational philosophy, and goals
  • Develop curriculum, lesson plans, and instructional resources that foster engaging, inclusive, and participant-centered learning
  • Establish instructional standards and program quality benchmarks, model effective teaching practices, and provide constructive feedback to strengthen teaching quality
  • Collaborate with education team to evaluate program outcomes, identify opportunities for growth, and support new education initiatives
  • Ensure lesson planning is timely, organized, and aligned with program requirements

Teaching Artist Support and Personnel Management

  • Serve as a primary resource for TAs by coordinating training and ongoing professional development
  • Provide coaching and feedback to strengthen instructional effectiveness, classroom management, and student engagement
  • Collaborate with education leadership on TA observations, evaluations, personnel concerns, and professional development needs
  • Promote accountability, professional growth, and a positive, collaborative work environment

Scheduling, Substitutions, and Instructional Continuity

  • Coordinate substitute coverage (and/or be a consistent substitute option) for TA absences and ensure substitute instructors have the lesson plans, materials, and resources needed to maintain instructional continuity
  • Communicate schedule changes, cancellations, and coverage needs promptly to relevant staff and program partners

Communications, Marketing, and Program Visibility

  • Collaborate with leadership and marketing/communications teams to highlight education programming, student experiences, TAs, and community partnerships
  • Develop social media campaigns and content that showcase program impact and advance the mission and strategic goals of Pones
  • Coordinate content creation and submit materials for scheduled postings; organize photos and media for marketing, documentation, and reporting
  • Support video production, promotional materials, and digital storytelling

Partnerships and Community Engagement

  • Build and maintain relationships with schools, community organizations, TAs, and other stakeholders to support program delivery and align education programming with community needs
  • Develop new partnerships and collaborative opportunities that expand access to arts education, strengthen program visibility, and increase community impact
  • Represent Pones education programs at partner meetings and community events

 

Teaching:

  • In-class TA responsibilities will follow the requirements and expectations outlined in a typical TA contract
  • A minimum of 10 classes is expected
  • Teaching compensation will be paid separately and in addition to administrative hours, at the same rate as other TAs are paid; typically, this is a minimum of $45/hr, but may vary based on specific class/partner arrangements

 

Additional projects and duties may be added in collaboration with the Education Operations Manager and Executive Director.

 

Qualifications

Required

  • Three or more years of experience in arts education, curriculum development, teaching, or education program management, preferably in nonprofit or community-based settings
  • Demonstrated ability to develop engaging, inclusive, and participant-centered curricula, lesson plans, and instructional resources for diverse learners
  • Experience coaching, training, supervising, and/ or evaluating educators, teaching artists, or instructional staff, with a commitment to professional development and continuous improvement
  • Strong understanding of effective teaching practices, classroom management, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and trauma-informed care in creating safe, accessible, and supportive learning environments
  • Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership skills, including coordinating schedules, managing competing priorities, and ensuring consistent program delivery
  • Proven ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with schools, community organizations, TAs, and other stakeholders to advance arts education initiatives
  • Proficiency in creating digital content for social media and other communication platforms, with the ability to assess program effectiveness, incorporate stakeholder feedback, and communicate program impact through compelling storytelling
  • Commitment to the Pones goal of advancing equitable access to arts education through creativity, collaboration, community engagement, and inclusive teaching practices
  • Passing results of both BCI and FBI background checks

 

Preferred

  • Experience in dance, movement-based education, or other performing arts disciplines, particularly in school-based or community-based programming

 

Working Conditions

  • Ideal Work Hours: Flexible scheduling between 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with a presence in instructional spaces as needed; lesson planning and social media content creation schedule is flexible within established deadlines
  • Time Commitment: An average of 4 hours per week / 16 hours per month, which flexes based on seasonal needs
  • Monthly Coworking Meeting: One monthly coworking meeting, preferably in person
  • Team Meetings: One team meeting every other month
  • Community Engagement: The Education Program Manager may be asked to attend relevant networking events or community meetings on behalf of Pones

 

Compensation

This is an independent contract position paid at the rate of $20-24 per hour, with exact starting rate to be determined based on the selected candidate’s qualifications. This position is not eligible for benefits.

 

To apply: Please submit a current resume outlining your employment history, education, skills, and experience, along with a brief statement of interest explaining your qualifications and relevant experience, and, if applicable, your availability and anticipated start date to Kim Popa at kim@pones.org. We will review your submission and follow up with you as quickly as possible.

 

About Pones

Pones provides artistic opportunities for community growth by creating engaging new ways for audiences to experience dance. Pones is committed to providing arts education to participants of all ages and experience levels. Visit www.pones.org to learn more.