Job Description

The Blake School seeks to hire a creative, dynamic and inspirational Middle School theater teacher and director to oversee a flourishing curricular and co-curricular program. This is a full-time position beginning with the 2026-27 school year. 

Blake is particularly interested in candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity, lived experience and thinking that makes a community strong and empowers students to engage across differences. Blake offers highly competitive salary and benefits packages as well as significant support for local and national professional development opportunities. The salary range is typically $56,000-86,000, which reflects 4-15 years of experience.

This salary range includes the expected annual salary for this position. In making a salary determination, we consider professional experience, applicable qualifications and other job-related factors. Based on these factors, a candidate's salary offer could exceed this range.

Applicants must complete the online job application and provide links to recordings of recent classes or productions led by the applicant and digital copies of programs from recent productions directed by the applicant. 

Application review will begin immediately. Blake will typically cover the travel and lodging costs for finalist candidates visiting from out of town.

Experience and Skills

Responsibilities

• Teach students in grades 6, 7 and 8 in a quarter-long block schedule. The teaching load will be reduced by one class during the first quarter and third quarter to accommodate the fall play and winter musical rehearsal schedules.
• Create, develop and sustain innovative and thoughtful course curricula in accordance with current best practices in the field and with the school’s mission and values
• Teach a variety of acting skills including expressive movement, healthy and expressive vocal technique, improvisation, character development and script work as well as other current acting techniques
• Envision, manage and direct a fall play and winter musical for young actors
• Consider theatrical styles and productions from a variety of cultures
• Work closely with the technical director, musical director and choreographer as appropriate to produce the fall play and winter musical
• Collaborate with Middle School arts faculty to sustain a cohesive program in visual and performing arts and with Upper School and Lower School theater arts instructors to develop curriculum and foster cross-divisional communication and coherence
• Oversee and manage the Middle School theater budget
• Maintain and organize the school’s costume shop and inventory of costumes and props
• Assist with the daily supervision of one lunch block in lieu of being a grade-level advisor 
• Participate in required faculty meetings, trainings and staffings
• Serve as a member of the department of visual and performing arts, attending meetings and supporting the work of the department
• Support the school, its mission and its leadership
• Engage fully with the community-based experience of an independent school 

Skills and Attributes

• Creative, joyful approach to teaching and learning
• Passion for mentoring young actors
• Excellent written and oral communication skills 
• Proven organizational skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with stakeholders across the school
• Demonstrated and continuing interest in professional development related to the discipline as well as adolescent growth and development, education and pedagogy, and intercultural competence 

The Blake School believes that a diverse society enriches all individuals and communities. Diversity of race, ethnicity, national origin, geography, religion, gender, affectional or sexual orientation, age, physical ability, and marital, parental or economic status forms the fabric of our society. As a result of these beliefs, The Blake School actively seeks students, families and employees who value and contribute to the fullness of a diverse community within the context of its mission. In doing so, we recognize our responsibility to help make each person's experience a success.

Minimum Qualifications

• Demonstrated excellence as an actor, director and theater arts professional
• Bachelor of Arts/Fine Arts in acting, directing, theater arts, theater education or a related field; Master of Arts/Fine Arts preferred
• Ability to differentiate instruction for students of varying abilities
• Demonstrated experience directing theater productions for early adolescents
• Demonstrated knowledge of both traditional and contemporary theater repertoire including works by diverse playwrights and cultural traditions

About The Blake School

Blake is an independent, nonsectarian, coeducational day school for students in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Founded in 1900, Blake offers a rigorous education grounded in shared values — curiosity, kindness, inclusivity and resilience. Our campuses in Hopkins and Minneapolis unite 1,316 students from 50 neighborhoods served by 300 faculty and staff, creating a diverse and inclusive community. Blake’s mission is to engage students with a dynamic, academically challenging education in a diverse and supportive community committed to pluralism and a common set of values. Students pursue an integrated program of academic, artistic and athletic activities, preparing for college, lifelong learning and purposeful lives as community and global citizens. The school community is also guided by its Commitment to Pluralism and core values.

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