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2026-27 Afterschool Arts Teachers Needed (Fishtown, PA)

Pay Type: 
Hourly Rate
Job Status: 
Part Time
Minimum Salary/Hourly Rate: 
$19.00
Maximum Salary/Hourly Rate: 
$23.00

PlayArts

We are hiring After School Arts Teachers for the 2026-27 school year to work in our Fishtown programs in Philadelphia, PA!

PlayArts is seeking creative educators, teaching artists, and youth development professionals to support our arts-centered afterschool programs for elementary-aged children in Philadelphia. Our programs use creativity, play, and community-building to help children explore new ideas, express themselves, and build confidence in a safe and joyful environment.

This is a great fit for artists, educators, camp counselors, teaching artists, childcare professionals, and creative people who enjoy working with elementary-aged children and want to help create a warm, engaging, and joyful afterschool experience.

Our teachers support children during the afterschool day through creative activities, group games, outdoor play, snack, homework support, transitions, and community-building. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic, reliable, patient, and able to balance fun with clear expectations and strong supervision.

Responsibilities

After School Arts Teachers are expected to:

  • Lead or support engaging activities in areas such as visual art, music, theater, dance, storytelling, creative play, STEM/STEAM, games, or other enrichment areas
  • Supervise children during snack, outdoor play, transitions, dismissal, and group activities
  • Help maintain a safe, respectful, inclusive, and engaging program environment
  • Use positive behavior guidance strategies and clear expectations to support student success
  • Build warm, appropriate relationships with children while maintaining professional boundaries
  • Collaborate with Site Directors and fellow teachers to support daily program needs
  • Communicate important student, safety, or behavioral concerns to program leadership
  • Help maintain organized, clean, and safe program spaces
  • Follow PlayArts policies, safety procedures, and licensing/compliance expectations

 

Qualifications

Strong candidates will have:

  • Experience working with children in an afterschool, camp, school, childcare, tutoring, arts, coaching, or youth development setting
  • A genuine interest in working with elementary-aged students
  • Strong reliability, communication, and teamwork skills
  • The ability to stay calm, flexible, and solutions-oriented in a busy afterschool environment
  • Comfort leading or supporting creative activities with children
  • A commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all students
  • Classroom or group management experience preferred
  • Experience in visual arts, music, theater, dance, creative writing, STEM/STEAM, or other enrichment areas preferred
  • CPR/First Aid certification preferred, or willingness to obtain required training
  • Ability to complete required background clearances and onboarding requirements before beginning work

 

Schedule

  • This is a part-time, school-year position during afterschool hours. Exact schedules may vary by site and program needs.
  • Typical shifts fall between approximately 2:30–6:00 PM Monday–Friday, with team meetings on Mondays from 1:30-2:30 PM. Occasional opportunities for additional hours during full-day camps, school closures, or seasonal programs.

 

Why Join PlayArts?
At PlayArts, teachers are part of a creative and child-centered team. We value staff who bring their interests, talents, and personalities into the program while also showing up consistently, communicating clearly, and helping children feel safe, known, and excited to participate.

This position is especially well-suited for people who enjoy the energy of afterschool, believe in the value of creative learning, and want to make a meaningful impact in children’s daily lives.

PlayArts is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, identities, and artistic or educational experiences.

To Apply

To be considered for an interview, all candidates must complete a brief Pre-Interview Questionnaire as part of the application process. This questionnaire helps us better understand your experience working with children, your availability, and your interest in supporting an arts-centered after school program.

When completing the form, please include all relevant experience working with children, including paid, volunteer, school-based, camp, childcare, tutoring, coaching, teaching artist, or youth development experience.

Please note that the Pennsylvania Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL) requires after school teachers in licensed childcare settings to have a minimum of two years of experience working with children, equal to at least 2,500 hours, in order to qualify for a PlayArts After School Teacher position.

Incomplete applications, missing information, omitted reference email addresses, or incomplete Pre-Interview Questionnaire responses may delay application processing and may impact interview eligibility.

In addition, OCDEL requires all teachers to obtain an NSOR clearance before they are permitted to begin working with children. This clearance is free, but processing can sometimes take 1–2 weeks, so candidates who have not yet completed this step are encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible. This clearance is required for employment in licensed childcare settings in Pennsylvania and will be discussed during the interview process.

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