Metro Arts

“I Tried “Art Teacher Jobs Near Me” In Austin. Here’s What Actually Happened.”

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I’m Kayla, and I teach art. I also test things. When I typed “art teacher jobs near me,” I didn’t just scroll. I applied. I interviewed. I taught demo lessons with sweaty hands and a paint shirt in my tote. And yes, I learned a lot.

If you want the entire blow-by-blow version, you can find it here: I tried art teacher jobs near me in Austin—here’s what actually happened. For now, let’s jump into the highlights.

This is my honest take on what worked, what didn’t, and how each job felt—up close, glue-stick smell and all.

Where I Looked (and What Helped)

I live in Austin, Texas. So I checked:

  • The Austin ISD website for full-time roles
  • Indeed for part-time and private school posts
  • Charter school pages (KIPP, IDEA)
  • Private schools (St. Andrew’s, St. Stephen’s)
  • Community groups for after-school gigs (Creative Action, YMCA)
  • Museums (The Contemporary Austin)

I also browsed the Metro Arts site, which curates regional arts education openings and grant opportunities in a single, easy-to-scan calendar.
For statewide leads beyond Austin, I also peeked at the Texas Art Education Association’s job board, which aggregates art-teaching positions across every region.

Quick tip: I kept a simple PDF portfolio with 12 student pieces, a one-page resume, and a tiny blurb on my classroom rules. I kept it short and clear. Folks actually read it. Whenever I needed a fresh burst of inspiration for those portfolio pieces, I spent a week experimenting with an art prompt generator—it totally jump-started my creative brain and gave my students some unexpected challenges.

Job 1: Public Middle School, Austin ISD

I interviewed at a middle school in North Austin. It was 7th and 8th grade art. TEKS standards (state goals) were a big deal. They asked me for a demo lesson on line, shape, and value. I used sharpies, white chalk, and black paper. Kids loved it. My hands shook a little. No one died.

  • Pay I was offered: about $59k base, plus a small stipend
  • Class size: 26 to 28 kids per class
  • Supplies: $400 for the year, plus whatever I could stretch from the closet
  • Tech: a projector that worked most days; old stools that squeaked
  • Extra: duty in the mornings (car drop-off); one PLC meeting a week

What I loved:

  • The kids. Big energy, big ideas. They wanted clay monsters and anime eyes and murals.
  • The art room had a sink and a drying rack. That’s gold.
  • Strong team. Another teacher handed me her old glaze notes. Bless her.

What bugged me:

  • The budget. I used a lot of cardboard and air-dry clay because no kiln access yet.
  • The copy machine jammed at least twice a week. Why is it always me?

Would I do it again? Yes, if you want real growth and don’t mind being scrappy.

Job 2: Private Lower School, Part-Time

I taught three mornings a week at a private school near Southwest Austin. Small kids, K–3. Think tiny hands and big feelings.

  • Pay I was offered: $32 per hour, part-time, no benefits
  • Class size: 14 to 16 students
  • Supplies: fantastic—temperas, fresh brushes, markers that actually had caps
  • Tech: Smartboard, working doc cam
  • Bonus: parents supported the program; the art show was a big event

What I loved:

  • Prep was smooth. Clean room. Labeled bins. Drying time built into the day.
  • Kids loved texture plates and oil pastels. We used Artsonia for the show.

What bugged me:

  • The schedule was tight. I had to rush clean-up by the bell.
  • Without benefits, I still needed another gig.

Would I do it again? Yes. Great if you want calm, steady mornings and sweet art shows.

Job 3: After-School Program With Creative Action

I ran a 3–5 pm art block at an elementary school up north. Rolling cart life. If you know, you know.

  • Pay I was offered: $25 per hour, 10–12 hours a week
  • Class size: 18 to 22, mixed grades
  • Supplies: good basics; lots of collage and paint sticks
  • Training: quick intro on behavior plans; clear safety rules

What I loved:

  • Kids came in buzzing. They needed a warm start and then they were all in.
  • Fast wins: foil relief, rainbow scratch art, cardboard sculptures. Big smiles.

What bugged me:

  • Transitions were rough. Snack, bathroom, backpacks—chaos.
  • Cart teaching is a workout. Tape is your best friend.

Would I do it again? Yes, but I’d pair it with a morning job.

Job 4: Museum Educator, The Contemporary Austin (Saturdays)

I picked up weekend classes at Laguna Gloria. The view is stunning. I still think about the light on the water while kids painted.

  • Pay I was offered: $22 per hour
  • Class size: 10 to 12
  • Supplies: solid, staff was helpful
  • Setup and breakdown: some lifting, lots of tables and bins

What I loved:

  • Families were engaged. Parents asked good questions about process, not just product.
  • Nature sketching days were magic—dragonflies, ripples, quiet focus.

What bugged me:

  • Weekend work can eat your rest time.
  • Prep sometimes felt longer than paid hours.

Would I do it again? Yes, for the joy and the view. Maybe not every month.

Job 5: YMCA Summer Art Camp

East side branch, two weeks in July. High noise, high fun, high sunscreen count.

  • Pay I was offered: $20 per hour
  • Class size: 20 to 24
  • Supplies: tempera cakes, construction paper, a brave pile of glue
  • Schedule: 8 am to 3 pm; I packed snacks and a second shirt

One afternoon ended with teal speckles across my sneakers—a total flashback to a Shot of Art session in Chicago where paint on my shoes meant a big smile on my face.

What I loved:

  • Camp energy. Kids tried everything—printmaking with leaves, big murals on paper rolls.
  • Easy themes: ocean week, space week. Tie-dye day was a hit.

What bugged me:

  • It’s loud. Plan a quiet station. I used clay doodles as a calm choice.
  • Drying space is tight. Clothespins saved me.

Would I do it again? Yes, as a summer bridge or a cash boost.

How The Interviews Really Went

  • Demo lesson: I kept it simple—one skill, one goal, one exit ticket. I used a tiny rubric so I could talk data without sounding stiff.
  • Classroom management: I shared 3 rules: take care of self, others, and tools. I showed my calm-down table (coloring, breathing card).
  • Portfolio: 12 student works, 3 process pics, and one unit map. One page each. No fluff.

A principal told me, “You’re clear and calm.” That stuck with me more than the job offer did.

Pay, Straight Talk

This is what I saw and was offered in Austin:

  • Public school art teacher: about $57k to $63k base, plus small extras
  • Private/part-time: $28 to $40 per hour, usually no benefits
  • After-school: $20 to $30 per hour
  • Museum educator: $18 to $25 per hour
  • Summer camps: $18 to $22 per hour

It shifts by campus, season, and your years of service.

Quick, adults-only sidebar: after a day of wiping tempera off tables, sometimes you just want a space that has nothing to do with grades or glitter. If you’re 18 + and looking for a playful way to blow off steam, consider exploring the live-chat communities at MILF sexting—you’ll get instant, no-strings text exchanges with experienced partners who know how to keep a conversation as vivid as your color wheel. And if an interview or art conference ever lands you in West Virginia, the college-town energy is perfect for meeting people: browse Adult Search Morgantown to find local, like-minded adults ready for casual coffee dates or post-studio adventures, giving you a chance to trade brush-cleaning tips for real-life connection after classroom hours.

The Little Things That Matter

  • Good aprons. I like thick canvas with deep pockets. Saves your jeans.
  • Baby wipes. Even big kids need them. Paint sneaks onto ears. Don’t ask me how.
  • A rolling crate. My back said thank you.

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