Hi, I’m Kayla. I’ve taught art in three schools. City middle. Rural elementary. And a high school with AP Art. I’ll tell you what felt great, what stung a bit, and what I’d do again tomorrow.
If you want an expanded reflection beyond this quick intro, take a peek at this detailed rundown of trying three different art teacher jobs.
You know what? Teaching art is messy. It’s loud. It’s also the most alive I’ve ever felt at work.
How I Got Hired (and What Actually Helped)
I found openings on Indeed and SchoolSpring. In California, I checked EdJoin. I also asked in the NAEA Facebook group. A friend texted me a posting before it went up. That helped. I also browsed Metro Arts for inspiration and professional development listings, which sparked ideas I later shared in interviews. Reading firsthand stories like this deep dive into trying art teacher jobs near Austin also helped me gauge what day-to-day realities might look like in different districts.
Every interview wanted:
- A short demo lesson (20–30 minutes)
- A portfolio (I brought my sketchbooks and photos of student work)
- Proof of certification and a background check
One unexpected research hack: before committing to a district I browsed local classifieds to see what the community was buzzing about—gallery calls, live-model sessions, Saturday maker swaps. I even stumbled across this succinct primer on Craigslist personals that breaks down how to separate genuine art-centric meet-ups from the off-topic noise, giving me another quick lens on the vibe of a town before I signed a contract.
Another quirky barometer I used revolved around regional nightlife listings. Before saying yes to an offer near the Detroit-Windsor corridor, I peeked at what kind of escort and entertainment ads were trending to gauge how many visitors flood the city on weekends—important when booking buses or hotels for competitions and art shows—and which parts of town stay active after dark. A quick scan of Eros Windsor escorts showed me event-heavy nights and hotel clusters at a glance, data that helped me steer clear of price surges and pick safer, quieter lodging for students.
One school asked for a timed still life with three objects. I used a simple triangle layout and talked through value. They liked that I kept it calm and clear.
Pay offers I got ranged from $41k to $63k base, depending on the district and the union. To see how these numbers line up with national averages, I often referenced the latest art teacher salary data. Summer school added about $3k. Running art club gave me a small stipend too.
Job 1: City Middle School (6th–8th)
Six classes a day. Around 30 kids each. Budget: thin. We made collages from cereal boxes and old magazines. I posted a DonorsChoose and got a class set of good watercolors. Crayola, not fancy, but solid.
There was one wild day. Fire drill during clay glazing. We left the room in a line. Wet pieces everywhere. I came back and thought, “Well, that’s chaos.” But we saved most of it. Kids helped. We laughed. We learned to label boards better.
We did a sneaker drawing unit. Graphing, contour line, tiny shading steps. One student, Jay, said, “I can’t draw.” Week later, he drew his shoe like a pro. He held it up like a trophy.
I spent about $300 of my own money that first year. Later I got a small grant from our PTA. I also hunted deals at Michaels. Teacher discount helped.
Job 2: Rural K–5 (Art on a Cart… Some Days)
I drove 25 miles through cornfields. Pretty drive. Long winter though. Some rooms had sinks, some didn’t. On a cart day, I kept tools in clear bins. Blue for paint. Green for drawing. Kids learned the colors fast.
We made paper weavings in fall. Pumpkins in tempera with big round brushes. In spring, we tried polymer clay beads. No kiln? Fine. I used a toaster oven in the teacher lounge. I watched it like a hawk.
Parent Art Night was sweet. Little hands sticky with glue. Proud smiles. One dad said, “I never liked art in school. Wish I had you.” That stuck with me.
Job 3: High School (AP Art + Digital Art)
This was the most prep, but also my favorite. We used iPads with Procreate. We did light figure studies, color scripts, and mini critiques. I kept rubrics simple: idea, craft, growth, and reflection. 4–3–2–1. Kids understood it fast.
We hung a spring show in the library. Frames from Blick. Foam tape. Labels the kids designed in Canva. Two students got county awards. I cried in my car after. Happy tears. I’m not even embarrassed.
AP deadlines were tight. I made a wall calendar with big dates. We wrote goals each Monday. On Fridays, they shared one risk they took. Small risks turned into big growth.
The Good Stuff
- Real joy: The “I did it!” face never gets old.
- Room to create: Themes, choice boards, murals—so many paths.
- Community: Families show up. Art builds bridges.
- Solid benefits: Health care, sick days, pension in many districts.
- Summers: Some rest, some summer classes, your choice.
The Hard Stuff
- Budget gaps: Paint runs out fast. Paper too.
- Cleanup: Brushes, sinks, floors—every day is a workout.
- Storage: Clay needs shelves. Big paintings need space.
- Testing season: Your schedule gets bent. You bend with it.
- “Make the flyer” syndrome: Folks ask for posters. A lot.
- Safety: Clay dust is real. Vent for spray fixative. Goggles for saws.
Tools I Actually Used (and Liked)
- Paint: Tempera cakes for little kids; liquid tempera for bold color.
- Drawing: Crayola broad markers; Prismacolor for advanced classes.
- Clay: Low-fire clay with Amaco glazes; polymer for no-kiln days.
- Digital: Procreate on iPads; Google Classroom for feedback.
- Prep: Metal carts, clear bins, blue painter’s tape, sticky notes.
- Cleanup: Murphy Oil Soap for tables; brush soap for bristles.
I kept a “3-bin cleanup” routine: soak, scrub, rinse. A student timer ran it. Music helped—lo-fi beats at 65% volume. We made a class playlist with clean tracks.
Money, Time, and Reality
My weeks ran about 45–52 hours when shows came up. Normal weeks were closer to 42. I planned on Sundays with tea and a big pad. I learned to batch cut paper. It saved me a lot of time.
First year, I paid out of pocket more. After that, I wrote two small grants and joined the district art team. Shared orders cut waste. Pro tip: ask how much the yearly art budget is during the interview. Before negotiating, it also helped me skim this state-by-state breakdown of art teacher salaries so I knew what was realistic. I didn’t ask once, and I regretted it.
Classroom Flow That Worked
- Entry: Sketchbook warm-up on the board, like “Draw a tiny storm.”
- Mini-lesson: 7–10 minutes max; demo one skill.
- Work time: I circled with a “feedback loop”—two tips, one cheer.
- Early finishers: Choice board—ATC cards, pattern studies, or mini-zines.
- Exit: Two-minute table sweep; one student snaps photos for the archive.
For grading, I used quick rubrics with “skill,” “effort,” and “care.” I let kids self-score first. It cut arguments and grew trust.
What I Wish I Knew
- Save photos of student work every week. You’ll need them later.
- Label every lid and brush size. You’ll thank yourself.
- Keep baby wipes and bandages in a drawer. Paper cuts happen.
- Ask the custodian about the floor drain before a big paint day.
- Smile at the front office. They save you more than you know.
Who Thrives Here?
- People who like kids and can roll with a spill.
- Makers who enjoy planning but won’t panic when plans change.
- Folks who can say, “Try it,” and mean it.
Who might not love it? If you want quiet days, or you hate cleanup, or you need perfect control. Art rooms breathe. They buzz.
Quick Note on Certs and Tests
States vary. I took the Praxis Art test. A friend in New York did edTPA. Everyone did fingerprints. It’s not fun, but it’s part of the job. Keep a folder with everything: transcripts, scores, letters. It saves time. Before you plunge into coursework, you might skim this honest review of completing an art teacher diploma to see which parts actually move the needle.