Master Teacher Program

Side x Side’s 2021-2022 Master Teacher Program is open to ALL teachers at Connors Elementary School in Lewiston and participating elementary schools in Portland.

Side x Side Master Teachers:

• Host professional teaching artists in their classroom.
• Receive budget support for visiting community experts and art supplies.
• Participate in our annual professional development, the Summer Arts Institute (SAI).
• Receive professional development on arts integration connections to current classroom strategies.
• Join a cohort of inspired classroom teachers who are committed to arts integration.
• Click here for full program details and commitment

Returning Teachers

• Collaborate on two projects with teaching artists during the school year: Project #1 is led by teaching artists, Project #2 is a smaller integrated arts lesson led by the Master Teacher (with planning support from Side x Side staff and teaching artists and a materials stipend).
• Earn a $600 stipend for planning work and participation in the Master Teacher program.

New Teachers 

• Collaborate on one project with teaching artists during the school year.
• Earn $500 stipend for planning work and participation in the Master Teacher program.

Interested in becoming a Side x Side Master Teacher for the 2021-2022 school year?

The process:

1. Submit an Application
2. Receive notification via email of your acceptance by August 1, 2021.
3. Participate in the Summer Arts Institute on Aug 18 and 19 where you will create art in safe pods and design a plan for an arts-integrated unit.
4. Receive a stipend for your participation in the Institute and your commitment to 2021-2022 arts integration projects with your students and colleagues.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What/who is Side x Side?
Side x Side ignites academic excellence in education through comprehensive arts integration  programs, bringing critical thinking, creativity, and innovation into the classroom. Through community partnerships with the University of Southern Maine, the Portland and Lewiston public school departments, and local artists, professionals, Side x Side integrates science, technology, literacy, and the humanities with the arts to enhance school curricula.

If I was a Master Teacher this year can I apply to be one again in 2021/2022?
Yes!

I am new to teaching and want to try to be a Master Teacher. Can I sign up for one year to try it?
Yes! As a first year Master Teacher, you will be required to attend the Summer Arts Institute to experience hands-on arts integration and collaborate with a teaching artist to design an arts-integrated program in your classroom. You will not be required to do a second independent project as a first year Master Teacher. We think you’ll love it and want to join us for a second year.

If I am a Connors teacher and had a program in my classroom 2020-2021 can I apply to the program?
Yes!

Your materials say returning Master Teachers are required to mentor other teachers. What does it mean to mentor a teacher?

• Mentors are paired with a teacher who is new to integrating the arts in their classroom.
• Mentors share their planning/program ideas or materials with their teacher mentee.
• Side x Side will provide substitute teacher coverage for up to two classroom observations.
• Mentors will communicate with their mentees at least twice before May 2022. Given health and safety concerns, this can be either in-person observations, zoom, email, FaceTime/Google Hangouts.

Why should I apply to this program?
Side x Side’s arts integration collaborative framework offers a research-based teaching method to reach all students in your classroom, deepening engagement, creating equity, and building a strong learning environment. Teaching artists work with you in designing lesson planning, implementation, and assessment of arts-integrated units. Participating as a Master Teacher gives you a supportive team as you lead the way in arts-integrated curricula.

What if I want Side x Side in my classroom but don’t want to become a Master Teacher
There are two ways to bring Side x Side into your classroom:
1.) Become a Master Teacher or
2.) Inquire about our for-hire programs which must be funded by your school or outside sources.

What is the Summer Arts Institute all about?
Our Summer Arts Institutes are professional development programs which provide research-based support and education on integrating the arts into PreK–5 classrooms. Artists and educators from across Maine embark on creative thinking and learning through studio-based art workshops, networking, and idea sharing. Each year the Institute is reimagined with new offerings to provide attendees an opportunity to experience the most relevant hands-on creative processes. Last year, we were able to have a rich and successful Summer Arts Institute virtually. This year we are planning a safe, hybrid two-day immersion in arts integration. The Institute is free to all Portland teachers and Lewiston’s Connors Elementary School teachers.
> find out more about our Summer Arts Institute

What is the time commitment to be a Master Teacher?
Master Teacher projects will vary in time commitment based on the scope of the program design, your experience with arts integration, and class size. You can expect to spend approximately 10-20 hours over the course of the academic year in collaborative planning, professional development (our annual Arts Institute), and mentor/mentee relationships. In-class project sessions can range from 4-8 hours total.

What if I want to work with a fellow classroom teacher or specialist?
It is possible to collaborate with other teachers or specialists in your grade. Please reference this in your application.