Job Purpose:
This Advisory Teacher / Advocate Post is based within the Creative Connections Programme team. The Creative Connections Programme is an innovative cross-border creativity in schools initiative, which builds on the success of the Creative Schools Programme in Northern Ireland and the Irish government’s BLAST (Bringing Live Arts to Students and Teachers) and Creative Clusters initiatives. The Creative Connections Programme will give children and young people the unique opportunity to work with professional artists, bringing creativity and the arts directly into their learning. The Creative Connections programme, working alongside the previously announced RAISE programme, aims to promote collaboration, encourage creativity and enhance educational outcomes for children impacted by social disadvantage in both Northern Ireland and Ireland. The Advisory Teacher / Advocate post will be based in Northern Ireland and will work under the supervision of the Creative Connections Programme Coordinator, based in Ireland, to support the effective development and delivery of the Programme’s 2-year implementation plan. Applicants should be qualified teachers currently working in a grant-aided school. Approval for release from current teaching post, to undertake this secondment opportunity, will be required from the employer of the person recommended for appointment.
Main duties and responsibilities:
1. Work in partnership with the two government Departments, with overall reporting to the Creative Connections Project Board, to ensure the effective development and delivery of the implementation plan.
2. Work with the Creative Connections Programme Coordinator and the Departments to establish and develop a cross-border Design Team.
3. Work closely and collaboratively with the Creative Connections Programme Coordinator to establish and develop Creative Connections Clusters and to create meaningful partnerships within and between schools and practitioners in both jurisdictions.
4. Engage in dialogue and collaborative planning to develop relevant strategies, resources, materials, training and organise events to support the implementation of the initiative.
5. Work with the Coordinator to develop practical systems to facilitate the delivery of high-quality supports, including online and digital supports, for all stakeholders.
6. Work with the Arts in Education Administrative base in Tralee Education Support Centre, as required.
7. Carry out research and analysis to monitor and evaluate the initiatives as they develop.
8. Maintain a detailed knowledge of school curricula and ensure complementarity between the curricula and Creative Connections Programme. Maintain a detailed knowledge of creativity, arts and education policy and practice in both jurisdictions.
9. Liaise and work with partners on T-REX, the Arts in Education Portal Committee and the Arts and Culture in Education Research Repository (ACERR) in collaboration with the Coordinator.
10. Liaise and work with partners in school education settings including principals, teachers, centre managers, and Government partners on advisory committees and various working groups in collaboration with the Coordinator.
11. Liaise and work with arts / creative practitioners, organisations, arts and cultural institutions who are working at local, regional, national and cross border levels.
12. Support the Coordinator in preparing, monitoring and reporting on programme budgets.
13. Write reports, manage documentation and report to programme oversight boards.
14. Organise and maintain effective communication both internally and externally.
15. Undertake administrative tasks to ensure the efficient delivery of Creative Connections Programme initiatives across participating regions and partners.
16. Maintain records of work activity and provide regular reports to relevant reporting bodies.
17. Participate in cross border meetings and report on progress as and when required.
18. The responsibilities of the Advocate may vary in accordance with emerging needs and priorities.