Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Specialist at San Diego Unified School District
Job Summary
Job Summary
The San Diego Unified School District is accepting applications for the position of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Specialist to support the Band and Orchestra programs at Wangenheim Middle School. This role is ideal for a professional committed to student success and the reinforcement of fundamental and advanced artistic techniques. This promotional open opportunity is open to all interested candidates. This list will be good for one month with the possibility to be extended. BASIC FUNCTION: The Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Specialist will, under the general direction of the classroom teacher, assist in the reinforcement of fundamental and advanced techniques pertaining to visual and performing arts (VAPA); perform a variety of administrative tasks for visual and performing arts programs; develop various types of supplemental and specialized materials for classroom and administrative use.
Requirements / Qualifications
Working Location: Wangenheim Middle - 9230 Gold Coast Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 The VAPA Specialist will handle instrumental instruction and provide comprehensive support across the Band and Orchestra programs. They will perform a variety of tasks related to the Visual and Performing Arts program, including coaching, small-group instruction under teacher supervision, supervision of students and preparation for concerts, performances, competitions, and festivals. They will also assist the classroom teacher with instruction and preparation for performances and perform a variety of clerical duties in support of classroom activities such as preparing, typing, duplicating, and filing instructional materials; maintaining student records, attendance and files as assigned. Work Schedule: 10 months per year / 40 hours per week. Salary: This position is paid on the OTBS Salary Schedule. Grade 040. Positions 20 hours per week or greater qualify for District-paid health and wellness benefits for the employee and their eligible dependents. Education and Experience: Any combination of training, experience, and/or education equivalent to graduation from high school, supplemented by visual and performing arts courses, and four (4) years of directly related experience, preferably in a school environment.
APPLICATION INFORMATION: To be eligible for consideration, interested candidates must submit the following items. Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all required information, including completion of the Work Experience and Education Sections of the online application, required attachments, and responses to all application questions.
Requirements / Qualifications
Working Location: Wangenheim Middle - 9230 Gold Coast Drive, San Diego, CA 92126 The VAPA Specialist will handle instrumental instruction and provide comprehensive support across the Band and Orchestra programs. They will perform a variety of tasks related to the Visual and Performing Arts program, including coaching, small-group instruction under teacher supervision, supervision of students and preparation for concerts, performances, competitions, and festivals. They will also assist the classroom teacher with instruction and preparation for performances and perform a variety of clerical duties in support of classroom activities such as preparing, typing, duplicating, and filing instructional materials; maintaining student records, attendance and files as assigned. Work Schedule: 10 months per year / 40 hours per week. Salary: This position is paid on the OTBS Salary Schedule. Grade 040. Positions 20 hours per week or greater qualify for District-paid health and wellness benefits for the employee and their eligible dependents. Education and Experience: Any combination of training, experience, and/or education equivalent to graduation from high school, supplemented by visual and performing arts courses, and four (4) years of directly related experience, preferably in a school environment.
APPLICATION INFORMATION: To be eligible for consideration, interested candidates must submit the following items. Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all required information, including completion of the Work Experience and Education Sections of the online application, required attachments, and responses to all application questions.
Comments and Other Information
Online employment application
A completed online employment application must be submitted/received electronically by the closing date. This application MUST include all required attachments, current and previous employment history and education to evaluate your qualifications, and all other requirements identified in the recruitment and application questions. It is important to note that a resume does not substitute for completing the Work Experience and Education sections. Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all relevant details and attachments.
Paper applications are not accepted.
Answer all application questions
The application questions should be answered thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the entire application package) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process.
Contact information for all previous places of employment where you served in a classified (non-certificated) position must be listed under the 'Employment History' section of the application (Senate Bill 848). As of January 1, 2026, in accordance with SB 848 Education Code section 44051 applicants for classified positions are required by law to provide a complete list of every school district, county office of education, charter school and/or state special school (also known as a Local Education Agency (LEA)) with which you have previously been employed, regardless of the length of service. The District may contact current and former LEAs at any time during the application screening process.
In accordance with SB 848 and Education Code, all applicants for classified (non-certificated) positions must provide a complete employment history. Please adhere to the following:
List Every Educational Employer: You must include every school district, county office of education, charter school, other educational institutions, or state special school where you have been employed, regardless of your length of service.
HR Contact Information: In the Employer Email field, you must provide the email address for that employer's Human Resources or Personnel Office (i.e., not your direct supervisor).
Note: These email addresses are required to satisfy the employment verification and background requirements mandated by Education Code.
Contact information for three references must be listed in the 'Reference' section of the application. References should be from a current or previous supervisor. Reference email requests may be sent at any time during the application screening process of this recruitment. These reference requests are not an indication of progression in the recruitment process or an interview opportunity. Written reference letters dated within the last year are also accepted and may be attached to your online application in the Reference Section.
Attach required documents (PDF format recommended)
Attach Verification of Education. Education, training, or certifications will only be considered if acceptable documentation is attached. Accepted documents include:
Copy of a degree or official transcript
Copy of Licenses and/or Certifications
Note on Foreign Equivalency Certification. Individuals who have completed high school or college-level coursework at an institution in a country other than the United States must provide a Foreign Equivalency Certification to satisfy the education requirement. A Foreign Equivalency Certification can be obtained for a fee from a professional organization. For more information, including acceptable providers, please see Foreign Transcript Evaluation.
Additional Documents (Optional)
Cover Letter / Letter of Intent
A resume may be attached, but not substituted for completing the work history, education sections, or the additional application questions of the employment application. Providing incomplete responses or answering "See Resume" or "See Application" may automatically disqualify your application from further consideration.
Letters of Recommendation
Additional documents, if any, may be attached to the online employment application.
Examination Process
The examination process includes an application screening and evaluation based on the applicant's education, work history, and responses to the application questions. Only applicants whose application packet demonstrates a combined education and experience which meets the minimum requirements for the position will be considered qualified and advance in the process. Some positions require applicants to pass additional components which may include one or more of the following: a multiple-choice, oral, written, or performance exam specific to the position. NOTE: Most exams are conducted remotely utilizing an online testing platform. For these exams, access to the internet and the use of a camera-ready desktop/laptop with a microphone is required to participate in these processes.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
If you have questions about your application, please email jobs@sandi.net.
The San Diego Unified School District communicates information regarding the hiring process via email. Please be aware that the District is not responsible for messages blocked by your email service. In an effort to allow our emails through your personal spam filter, you can try to add the domain@sandi.net and domain@ted.peopleadmin.com to your safe senders list.
San Diego Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying by reason of the following actual or perceived characteristics: age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, immigration status, marital or parental status, medical condition, nationality, national origin, actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
For more information about equity in employment, contact:
Title II Coordinator & Uniform Complaint Compliance Officer Eric Rico: (619) 725-7225, erico1@sandi.net / Title IX Coordinator Anna Ward: (619) 725-7225, award2@sandi.net / 504 Coordinator Eri Nall: (619) 344-6420, enall@sandi.net
Comments and Other Information
Online employment application
A completed online employment application must be submitted/received electronically by the closing date. This application MUST include all required attachments, current and previous employment history and education to evaluate your qualifications, and all other requirements identified in the recruitment and application questions. It is important to note that a resume does not substitute for completing the Work Experience and Education sections. Your application will be considered incomplete if you do not include all relevant details and attachments.
Paper applications are not accepted.
Answer all application questions
The application questions should be answered thoroughly, clearly, and concisely as the responses provided (along with the entire application package) will be carefully reviewed to determine which candidates will move forward in the recruitment process.
Contact information for all previous places of employment where you served in a classified (non-certificated) position must be listed under the 'Employment History' section of the application (Senate Bill 848). As of January 1, 2026, in accordance with SB 848 Education Code section 44051 applicants for classified positions are required by law to provide a complete list of every school district, county office of education, charter school and/or state special school (also known as a Local Education Agency (LEA)) with which you have previously been employed, regardless of the length of service. The District may contact current and former LEAs at any time during the application screening process.
In accordance with SB 848 and Education Code, all applicants for classified (non-certificated) positions must provide a complete employment history. Please adhere to the following:
List Every Educational Employer: You must include every school district, county office of education, charter school, other educational institutions, or state special school where you have been employed, regardless of your length of service.
HR Contact Information: In the Employer Email field, you must provide the email address for that employer's Human Resources or Personnel Office (i.e., not your direct supervisor).
Note: These email addresses are required to satisfy the employment verification and background requirements mandated by Education Code.
Contact information for three references must be listed in the 'Reference' section of the application. References should be from a current or previous supervisor. Reference email requests may be sent at any time during the application screening process of this recruitment. These reference requests are not an indication of progression in the recruitment process or an interview opportunity. Written reference letters dated within the last year are also accepted and may be attached to your online application in the Reference Section.
Attach required documents (PDF format recommended)
Attach Verification of Education. Education, training, or certifications will only be considered if acceptable documentation is attached. Accepted documents include:
Copy of a degree or official transcript
Copy of Licenses and/or Certifications
Note on Foreign Equivalency Certification. Individuals who have completed high school or college-level coursework at an institution in a country other than the United States must provide a Foreign Equivalency Certification to satisfy the education requirement. A Foreign Equivalency Certification can be obtained for a fee from a professional organization. For more information, including acceptable providers, please see Foreign Transcript Evaluation.
Additional Documents (Optional)
Cover Letter / Letter of Intent
A resume may be attached, but not substituted for completing the work history, education sections, or the additional application questions of the employment application. Providing incomplete responses or answering "See Resume" or "See Application" may automatically disqualify your application from further consideration.
Letters of Recommendation
Additional documents, if any, may be attached to the online employment application.
Examination Process
The examination process includes an application screening and evaluation based on the applicant's education, work history, and responses to the application questions. Only applicants whose application packet demonstrates a combined education and experience which meets the minimum requirements for the position will be considered qualified and advance in the process. Some positions require applicants to pass additional components which may include one or more of the following: a multiple-choice, oral, written, or performance exam specific to the position. NOTE: Most exams are conducted remotely utilizing an online testing platform. For these exams, access to the internet and the use of a camera-ready desktop/laptop with a microphone is required to participate in these processes.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
If you have questions about your application, please email jobs@sandi.net.
The San Diego Unified School District communicates information regarding the hiring process via email. Please be aware that the District is not responsible for messages blocked by your email service. In an effort to allow our emails through your personal spam filter, you can try to add the domain@sandi.net and domain@ted.peopleadmin.com to your safe senders list.
San Diego Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs and activities shall be free from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying by reason of the following actual or perceived characteristics: age, ancestry, color, mental or physical disability, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, immigration status, marital or parental status, medical condition, nationality, national origin, actual or perceived sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, or on the basis of a person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
For more information about equity in employment, contact:
Title II Coordinator & Uniform Complaint Compliance Officer Eric Rico: (619) 725-7225, erico1@sandi.net / Title IX Coordinator Anna Ward: (619) 725-7225, award2@sandi.net / 504 Coordinator Eri Nall: (619) 344-6420, enall@sandi.net