PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY MUSIC TEACHER (part-time)

PRESCHOOL & ELEMENTARY MUSIC TEACHER (part-time)

What matters to you as an educator? 

• Having the time and space to build strong relationships with each student?
• Working in a professional culture designed to give teachers and teaching teams the agency that drives effective, culturally responsive instruction?
• Joining a school where civic engagement – equipping students with the academic and social-emotional skills and understanding required to create positive change – is at the heart of the educational program?

At TBS, we do the work required to create a dynamic, inclusive professional and school community where all people who believe these things matter can thrive. If you are one of these people, read on!

The Preschool and Elementary Music Teacher advances The Berkeley School’s mission and vision by… 

• developing and teaching a preschool through elementary music program that cultivates musical literacy as developmentally appropriate and supports love of music in students
• engaging preschool and elementary students in meaningful musical experiences through movement, rhythmic speech, singing, percussion, instruments, and other types of expression
• collaborating with other educators and organizations to design and implement musical performances or  interdisciplinary projects for the school and the greater community
• exploring with students the various ways of using music and self-expression to connect to civic engagement, a core value at TBS
• embodying principles of equity and inclusion that promote responsive teaching practices and create optimal educational environments for each of our students

This is the job for you if…

• you appreciate, understand, and care for preschool and elementary students. We believe that all students deserve to feel seen, supported and known and we strive to be the “warm demanders” that they need to take risks, make mistakes, learn, and grow in musical expression.
• you’re knowledgeable, passionate, and curious about the ways that children create, adapt, and define music to achieve shared outcomes. You know that music can be a means for self-expression, community-building,  and development of whole-body listening skills..
• you enjoy creating a music curriculum that aligns with clearly defined learning outcomes, equity and justice standards, and student interests. You look for emergent opportunities that amplify your core curricular structure.
• you see collaboration with colleagues as essential to your professional growth and fulfillment. You enjoy the autonomy of developing and teaching your own curriculum but you can’t imagine doing it in isolation from other educators, since all of you are working towards a shared purpose.

Job benefits include….

• Working in a positive, diverse, and dynamic environment of caring, curious, and committed colleagues
• Competitive compensation
• Structures and budget to support professional and personal development (we invest in learning/growth!)
• Professional culture that supports everyone in maintaining balance, self-care, and community care
• Student support structures (including small class sizes and academic and social-emotional learning specialists) that promote strong relationships between teachers and students

Preferred Qualifications

• Developmental understanding of teaching music curricula to elementary and middle school students
  Orff-Schulwerk methodology (desired but not required)
• Well-developed equity literacy skills and familiarity with culturally responsive pedagogy and teaching practices
• Knowledge about cultural and historical contexts surrounding music
• Experience building strong relationships with preschool and elementary students and teachers, and working in a progressive and collaborative environment
• Ability to use multiple methods of assessment (formal and informal, formative and summative)
• Proven classroom management skills and positive discipline strategies
• Bachelor’s degree

That said, we value the varied lived experiences of all musician educators, so we welcome your application and what you could bring to the TBS community.

A little more about TBS…

Located directly across the bay from San Francisco in a city known internationally for its history of activism, thought leadership, and community-based change, The Berkeley School has been educating East Bay children since 1963. The school’s mission – ignite curious minds, awaken generous hearts, engage a changing world – reflects its founding as a Montessori school and informs its unique, civic-engagement-based educational vision.

TBS teachers and students come together on two beautiful campuses whose connection to local neighborhoods and proximity to public transportation and the University of California campus makes the cultural, educational, and natural resources of Berkeley and the greater Bay Area an integral part of the school’s educational program.

TBS students develop excellent academic and life skills in learning communities that build agency, rooted in two core beliefs: we are interdependent and what we do matters. TBS teachers lead that development by building relationships with and among students, creating culturally responsive learning environments that help students feel seen, supported, and known, and developing curricula and experiences that provide the joyful rigor necessary to help children reach their full potential as scholars, community members, and human beings.

We are committed to human-centered principles that promote effective, inclusive operating practices. We also value the skills, knowledge and experiences that a diverse workforce brings to our school. We are a community of lifelong learners who value social justice and actively participate in civic engagement, and we believe that affirming the cultural histories and identities of all community members is vital to each student’s learning and to our school’s success. If you see this approach as critical to meaningful education, we urge you to apply!

What’s next?

If you’re interested in applying, please submit a cover letter describing your interest in the position and the ways that your professional and personal values and expertise align with our school’s mission and vision, your resumé, and a list of three references to our hiring committee at prek5musicteacher@theberkeleyschool.org. The part-time range is $44,880 – $59,568. The start date for this position is on or after August 16, 2024.

The Berkeley School is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at The Berkeley School are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, age, disability, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, religion, and genetic information. Candidates of color, bilingual candidates, and candidates from other groups traditionally underrepresented in independent schools are encouraged to apply.

Tagged as: K-6, Preschool