Website Town School for Boys
Town School for Boys
Upper School (4th-8th) Music Teacher and Advisor (Full Time)
Since 1939, San Francisco’s Town School for Boys has had a rich history as a school specializing in teaching boys. The school is also known for the Town School New Teacher Institute and its commitment to training teachers new to their craft. The school’s goals include teaching boys to be good citizens, to enjoy their childhood, to develop a positive sense of self, to give back to their greater community, and to develop academic and intellectual skills which will serve them well through their lifetimes. The school prizes its growing diversity of background, religion, and race, as well as the diversity of interests which is so noteworthy in its student and alumni bodies. Located in San Francisco, Town School for Boys is a K-8 independent day school. Since its founding, Town School has been committed to providing the best possible education for boys and is recognized as one of California’s leading independent elementary schools.
Position Description
Town School for Boys seeks a full-time music teacher for grades 4-8 to begin in the 2022-23 school year. Music is taught in all grade levels from K-8 and includes work in music history, music theory and several performances throughout the year. The school recently opened The Dolby Family Center for Performing Arts, a state-of-the-art performing arts facility. Town is in the process of building out a performing arts program across grades K-8 and we seek a teacher who will contribute to the vision and creative integration of performing arts throughout the academic program. The music classroom is located in the main building and is well-supplied with materials and instruments.
The music teacher will have the opportunity to collaborate with a lower school music teacher, a theater arts teacher as well as classroom teachers across the grades. The music teacher will develop school-wide performances for the winter holiday season and Grandparents’ & Special Friends’ Day, as well as other curriculum-appropriate performance opportunities for the boys. Besides teaching required music classes for 4th-6th grades, the position also includes offering electives in the Upper School program. We are particularly interested in music teachers with special strengths in areas such as digital music and instrumental ensembles. The music department consists of two full-time music teachers who collaborate on some programs and produce others independently. A Bachelor’s degree in music, music education or related field is required; a Master’s degree is strongly desired.
Candidates should have a strong background and experience in exposing students to the joy and appreciation of music through a variety of musical experiences which include singing, movement, playing instruments, listening, and performing. This individual will create a supportive and positive climate that develops in each student the skills, attitudes, and knowledge to advance his musical ability using current methodology, curricula, and materials. In addition, the ideal teacher fosters an environment where students feel comfortable to take risks, make mistakes and be curious. Town teachers are in frequent contact with families, responsible for writing progress reports, and supervising students during recess and other non-class times.
As an advisor, the successful applicant will lead morning meetings, support students during study hall, supervise during snack, and facilitate student-led parent conferences in the fall and spring. Strong communication skills are essential as faculty are expected to communicate regularly with other team members and parents about student progress. Homework and other pertinent class information is posted online. School-wide responsibilities include recess and lunch supervision, and grade level, department and faculty meetings. Other responsibilities may include committee work, chaperoning outdoor education/field trips, and attending student performances and athletic events. The ideal candidate will be empathetic and grounded in the reality of middle school boys’ lives, have extensive experience working with middle school students, and have a deep respect for the intellectual and social-emotional development of boys.
Desired Qualifications and Skills:
We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. We would encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our qualifications described below.
- Bachelor of Arts of Music or Music Education or related field required
- Masters in Music or Music Education preferred
Three or more years of general music classroom teaching experience - Instrumental and vocal teaching experience grades K-8
- Experience with Kodaly, Orff and/or Dalcroze Eurhythmics is a plus. Certification preferred.
- A vision for a Performing Arts: Music program in the 21st century, with the ability to design, implement, and assess a sequential music program
- Ability to create and implement a music program using a progressive and constructivist pedagogy
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to a classroom community respecting the diverse needs of all children through implementation of performing art knowledge gained from both Western and Non-Western history and practices
- Effective classroom management skills
- Collaborative partner with teachers to integrate and connect music across the academic program
- Ability to use technology for communication and classroom purposes
- In-depth knowledge and continued interest in current music education research, best practices and professional growth
- Strong work ethic, sense of humor, and a kind spirit
- Ability to create positive, professional relationships with students, parents, caregivers and colleagues.
- Experience in playing the piano, guitar, or other instruments
- Familiarity with the NAfME Standards, and the National Core Music Education Standards
COVID Procedures
When schools were forced to close their physical doors in the spring of 2020, Town quickly and successfully pivoted to online learning, supported by thorough planning and a nimble team of faculty, administration and Board members. In the fall of 2020, Town was the second school in the city of San Francisco to be granted permission to reopen, taking exceptional caution to protect the safety of faculty and students. Since October 2020, we have welcomed all grades in the building five days a week. The 2021-2022 school year is held in person, with our mask and social distancing protocols in place and following all SF Department of Health Guidelines. All adult employees of Town School for Boys are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
Town School for Boys Mission
At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.
Philosophy
As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world.
Core Values
Respect: We respect ourselves and others.
- We treat others the way they want to be treated.
- We practice good listening, compassion and empathy.
Curiosity: We are curious.
- We ask questions, think critically and solve problems.
- We seek opportunities to reach our highest potential.
Belonging: We all belong.
- We embrace and celebrate each of our unique stories and experiences.
- We seek to ensure that every member of our community feels an equal sense of inclusion.
Integrity: We act with integrity.
- We have the courage to do the right thing even when nobody else is watching.
- We always try our best and when we fail, we try again.
Joy: We are joyful.
- We make space for play, fun and laughter.
- We know joy can be found in hard work, risk-taking and perseverance.
Statement of Teaching Philosophy
Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish.
We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another.
Statement on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity:
Diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School.
A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses they matter as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.
Non-Discrimination Policy:
Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.
All school personnel must successfully complete a fingerprint background check through Live Scan and provide current tuberculosis clearance.
Salary and benefits are commensurate with our peer schools in the San Francisco Bay Area and with like NAIS schools.
Application for this position can be found at https://town-school-for-boys.hiringthing.com/ To learn more about our faculty culture and community in general, please visit our Employment page.
